Overview to Pula: Travel Guide and Tourist Information
Pula sits at the southernmost tip of Istria, a rugged triangle of land that juts out to sea south of Trieste. Hardly surprisingly given the impressive array of monuments left by a Roman presence stretching back to two thousand years ago, the city has a pronounced Italian feel.
Its fabulous Arena – a colossal amphitheater riddled with underground caverns – vies with Diocletian’s Palace in Split as the most important Roman remains in Croatia. Nearby, the Forum, boasting a stunning original mosaic, has been the heart of the city since Roman times.
The Temple of Augustus and the Arch of Sergius continue this ancient theme. The attractive church (and monastery) of St. Francis, dating back to the 13th century, and the Venetian Kastel, which crowns the Old Town, are - though fascinating - modern by comparison.
At Pula’s center is an extremely attractive Old Town. Running through it is ul Sergijevaca, the city’s main (pedestrianized) thoroughfare and a good place from which to get your bearings. The bustling market at Narodni Trg is the place to go to mix shopping and local color.
There are any number of little bars and cafés in the streets surrounding the Forum and on Kandlerova Street. But few places in the center stay open past midnight and much of Pula’s nightlife takes place outside the city, particularly at the nearby Verudela Peninsular.
Here, during the day, there are more than adequate beaches like the rocky Valkana, Kolumbarica and the sandy Debeljak Beach. Dozens of islands lie just off the several thousand kilometers of Croatian coastline, perfect for exploring on daytrips.
The area surrounding Pula was known to the Romans as the ‘Magic Land’. With its blend of culture, beaches, fine food and lovely relaxed pace, it’s hard to disagree with their claim.
