I’d never heard of Pula before I went there. Frankly, Croatia was not even on my travel radar until about a week before I visited Italy. After seeing photos of a friends trip I wanted to go. It is only about 4 hours drive from where I stayed in Italy, therefore making Pula the perfect weekend trip.
History…
Pula is a peninsula on the shores of the Adriatic Sea with a heavy Roman influence throughout. Evidence of Homo Erectus from 1 Million years ago found in the cave of Sandalja means it’s pretty damn old. It is full with historical places and items.
Pula Arena
Pula Arena is a Roman amphitheater built in 27 BC. It is the only completely preserved Roman amphitheater in the world. While it no longer holds real gladiator fights, they do have reenactment shows. They also host concerts, the Foo Fighters were playing the night after we left. Can you imagine seeing them in concert at a venue thousands of years old?!
Entry Fee: 50 kuna for Adults and 25 for children.
Food is allowed, so you can have a nice picnic inside. Also, it is lit up at night to enjoy a bottle of wine with a romantic view.
Arch of Sergeii
This arch is dedicated to three brothers who fought in the battle of Actium. It’s right in the middle of a shop filled street, you can walk right underneath it!
Cost: Free
WWII Memorial in Titov park
This memorial is in Titov park across from the marina. It is dedicated to fallen fighters and victims of facism. Behind the monument are sculptures of notable fighters. The most inspirational to me was Ruza Petrovic who was tortured by Italian fascists and had her eyes gouged out. After the war, she founded a society for the blind.
Cost: Free
Floor of Punishment
Uncovered after bombings in WWII, this mosaic floor dates back to the 3rd century. It depicts a rare mythological punishment of Dirke only found on the Farnese bull in Naples and in Vatican museum paintings. It is a little difficult to find because it is behind the main drag of shops. First, look for this building, then, walk through the stone arch.
Cost: Free
Temple of Augustus
Built in 2 BC, this Roman temple is dedicated to Augustus. Today, it is a small museum with a few artifacts inside. Entry is 10 kuna, but I didn’t go inside because I could see everything from the doorway.
Zerostrasse
We did not have to pay an entrance fee the day we visited but this may not be the case every day. Below Pula is an underground system of tunnels stretching approx. 24 miles throughout the city. These were built during WWI to provide a shelter for the people in case of air raids. The underground tunnels consist of shelters, trenches, passages, and ammunition storages. These tunnels were also used as fallout shelters in WWII. It is unknown exactly how expansive the tunnels are as they continue to be excavated today. You have full roam of these tunnels and passages. There are some doorways with flimsy wire screens in front of that are very easily moved if you’re feeling mischievous.
Grotte von Pula
If you’re going to Croatia, you MUST go to the beach! Croatia has some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. I read about the blue cave on a CreativeRoam that had map directions to get there. It is fairly easy to follow and once you see water just keep following the coastline. The grotto is a good 25 ft tall, and i’m not sure how far in the cave goes. I only swam about 15ft in before it was pitch black and creepy. If you don’t like heights, you can jump off the sides too.
- Parking is free
- Bring water shoes, the rocks are rough
- You’ll see some nude swimmers
- You can bring umbrellas, coolers, floats, etc…
Where to stay…
Downtown Apartments Pula
I booked this the morning we left for Croatia for €58 per night. If you want optional housekeeping it’s an extra €10. The owner was very friendly and also owns the copy center on the ground floor. If you arrive after business hours, there will be a lock box with your apartment keys in it. We stayed in the Cleopatra loft, which has everything you need for a short or long term stay.
Food and drink…
Breakfast:
Corso Tapas Bar – You can have eggs for breakfast here, which is a rarity Europe. Croatians speak English very well, so reading and ordering from the menu will not be a problem. We both had scrambled eggs, coffee, and orange juice for 55 kuna.
Midday drinks:
Old City Bar – We stopped at this Irish looking pub for beers while walking around the city. It’s is near the Floor of Punishment so if you’re headed that way, stop in.
Dinner:
Jupiter Pizza – We ate here twice, in one day. I’m not ashamed at all, it’s that good. The huge rooftop seems to have about 12 different levels to it. I swear, the place just keeps going and going. We ate 2 medium pizzas, 2 beers, 1 liter of wine, and 2 sparkling waters for 210 kuna (31 USD).
