Sights

Amphitheatre

The most famous and important monument, the starting and ending point of every sightseeing - the Arena or Amphitheatre - the building where in ancient Rome gladiatorial fights were held, was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of the Emperor Vespasian, at the same time as the Colosseum in Rome.

It is oval in shape, about 130 metres long and about 100 metres wide. In the middle there is an even part - the arena, while the spectators could sit on the stone stairs-benches or stand in the gallery. It is believed the Amphiteatre could seat 20.000 spectators. more..

type:	Roman Times
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Town square

The main square in ancient and medieval Pula is situated at the bottom of the town hill, in the western part of the town and near the sea. The shore where the Forum was constructed in the 1st century BC had to be embanked to get a larger space. The Forum served as the centre of government. It was the religious, administrative, legislative and legal centre .On the northern part of the Forum stood two identical temples and a central one dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva. Today only the Augustus Temple has been fully preserved while of the second temple only the back wall, more..

type:	Hotspots
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Town walls

In ancient and medieval times the whole town was surrounded by walls and the passage was made possible by ten gates. The walls had become old and unnecessary so they were pulled down at the beginning of the 19th century. Part of the walls have been preserved between the Twin Gate and the square Giardini. The Twin Gate, thus called because of the two arches through which you enter the inner garden which was once the entrance to the same city, was constructed between the 2nd and 3rd century. It leads to the Archeological Museum and the Castle. Some remains, partly restored, of more..

type:	Medieval Times
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St. Francis Church and Monastery

The complex dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi was built in the 14th century. The church is a simple, austere late Romanesque style building with Gothic ornamental details. In the monastery you can see a part of the medieval collection of stone monuments of the Archeological Museum and the exhibition of copies of Istrian murals. In summer classical concerts are held in the church.

type:	Churches & Cathedrals
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Temple of Augustus

The Temple, situated on the Forum, is dedicated to the Emperor Augustus. It was constructed between the year 2 BC and 14 AD when the Emperor died. According to its shape it is a typical temple construction.

The function of the Temple changed through the years: with the ending of the pagan ancient era the original pagan function ceased and the temple was afterwards used as a church, wheat storage, and at the beginning of the 19th century it was a museum for stone monuments. In 1944 it was almost destroyed by a bomb. It was reconstructed between the years 1945 and 1947. more..

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

It was constructed in the second half of the VI century and is dedicated to the Great Lady. It was reconstructed around the year 1200 and thereafter assigned to the Greek Orthodox religious community. The Iconostasis of a Greek master of the 18th century and other valuable icons are to be found in the church. Nowadays it belongs to the Serbian Orthodox Church.

The Cathedral

The construction of the Cathedral started in the 4th century but it got its present shape in the 5th century. From that time to the 14th century a lot of different parts, such as floor mosaics, columns, side entrance door, facade, had been changed, renewed or added.

The church-tower was constructed in the second half of the 17th century using the stone from the Amphitheatre. The Cathedral is nowadays mainly used for religious purposes, but during the summer months classical music concerts are held there

The Church of the Lady of the Sea

Constructed in more recent times in the Austrian part of the town it was consecrated in 1898. It is a neo Byzantine building with a lot of additional elements of different styles.