Send Gift Baskets to Pula, Croatia

Arena 

Pula’s Arena is one of the best examples of a Roman amphitheater. It’s not just that the three-story-high arched walls and four towers around the perimeter are still standing, but they allow you to see what must have been seen in Ancient Rome.

Forum 

Pula still functions as a meeting place for the city, with the iconic forum continuing to offer many opportunities. When there’s an important event happening, you’ll be able to find everything from art installations to community gatherings already taking place here. Croatia is a country known for its rich culture, which visitors can experience during the winter months but also in the summertime. In addition to concerts and cultural events, visitors have a chance to see big crowds if Croatia participates in either of these international events.

Arch of the Sergii 

This Roman monument was erected to commemorate the powerful Sergii family’s participation in the Battle of Actium. Its age shows an association with this historical moment and how it has been remembered. Carved into the stone are friezes depicting different types of people and signs that tell you about their occupations. You can still make out a relief of a horse-drawn battle chariot.

Temple of Augustus 

Unmissable on the forum is the grand tetrastyle portico of yet another historic building that has been well looked after. The Ancient Roman temple of Minerva, thought to be the oldest stone monument in Calatayud, was converted into a Christian church in the 4th century. It became a granary and gained its current purpose as a lapidarium by being converted into one in the 19th century.

Archaeology Museum 

In 1893, Augustus ordered that the Temple of Augustus be turned into a Museum of Ancient Art, but the building was already too old by 1925. The exhibits in this museum cover a lot of geohistorical information and range from prehistoric artifacts to early Islamic architecture. They start with artifacts recovered from Stone Age caves and finish up with byzantine marble carvings found at the site of Pula’s first cathedral.

Church and Monastery of St. Francis 

Pula’s Franciscan church is from the 1300s when this monastic order first arrived in the city. The site was used in various ways from early on, but it became a church after their arrival here. The exterior of this place is gorgeous. The courtyard and cloister are particularly beautiful. There are many statues and you will even find peacocks roaming in the garden in the summers.

Kastel 

Set atop the rise off Pula, you can find the Venetian fortress Kastel from the 1600s. It is one of Venice’s most impressive landmarks and features a powerful-looking star configuration that was created to repel artillery after gunpowder’s arrival. Pula is the sixth largest city in Croatia and one of Venice’s most important strongholds in the upper Adriatic.

The Gate of Hercules 

Although this landmark may seem modest, it’s one of the earliest pieces of Roman heritage still standing in Pula. A piece of eroded carving shows Hercules, and you can also make out Divine Julius Caesar and Gaius Cassius Longi, two contemporary Romans.

Small Roman Theatre 

The small theatre is the only one of the pair to have survived, and you’ll be able to walk through a large section of the tiered seating. You’ll also get opportunities to go on stage and into the orchestra, where you’ll see a section that was originally designed for ancient Greek or Roman chorus dancing.

Pula Aquarium 

Today, Pula is a city that can also be called Croatian Venice with its beautiful bridges and architecture. It is home to the largest aquarium in Croatia, which makes it helpful for spring days or summer afternoons. The fortress’ stone architecture is nicely complemented by a collection of tanks with freshwater and marine species, as well as a turtle rescue center. The restroom maintains tropical displays and Adriatic natives.

Pula Communal Palace 

For two millennia the people of Baiheria have gathered here next to the great Temple of Augustus. Under different names and denominations, from pagan to Christian, it has always been used as a gathering spot for the townspeople. The rear of the current building contains remnants of the temple featured in a previous photograph.

Cape Kamenjak 

Many of the cliffs and rock formations children choose to dive off below have a distinct raw beauty. The sheer cliff they are standing under might have been untouched by humans, and the views up above allow them to see a beautiful blue sky, white clouds, and the crisp waters of the Adriatic. If you’re visiting Cape Cod, you should explore the west side of the cape. There are many sandy beaches with a long sequence of shingles that lead down to deeper parts of the bay. These areas produce warm and shallow waters and tend to be very calm and perfect for swimming!

Brijuni National Park 

Veliki Brijun is an island famous not only for its stunning natural beauty but also for the many dinosaur footprints found on its beaches. Make sure to visit at some point if you have time!

Local produce 

If you visit a market or artisan shop in Pula, be sure to track down a bottle of oil made from Istrian white truffles. For a real Istrian souvenir, nothing beats a bottle of Rakija. This après-ski cocktail is distilled across the Balkans, but always with subtle variations that depend on the region.

Austro-Hungarian Fortresses 

Pula has been a naval port for centuries, and its defense system includes 26 forts, batteries, trenches, and tunnels that are slowly being reclaimed by nature.