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Pula

For other uses, seePula (disambiguation).
"Pola (Istria)" redirects here. For other uses, seePola (disambiguation).

Pula(Croatian:[pǔːla]ⓘ), also known asPola(Italian:[ˈpɔːla];Venetian:Pola;Istriot:Puola;Slovene:Pulj;Hungarian:Póla), is the largest city inIstria County,Croatia,and theseventh-largest city in the country,situated at the southern tip of theIstrian peninsulain northwestern Croatia, with a population of 52,220 in 2021.[3]It is known for its multitude of ancientRomanbuildings, the most famous of which is thePula Arena,one of the best preserved Romanamphitheaters.The city has a long tradition ofwine making,fishing,shipbuilding,and tourism. It was the administrative centre of Istria fromancient Roman timesuntil superseded byPazinin 1991.

Pula
Pola
City
Grad Pula/Città di Pola
Clockwise, from top:Pula Arena;Arch of the Sergii;Verudela marina; Pula Arena interior; Church of Saint Anthony; Town Hall and theTemple of Augustus
Flag of Pula
Flag
Coat of arms of Pula
Coat of arms
Map
Location of Pula in Croatia
Pula is located in Croatia
Pula
Pula
Pula is located in Europe
Pula
Pula
Coordinates:44°52′13″N13°50′44″E/ 44.87028°N 13.84556°E/44.87028; 13.84556
CountryCroatia
CountyIstria County
Government
• MayorFilip Zoričić (Ind.)
• City Council
22 members[1]
Area
[2]
•City53.8 km2(20.8 sq mi)
• Land41.59 km2(16.06 sq mi)
• Urban
53.8 km2(20.8 sq mi)
Elevation
30 m (100 ft)
Population
(2021)[3]
•City52,220
• Density970/km2(2,500/sq mi)
•Urban
52,220
• Urban density970/km2(2,500/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+1(CET)
• Summer (DST)UTC+2(CEST)
Postal code
HR-52 100
Area code+385 52
Vehicle registrationPU
Websitepula.hr

History

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Pre-history

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Evidence of the presence ofHomo erectusone million years ago has been found in the cave of Šandalja near Pula.[4]Pottery from theNeolithicperiod (6000–2000 BC), indicatinghuman settlement,has been found around Pula. In theBronze Age(1800–1000 BC), a new type of settlement appeared in Istria, called 'gradine', or hill-top fortifications.[5]Many late Bronze Age bone objects, such as tools for smoothing and drilling, sewing needles, as well as spiral bronze pendants, have been found in the area around Pula.[6]The type of materials found in Bronze Age sites in Istria connects these with sites along the Danube.[6]The inhabitants of Istria in the Bronze Age are known as Proto Illyrians.[6]

Greek potteryand a part of a statue ofApollohave been found, attesting to the presence or influence ofGreek culture.[7]Greek tradition attributed the foundation ofPolaito theColchians,mentioned in the context of the story ofJasonandMedea,who had stolen thegolden fleece.The Colchians, who had chased Jason into the northern Adriatic, were unable to catch him and ended up settling in a place they calledPolai,signifying "city of refuge".[8]

Ancient period

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Aerial view of the city
Pula Arena in 1728
Porta Gemina

In classical antiquity, it was inhabited by theHistri,[9]aVeneticorIllyrian tribe. Strabo,Pomponius MelaandLycophronwrote that it was inhabited byColchians.[10][11][12] TheIstrian peninsulawas conquered by the Romans in 177 BC,[9]starting a period of Romanization. The town was elevated to colonial rank between 46 and 45 BC as the tenth region of the lateRoman Republic,underJulius Caesar.[9][13]During that time the town grew and had at its zenith a population of about 30,000. It became a significant Roman port with a large surrounding area under its jurisdiction.

During the civil war of 42 BC of the triumvirate ofOctavian,Mark AntonyandLepidusagainst Caesar's assassinsBrutusandCassius,the town took the side of Cassius, since the town had been founded byCassius Longinus,brother of Cassius. After Octavian's victory, the town was demolished. It was soon rebuilt at the request of Octavian's daughter Iulia and was then calledColonia Pietas Iulia Pola Pollentia Herculanea.The colony was part ofVenetia et Histria,a region ofRoman Italy.Great classical constructions were built of which a few remain.

