Pula, Croatia Cruises

Pula, Croatia Cruise Port

• No, you’re not in Italy: One of Pula's most famous sights is its 1st-century Roman Amphitheatre. Known as the Arena to locals, this was the place where 20,000 spectators would watch gladiators clash within the limestone walls (which is recreated during the summer months). Along with a small museum inside, the amphitheater still holds events, such as concerts and the annual Pula Film Festival.
   
• Pula’s central meeting place from antiquity through the Middle Ages, the Temple of Augustus was built from around 2 B.C. to 14 A.D. While it used to have public buildings and temples, it was turned into a church, grain warehouse, then eventually a small museum.
   
• Aquarium Pula is about two miles from the city center within an Austro-Hungarian fortress. Anyone who loves marine life will be fascinated by offerings from the Northern and Southern Adriatic Sea, European rivers and lakes, and other tropical and freshwater fish. As a former fortress, the views from the top give a breathtaking look at the city below.
   
• For religious history, the 13th century Church of St. Francis features Romanesque and Gothic architecture. A later addition is the 15th-century wooden polyptych, a lovely complement to the shell motifs and rose window.