Pula (“Pola” in Italian) is the largest city in Istria,
western Croatia, located on southern tip of the Istrian
peninsula. Pula was once an Austro-Hungarian Empire major
naval base. Nowadays, it is an important Croatian port
and an industrial centre being something in between a
busy working port and active Istrian Riviera town.

The Romans captured Pula in 178 B.C. where they built
the most amazing and well-known Pula amphitheater,
which remains are still used as Pula’s summer stage
for various opera and pop performances, as well as for
well-known Pula Film Festival, that is hosted there
since 1953.

The Pula amphitheater (“arena” in Croatian) was built at
the end of first century B.C. It is sixth largest
amphitheater in the world, with capacity of 22 000 people.
Outer shell is almost complete, while inside seats are just
partly remaining.

During the history, Pula was destroyed by Augustus, but was
rebuilt by him and named Pietas Julia. Pula was taken by the
Venice Republic in 1148, and 200 years later overtaken and
destroyed by Genovese.The Venetians continued to rule Pula
until the Treaty of Campo Formio (1797) when Pula was
transferred to Austro-Hungarian Empire. The city was
surrender to Italy af