Pula

Pula is the largest town of Istria (about 60.000 inhabitants), located in the south of the peninsula. It is famous for its rich and well-preserved Roman heritage. The town’s landmark is the Arena, one of the largest Roman amphitheatres still existing. Although there are no gory gladiator fights anymore, the Arena is rarely empty even today – concerts and festivals often take place in this ancient venue with a unique atmosphere. Other well-known examples of Roman architecture are the Arch of the Sergii, the Gate of Hercules, the Twin Gates and the temple of Roma and August. The local population’s obsession with Romans doesn’t stop there, however, because even the town itself is built on seven hills! A perfect destination for you if you want to visit Rome, but want to avoid high prices, huge crowds of tourists, and marauding gangs of local muggers – just choose the pocket Rome instead. The town is known for its shipbuilding, food and construction industry, while tourism is developed in many smaller towns in the outskirts. Sunny beaches, delicious food, hospitable people and rich culture are the reasons to visit Pula. The nearby Brijuni National Park is also worth seeing, and so are various annual events, such as the Outlook Festival, recently placed among the 10 best European music festivals by The Guardian, the Book Fair(y) in Istria, and the Viva la Pola!, Anti-fa fest and Monteparadiso festivals.