What to see in Pula

Pula is the biggest city on the Istrian peninsula and is best known for its well preserved remains of the Roman architecture. There aren’t many cities in the world with such an impressive historic relic such as the Pula Arena (1), one of the world’s best preserved Roman amphitheaters, whose construction began during the reign of Augustus, decades before the Common Era. 

Thanks to emperor Augustus, Pula also boasts a Roman temple in its main square, the Forum. Presently known as the Temple of Augustus (2), it was originally dedicated to the goddess Roma, the personification of the city of Rome. In World War II, it was struck by a bomb during an Allied air raid, but was reconstructed shortly after the war had ended. 

Pula Kaštel (3) isa fortification that was built by the Venetians over the remains of an ancient Roman fortress, following the 1630 plans of the French architect Antoine de Ville. Nowadays, the fortress houses the Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria. 

Apart from being a maritime hub, Pula and its surroundings boast a long-established tourism tradition. As for short trips outside the city, we recommend visiting Opatija, perhaps the finest tourist destination in the 19^th century Habsburg Monarchy, famous for Lungomare (4), its waterfront promenade, and amazing Habsburg villas. 

If you have a day to spare, you can spend it exploring the Istrian inland. We suggest you visit Motovun (5), a fairytale town built from stone atop a hill overlooking the dense Motovun forest.