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Pula Attractions
Pula’s most interesting sites are its Roman ruins. Of these, the 1st-century amphitheater (“the Arena”) is the most impressive.
Portrait of the Artist
For almost a year (October, 1904 to March, 1905), when he was a young man of 22, Irish author James Joyce lived in Pula, where he taught English to Austro-Hungarian naval officers through the Berlitz School. Today, Joyce is immortalized as a bronze statue, sitting at a table outside the coffee bar Uliks (Ulysses) just steps from the building where he taught.
11 Results
- Zoo/Aquarium
Aquarium
On Verudela peninsula, 4km (2 1/2 miles) south of the city center, the town aquarium is housed in Fort Verudela, built by the Austrians in 1881. Appealing to children and adults alike, the fort’s cool stone chambers hold huge tanks containing various species of fish, complete with… - Historic Site
Arch of the Sergi
This arch was built at the end of the 1st century b.c. to honor three male members of the Sergi family, who had fought in the Battle of Actium in 31 b.c. Next to the arch, note the house where Irish author James Joyce once resided— there’s a bronze statue of Joyce in front of the… - Historic Site
Arena
Pula’s magnificent Roman amphitheater, known by locals as the Arena, was built between 2 b.c. and a.d. 14. One of the largest remaining buildings of its type in the world (the best known being the far bigger Coliseum in Rome), it has passed through the centuries remarkably well… - Cathedral
Cathedral of the Assumption
Built on the site of a former Roman temple, Pula’s cathedral started out as a Christian basilica in the 5th century. Visitors can still see ancient mosaic fragments in the interior. The façade and bell tower were added in the 17th century, using in part stone from the Arena. - Landmark
Hercules Gate
Walk through the Sergi Arch and bear left until you get to Carrarina, where you will encounter Pula's oldest gate dating from the mid-1st century. It is decorated with a relief of its namesake mythical hero. - Religious Site
Monastery and Church of St. Francis
Just behind the tourist information center on Forum Square is the 14th-century complex that includes a single-nave basilica and a tranquil garden framed by Gothic triumphal arches. Stone pieces and mosaic fragments here date from the Roman period on, but they seem randomly strewn… - Landmark
Roman Amphitheatre
Though smaller than the Coliseum in Rome, the Arena, as it is known by locals, is remarkable because its outer wall is almost entirely intact. Inside, vestiges of the Arena's fittings still are visible, though its stone seats were removed in medieval times to complete other building… - Landmark
Roman Floor Mosaic
This floor mosaic from the 3rd century represents the mythological punishment of the original wicked stepmother, Circe, who was punished for her evil deeds by being tied to the horns of a bull. - Religious Site
Temple of Augustus
Standing on the city’s car-free main square, which was once the Roman Forum, the Temple of Augustus was built between 2 b.c. and a.d. 14. The elegant façade comprises an open portico supported by six towering columns. The temple was dedicated to Octavianus Augustus, the first emperor… - Landmark
Triumphal Arch of the Sergi
Farther along Sergijevaca, you'll run right into the Sergi Arch, which opens to Trg Portarata and stands in the middle of a busy shopping area. The privately financed arch was built at the end of the 1st century by Salvia Postuma Sergi to honor three male family members who had… - Landmark
Twin Gates
This double arch is in front of the Archaeological Museum a little beyond the Hercules Gate. According to the literature, the gates date from the beginning of the 2nd century and lead to the amphitheater and beyond.
