Pula historical places: Roman arena, forum and gates
Pula historical places guide: the best-preserved Roman arena, the seaside forum, the Temple of Augustus, the Arch of the Sergii and Kaštel fortress.
Pula is one of Croatia's most history-rich stops. This port city at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula carries two thousand years of Roman heritage in its streetscape. One of the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world, the ancient seaside forum and the old city gates all lie within walking distance of one another. This guide visits Pula's key historical sites in order.
Why visit the Pula Arena?
The Pula Arena is a Roman amphitheatre built from local limestone between 27 BC and AD 68, under the emperors Augustus and Vespasian. As the only surviving example that retains its complete outer wall ring, it ranks among the best-preserved amphitheatres in the world and is the emblem of the city.
The structure originally held about 23,000 spectators; four corner towers and a three-storey façade reflect the engineering of the age. Galleries beneath the floor once housed gladiators and animals. The arena is still a living venue: the summer Pula Film Festival, concerts and opera performances all take place within these ancient walls. Lit at night and close to the sea, its façade is especially striking; early mornings are the quietest time for a visit.
The forum and the Temple of Augustus
The ancient forum was laid out in the 1st century BC near the sea and remains the public heart of Pula today. On its edge stands the Temple of Augustus, an elegant columned building from the 1st century AD dedicated to Emperor Augustus, and a well-preserved example of Roman architecture.
Over the centuries the temple also served as a church and a grain store; badly damaged in the Second World War, it was carefully rebuilt. It now displays a small collection of ancient stonework. The forum square, with its cafés and town hall, is a natural place to pause. In antiquity the square was framed by the temples of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, a layout typical of Roman city centres.
The Roman gates and the Arch of the Sergii
The monumental gates preserved from Pula's walls mark the city's Roman entrances. The grandest is the Arch of the Sergii (the Golden Gate) from the 1st century BC, a triumphal arch commissioned by a local noble family and notable for its carved relief decoration.
The nearby Twin Gates (Porta Gemina) date from the mid-2nd century and open onto the Archaeological Museum with their two arches. The Gate of Hercules, considered the city's oldest, belongs to the 1st century BC; it bears a roughly carved head of Hercules and a Latin inscription linked to the founding of the city. Walking between these gates makes Pula's Roman street plan legible step by step, and all lie within the centre.
Kaštel fortress and the Archaeological Museum
On the hill at the centre of the city stands the Kaštel, a star-shaped fortress built by the Venetians in the 17th century. Constructed to the plans of the French military architect Antoine de Ville, it has housed the Historical and Maritime Museum of Istria since 1961 and offers views over the harbour.
At the foot of the fortress, the Archaeological Museum of Istria holds a collection dating back to 1802 that opened in its present form in 1949; it displays finds from prehistory to the Middle Ages. The remains of the Roman theatre in the museum garden are accessible. The Kaštel hill makes a fitting close to the walk, letting you read the city from above.
How should you explore the historic centre on foot?
The most practical route starts at the Arena, descends to the seaside forum, continues to the Arch of the Sergii and the city gates, and climbs to the Kaštel hill. Because every site sits within the historic centre and within walking distance, the loop can be done at an easy pace in half a day to a day.
Visiting the Arena early in the morning makes the most of the cool air and thinner crowds. The cafés around the forum suit a lunch break; from there, narrow stone lanes lead to the Twin Gates and the Gate of Hercules. The day closes with the harbour and rooftop view from the Kaštel. In summer it is worth securing tickets for evening events at the Arena in advance. Comfortable shoes and water help on the climbing lanes. For more, see our city page on Pula.
FAQ
Is the Pula Arena worth visiting?
Yes. As the only Roman amphitheatre that keeps its complete outer wall, the Pula Arena is among the best-preserved in the world. You can go inside to explore the galleries and seating tiers, and in summer you may catch the film festival or a concert. As the city's emblem it is usually the first stop.
Are Pula's historical sites close together?
Largely yes. The arena, the forum, the Temple of Augustus, the Roman gates and the Kaštel hill all sit within the historic centre and within walking distance of one another. At an easy pace you can see most of them on foot in half a day to a day; comfortable shoes help, as some lanes climb.
What else is there to see in Pula besides the arena?
The seaside forum with the Temple of Augustus, the Arch of the Sergii together with the Twin Gates and the Gate of Hercules, the Venetian Kaštel fortress on the hill and the Archaeological Museum of Istria at its foot are the main stops. They bring together Roman, Venetian and later periods in a single walk.