A greatamphitheatre,Pula Arena,was constructed between 27 BC and 68 AD,[14]much of it still standing to this day. The Romans also supplied the city with a water supply and sewage systems. They fortified the city with a wall with ten gates. A few of these gates remain: the triumphalArch of the Sergii,the Gate of Hercules (in which the names of the founders of the city are engraved), and the Twin Gates. During the reign of the emperorSeptimius Severusthe name of the town was changed to "Res Publica Polensis". The town was the site ofCrispus Caesar's execution in 326 AD andGallus Caesar's execution in 354 AD. In 425 AD the town became the centre of a bishopric, attested by the remains of foundations of a few religious buildings.[9]

Middle Ages

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Chapel of St. Mary Formosa
Church of St Nicholas (Sv. Mikula)
Kaštel Pula
Pula, a view from across the bay with the amphitheater beyond. AuthorAntonio Joli(1700–1777)

After the fall of theWestern Roman Empire,the city and region were attacked by theOstrogoths,Pula being virtually destroyed byOdoacer,a Germanicfoederatigeneral in 476 AD.[15]The town was ruled by theOstrogothsfrom 493 to 538 AD.[15]When their rule ended, Pula came under the rule of theExarchate of Ravenna(540–751). During this period Pula prospered and became the major port of theByzantinefleet and an integral part of theByzantine Empire.[15][16]TheBasilica of Saint Mary Formosawas built in the 6th century.[15]

From 788 on Pula was ruled by theFrankish EmpireunderCharlemagne,with the introduction of thefeudal system.[16][17][18]Under the Franks it was part of theKingdom of Italy.Pula became the seat of the elective counts of Istria until 1077. The town was taken in 1148 by the Venetians and in 1150 Pula swore allegiance to theRepublic of Venice,thus becoming a Venetian possession. For centuries thereafter, the city's fate and fortunes were tied to those of Venetian power. It was conquered by thePisansin 1192 but soon reconquered by the Venetians.[19]

In 1238Pope Gregory IXformed an alliance between Genoa and Venice against the Empire, and consequently against Pisa too. As Pula had sided with the Pisans, the city was sacked by the Venetians in 1243. It was destroyed again in 1267 and again in 1397 when theGenoesedefeated the Venetians in a naval battle. Pula then slowly went into decline. This decay was accelerated by the infighting of local families: the ancient Roman Sergi family and the Ionotasi (1258–1271) and the clash between Venice and Genoa for the control of the city and its harbour (late 13th and 14th centuries). In 1291, by the Peace of Treviso, Patriarch Raimondo della Torre gained the city as part of thesecular realm of the Patriarchate of Aquileia,only to lose it to Venice in 1331, which then held it until its downfall in 1797.

Pula is quoted by the Italian poetDante Alighieri,who had visited Pula, in theDivine Comedy:"Sì come a Pola, presso del Carnaro, ch'Italia chiude e i suoi termini bagna" or "As Pola, along theQuarnero,that marks the end of Italy and bathes its boundaries ".

Venetian, Napoleonic and early Habsburg rule

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TheVenetianstook over Pula in 1331 and would rule the city until 1797. During the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, Pula was attacked and occupied by the Genoese, the Hungarian army and the Habsburgs; several outlying medieval settlements and towns were destroyed. In addition to war, theplague,malariaandtyphoidravaged the city. By the 1750s there were only 3,000 inhabitants left in ancient city, an area now covered with weeds and ivy.[20]

With the collapse of the Venetian Republic in 1797 followingNapoleon'sTreaty of Campo Formio,the city became part of theHabsburg monarchy.It was invaded again in 1805 after the French had defeated the Austrians. It was included in theFrench Empireof Napoleon as part of theKingdom of Italy,then placed directly under the French Empire'sIllyrian Provinces.

Austrian Littoral province and union with Italy

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In 1813, Pola (with Istria) came back to theAustrian Empire.Under thecompromise of 1867,the town – under the original Italian name, Pola – remained inAustria-Hungaryuntil the latter's defeat and dissolution in 1918.[21]Under Austrian rule, Pola regained prosperity. Its largenatural harbourbecame Austria's main naval base and a major shipbuilding centre.[22][23]It was chosen for the base in 1859 byHans Dahlerup[da],a Danish admiral in the service of Austria.[20]Subsequently, Pola grew from a fading provincial town into an industrial city. The island of Brioni (in Croatian renamedBrijuni) to the North West of Pola became the summer vacation resort of Austria'sHabsburgroyal family.In World War I, the port was the main base for Austro-Hungariandreadnoughtsand other naval forces of the Empire.[22]During this period many inhabitants were Italian speaking. The 1910 Austrian census recorded a city population of 58,562 (45.8% Italian speaking; 15.2% Croatian, the rest were mostly German-speaking military).[24]

