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Istria and its former inhabitants – Illyrians
Pula associated with ancient monuments, and above all with the Roman amphitheater, like many other Istrian cities, was founded by the Illyrians several centuries before the advent of the Romans.
The vicinity of Pula was constantly inhabited in the Palaeolithic (the finds from the Šandalja cave date back a million years ago), while Pula was founded as a stronghold on a hill (gradine) in the place where Kaštel is located today. However, during the Illyrian period, it stayed in the shadow of the nearby Nesactium, the main Illyrian center as well as the center of the entire region.
Roman colony in Pola
When in 177 BC The Romans conquered Istria, Pola became a Roman port. In the second half of the 1st century BC Pola already functioned not only as an important Roman military base, but also as a commercial port and an emporium. In 45 BC the city obtained the status of a Roman colony. Due to the rapid development of the city, its population soon increased to around 30 thousand residents.
In the civil war following Caesar’s murder in 42 BC Pola sided with Brutus and Cassius. As a result, after Octavian’s victory, the city was demolished by the troops of the victorious triumvirs of Octavian, Mark Antony and Lepidus. However, soon (by the will of Octavian’s daughter Julia) Pola was rebuilt and from then on it was called Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola Pollentia Herculanea. This colony was part of the “Venetia et Histria” region of the Roman Empire.
Pola (Pula) were surrounded by defensive walls with as many as 12 city gates, of which 3 have survived: the Arch of the Sergians, the Double Gate and the Gate of Hercules.
Roman amphitheater in Pula (Pola)
Roman monuments that have survived to our times come from that period. Amphitheater, built between 27 BC and 68 AD, acquired its final shape after an expansion completed around 80 AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian. At the same time, the construction of the Colosseum in Rome was completed. 🙂
Currently, the amphitheater in Pula is the 6th largest surviving Roman amphitheater. Of course, the Colosseum is the biggest one, and others well preserved are the amphitheatres in Capua, Verona, Arles and Catania. As for the degree of preservation, Pula’s amphitheater is on par with the amphitheatres in Nimes, Arles, Verona and Pompeii. The Roman amphitheater in Pula measures 132.45 by 105.1 meters, and its audience was about 23 thousand viewers.
Temple of Augustus
Another outstanding Roman monument is a temple dedicated to the emperor himself, built before 14 AD during the reign of Emperor Augustus. The Temple of Augustus once stood on the Roman forum. Although small (17 by 6 meters) is definitely impressive, it luckily survived to our times. 🙂 In its portico there are 6 smooth columns with Corinthian capitals.
Byzantine Pola
In 476, Pola was destroyed by the Ostrogoths. After their brief rule, in 540 the city (like the rest of Istria) came under the rule of the Byzantine Empire. Pola blossomed again. The Church of Santa Maria Formosa comes from that period (from the 6th century). Although it looks tiny today, originally it was the chapel of a much larger basilica.
In 1331 Pola came under the rule of Venice. Multiple attacks by the Genoese, Hungarians and Habsburgs as well as numerous epidemics (e.g. malaria) meant that in the 17th century Pola was inhabited by only about 300 people. The town did not develop again until 1856, when Pola became the main port of the Austrian Navy.
Contemporary Pula
During World War II, Pola was occupied by German armed forces, which led to Allied bombing raids. After the war, like most of Istria, it found itself within the borders of Yugoslavia, and its official name was changed to Pula (today both Pola and Pula are used).
Photographs of Pula (Pola)
Sergius Arch and fragments of the defensive walls 
Market 
Trg Portarata 
Sergius Arch, once the city gate of ancient Pola 
Stone street leading to the church of St. Francis 
Cloister of the Franciscan monastery with columns from the 15th century 
Town Hall, built in the Middle Ages on the site of the Roman temple of Diana and the main temple of the city (dedicated to Jupiter, Juno and Minerva) 
Columns of the Temple of Augustus 
Fragments of the Roman sculpture 
Temple of Augustus 
Narrow streets of old Pula and fragments remaining after bombed tenements 
Cathedral Of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (three-nave basilica from the 5th century, probably built on the site of the Roman Baths) 
Colorful facades of tenement houses 
Preserved southern chapel of the Basilica of Santa Maria Formosa (6th AD) 
Empty squares left after World War II 
Amphitheater 
Ruins of the interior of the amphitheater 
Amphitheater Arena 
The outer wall of the amphitheater has 2 floors with 72 arches 
Roman amphitheater in Pula 
Top view of the church of St. Francis (visible belfry) 
Bastions of the Venetian fortress built in the 17th century on the site of the Roman capitol 
View of the amphitheater 
Venetian fortress with 4 bastions 
Port of Pula 
Remains of the Small Roman Theater 
Small Roman Theater (in ancient Pola, the second larger theater was located outside the city walls) 
Old streets in Pula 
Hercules Gate (around 50 BC) 
The main square of Pula, once a Roman forum 
Medieval tenements in the place of the former Roman forum 
Town hall (next to the temple of Augustus) on the site of the former Roman forum 
Sergius Triumphal Arch at night
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Carly BB
I am a passionate enthusiast of travel, archeology, photography and dancing 🙂 On this page I try to combine the first three elements: P and show you that travelling becomes definitely more interesting when we discover visited places, and often inconspicuous ruins hide the most fascinating stories 🙂