Croatia: Pula

We finally arrived in Pula at the southern end of the Istria Peninsula. Pula also happens to be the largest city in Istria and had a shipyard that employed 9000 people before the dissolution of Yugoslavia. The shipyard went bankrupt and now employs zero, though the waterfront is still rather industrial looking.

Pula, known in Latin as Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola Pollentia Herculanea, was a major Roman town. Amid the medieval old town, there are ruins of Roman temples, triumph arches, gates/walls, mosaic floors... Most impressive of all, Pula has the 6th largest Roman colosseum in the world, the only one whose four side towers are preserved. Such features had completely escaped me before.

Maybe the best city arrival in our travels ever was walking from the bus station in Pula to our apartment past an historic Art Nouveau cinema (1st below) , a roman colosseum (2nd below), and a 120 y.o. central market.






After eating the best roman-style pizza ever (1st below), we set off to the Old Town, entering through the Arch of the Sergii from 27 BC.




Temple of Augustus (27 BC to 14 AD) at the old Roman Forum ruins.




View of the Roman Arena from Pula Castle, and we stayed for the sunset.




The So-Called Hidden Roman 3rd-Century AD Floor Mosaic of "The Punishment of Dirce"


Home. And we polished off the Chocolate Pistachio Dessert we bought from Maremma Pizza earlier. Homemade.


The next morning we walked through the adjacent outdoor Sunday Market. Wow!




We bought some green apple ice cream - it was so-so.


Approaching the Roman Arena we saw a mob of people waiting in line to buy tickets. But no, there was an antique car show in front, and in back of the Arena.












Burek!


When the Italians were tossed out of Istria after WWII they left behind some impressive between-the-wars Italian Rationalist-Style Architecture.






After dinner we walked back to visit the Roman Arena at sunset.