Following the collapse of Austria-Hungary in 1918, Pola and the whole of Istria – except the territory of CastuaKastav– went to Italy.[23]Pola became the capital of theProvince of Pola.The decline in population after World War I was mainly due to economic difficulties caused by the withdrawal of Austro-Hungarian military and bureaucratic facilities and the dismissal of workers from the shipyard.[25]Under theItalian Fascistgovernment ofBenito Mussolini,non-Italians, especially Croatian residents who came to Pola underAustro-Hungarianrule, faced stringent political and cultural repression because they had now to integrate themselves into the Kingdom of Italy and learn the Italian language. Many left the city and went back to the newly createdYugoslavia.After the collapse of Fascist Italy in 1943, the city was occupied by the GermanWehrmachtand remained a base for U-boats. Consequently, the city was subjected to repeated Allied bombing from 1942 to 1944. In the last phase of the war, Pola saw the arrest, deportation, and execution of people suspected of aiding the Axis, by the partisans who together with the Yugoslav communists killed many soldiers and civilians, in the first episodes of what would have been named, later on, theFoibe massacres.[citation needed]

  • Pula Riviera in 1904
  • Adolf Hirémy-Hirschl,Sailors in the Harbor of Pola, pastel on paper, c. 1916. TheJack DaultonCollection, Los Altos Hills, California.
  • Austro-Hungarian dreadnoughts at Pola
  • Flag in use during the Italian rule of the city[26]
  • Coat of arms in use during the Italian rule of the city

Post–World War II and modern era

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Pula Universitybuilding

AfterWorld War II,theIstrian Italiansof Pula left Yugoslavia towards Italy (Istrian-Dalmatian exodus).[27]For two years after 1945, Pola was administered by theAllied Military Government for Occupied Territories(AMG). Pola formed an enclave within south Istria that was occupied by Yugoslavia since 1945 with the help of Churchill. The AMG was occupied by a company of the United States 351st Infantry and aBritish battalionof the 24thGuards Brigade.Istria was partitioned into occupation zones until the region became officially united with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFR Yugoslavia) on 15 September 1947, under terms of theParis Peace Treaties.The city became part of theSocialist Republic of Croatia,a federal state withinSFR Yugoslavia,upon the ratification of the Paris Peace Treaties on 15 September 1947 – which also created theFree Territory of Trieste.Initially, Pola's population of 45,000 was largely made up of ethnic Italians, however, between December 1946 and September 1947, the vast majority of Italians fled to Italy.[citation needed]Subsequently, the city's Croatian name, Pula, became the official name. Today the city of Pola or Pula is officially bilingual, Croatian and Italian, hence both Pula and Pola are official names. Since the collapse of Yugoslavia in 1991, Pula has been part of theRepublic of Croatia.[citation needed]

Geography and climate

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Pula (Pula, City of Pula)
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
78
10
2
64
10
2
65
13
4
70
16
8
56
21
12
53
25
16
48
28
18
75
28
18
85
24
15
85
20
12
80
14
7
112
10
4
█Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█Precipitation totals in mm
Source:EuroWeather
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
3.1
50
36
2.5
50
36
2.6
55
39
2.8
61
46
2.2
70
54
2.1
77
61
1.9
82
64
3
82
64
3.3
75
59
3.3
68
54
3.1
57
45
4.4
50
39
█Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█Precipitation totals in inches

The city lies on and beneath seven hills on the inner part of a wide gulf and a naturally well-protected port (depth up to 38 m (125 ft)) open to the northwest with two entrances: from the sea and through Fažana channel.

Today, Pula's geographical area amounts to 5,165 ha (12,760 acres), 4,159 ha (10,280 acres)[28]on land and 1,015 ha (2,510 acres) at sea, bounded from the north by islands Sv. Jerolim and Kozada, city areas Štinjan/Stignano, Veli Vrh/Monte Grande and Sianna with its 'Kaiserwald' forest; from the east area Monteserpo, Valmade, Busoler and Valdebek; from the south with the old gas works, commercial port Veruda and island Veruda; and from the west Verudela, Lungomare and Musil.

Protected from the north by the mountain chain ofAlpsas well the inner highland, theclimateishumid subtropical(Köppen climate classification:Cfa), with the highestair temperatureaveraging 23 °C (73 °F) during July and August and lowest averaging 6 °C (43 °F), in January and February. Summers are usually quite hot, although some strange heat wave patterns are also common.[clarification needed]

Normally, it is humid. Temperatures above 10 °C (50 °F) last for more than 240 days a year. There are two different kinds of winds here – theborabrings cold and clear weather from the north in winter, and the southernSiroccobringing rain in summer.[29]The 'Maestral' is a summer breeze blowing from the inland to the sea.

Like the rest of the region Pula is known for its mild climate and tame sea with an average of sunny days of 2,316 hours per year or 6.3 hours a day, with an average air temperature of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F)[30](6.1 °C (43.0 °F) in February to 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in July and August) and sea temperature from 7 °C (45 °F) to 26 °C (79 °F).[31][32][33]

Climate data for Pula
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 10
(50) 		10
(50) 		13
(55) 		16
(61) 		21
(70) 		25
(77) 		28
(82) 		28
(82) 		24
(75) 		20
(68) 		14
(57) 		10
(50) 		18
(65)
Daily mean °C (°F) 6
(43) 		6
(43) 		9
(48) 		12
(54) 		17
(63) 		21
(70) 		23
(73) 		23
(73) 		20
(68) 		16
(61) 		11
(52) 		7
(45) 		14
(58)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 2
(36) 		2
(36) 		4
(39) 		8
(46) 		12
(54) 		16
(61) 		18
(64) 		18
(64) 		15
(59) 		12
(54) 		7
(45) 		4
(39) 		10
(50)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 78
(3.1) 		64
(2.5) 		65
(2.6) 		70
(2.8) 		56
(2.2) 		53
(2.1) 		48
(1.9) 		75
(3.0) 		85
(3.3) 		85
(3.3) 		80
(3.1) 		112
(4.4) 		871
(34.3)
Average rainy days 12 12 12 13 13 13 10 11 11 12 13 13 145
Mean dailysunshine hours 3 4 5 6 8 9 10 9 7 5 3 3 6
Percentpossible sunshine 33 40 42 43 53 56 67 64 58 45 30 33 47
Source 1:EuroWeather
Source 2: Weather Atlas (sunshine data)[34]
Climate data for Pula
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average sea temperature °C (°F) 11.3
(52.4) 		10.4
(50.7) 		11.2
(52.1) 		13.7
(56.7) 		18.2
(64.8) 		23.0
(73.3) 		25.0
(77.0) 		25.2
(77.3) 		23.7
(74.6) 		19.6
(67.3) 		16.8
(62.3) 		14.2
(57.5) 		17.7
(63.8)
Mean daily daylight hours 9.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 15.0 16.0 15.0 14.0 12.0 11.0 10.0 9.0 12.3
AverageUltraviolet index 1 2 3 5 7 8 8 7 5 3 2 1 4.3
Source: Weather Atlas[34]

Population

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Historical population
YearPop.±%
18573,628—
186910,601+192.2%
188025,390+139.5%
189031,498+24.1%
190036,143+14.7%
191059,498+64.6%
192138,591−35.1%
193144,219+14.6%
194820,812−52.9%
195328,259+35.8%
196137,099+31.3%
197147,156+27.1%
198156,153+19.1%
199162,378+11.1%
200158,594−6.1%
201157,765−1.4%
census data

Pula is the largest city inIstria County,with ametropolitan areaof 90,000 people.[citation needed]The city itself has 57,460 residents (census 2011),[35]while the metropolitan area includesBarban/Barbana (2,802 residents),Fažana/Fasana (3,050 residents),Ližnjan/Lisignano (2,945 residents),Marčana/Marzana (3,903 residents),Medulin/Medolino (6,004 residents),Svetvinčenat/Sanvicenti (2,218 residents) andVodnjan/Dignano (5,651 residents). Its population density is 1,093.27/km2(2,831.6/sq mi), ranking Pula fifth in Croatia.

Itsbirth rateis 1.795 per cent and itsmortality rateis 1.014 per cent (in 2001 466 people were born and 594 deceased), with anatural population decreaseof −0.219 per cent and vital index of 78.45. The majority of its citizens areCroatsrepresenting 70.14% of the population (2011 census). The largest ethnic minorities are: 3,454Serbs(6.01 per cent), 2,545 localItalians(4.43 per cent), 2,011Bosniaks(3.5 per cent), 549Slovenians(0.96 per cent).[36]

City of Pula:Population trends 1857–2021
population
3628
10601
25390
31498
36143
59498
38591
44219
20812
28259
37099
47156
56153
62378
58594
57460
52220
18571869188018901900191019211931194819531961197119811991200120112021
Sources:Croatian Bureau of Statistics publications

Sights

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The city is best known for its many surviving ancient Roman buildings, the most famous of which is its 1st-centuryamphitheatre,which is among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the world.[14]and locally known as theArena.This is one of the best-preserved amphitheatres from antiquity and is still in use today during summer film festivals. During the World War II Italian fascist administration, there were attempts to dismantle the arena and move it to mainland Italy, which were quickly abandoned due to the costs involved.

Two other notable and well-preserved ancient Roman structures are the 1st-century BCtriumphal arch,theArch of the Sergiiand the co-evalTemple of Augustus,built in the 1st century AD built on theforumduring the reign of the Roman emperorAugustus.[37][38]

The Twin Gates (Porta Gemina) is one of the few remaining gates after thecity wallswere pulled down at the beginning of the 19th century. It dates from the mid-2nd century, replacing an earlier gate. It consists of two arches, columns, a plainarchitrave,and a decoratedfrieze.Close by are a few remains of the old city wall.

The Gate of Hercules dates from the 1st century. At the top of the single arch, one can see the bearded head ofHercules,carved inhigh-relief,and his club on the adjoiningvoussoir.A damaged inscription, close to the club, contains the names ofLucius Calpurnius PisoandGaius Cassius Longinuswho were entrusted by theRoman senateto found a colony at the site of Pula. Thus it can be deduced that Pula was founded between 47 and 44 BC.

The Augustan Forum was constructed in the 1st century BC, close to the sea. In Roman times it was surrounded by temples ofJupiter,JunoandMinerva.This Roman commercial and administrative centre of the city remained the main square of classical and medieval Pula. It is still the main administrative and legislative centre of the city. The temple of Augustus is still preserved today. A part of the back wall of the temple of Juno was integrated into theCommunal Palacein the 13th century.

Two Roman theatres have withstood the ravages of time: the smaller one (diameter c. 50 m; 2nd century AD) near the centre, the larger one (diameter c. 100 m; 1st century AD) on the southern edge of the city.

The city's old quarter of narrow streets, lined withMedievalandRenaissancebuildings, are still surfaced with ancient Roman paving stones.

The Byzantine chapel ofSanta Maria del Canneto(or St. Mary Formosa) was built in the 6th century (before 546) in the form of a Greek cross, resembling the churches inRavenna.It was built byMaximianus of Ravenna,then adeacon,but laterArchbishop of Ravenna.It was, together with another chapel, part of aBenedictine abbeythat was demolished in the 16th century. The floors and the walls are decorated with 6th-century mosaics. The decoration bears some resemblance to theMausoleum of Galla PlacidiaatRavenna.The wall over the door contains a Byzantine carved stone panel. The 15th-century wall paintings may be restorations of Early Christian paintings. When the Venetians raided Pula in 1605, they removed many treasures from this chapel to Venice, including the four columns of oriental alabaster that stand behind the high altar ofSt Mark's Basilica.

TheCathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Marywas built in the 6th century, when Pula became the seat of a bishopry, over the remains of the original site where the Christians used to gather and pray in Roman times. It was enlarged in the 10th century. After its destruction by Genoese and Venetian raids, it was almost completely rebuilt in the 15th century. It got its present form when a late Renaissance façade was added in the early 16th century. The church still retains several Romanesque and Byzantine characters, such as some parts of the walls (dating from the 4th century), a few of the original columncapitalsand the upper windows of the nave. In the altar area and in the room to the south one can still see fragments of 5th- or 6th-century floor mosaics with memorial inscriptions from worshippers who paid for the mosaics. The windows of the aisles underwent reconstruction inGothic styleafter a fire in 1242. The belfry in front of the church was built between 1671 and 1707 using stones from the amphitheatre. There also used to stand a baptistery from the 5th century in front of the church, but it was demolished in 1885.

The Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas with its Ravenna-style polygonal apse originally dates from the 6th century, but was partially rebuilt in the 10th century. In 1583 it was assigned to the Orthodox community of Pula, mainly immigrants fromCyprusandNauplion.The church owns several icons from the 15th and the 16th century and aniconostasisfrom the Greek artistsTomios Batosfrom the 18th century.

The star-shaped castle with fourbastionsis situated on top of the central hill of the old city. It was built, over the remains of the Romancapitolium,by the Venetians in the 17th century, following the plans of theFrench militaryarchitectAntoine de Ville.Since 1961 it now houses theHistorical Museum of Istria.Close by, on the north-eastern slopes, one can see the remains of a 2nd-century theatre.

The Church of St. Francis dates from the end of the 13th century. It was built in 1314 in the lateRomanesquestyle with Gothic additions such as therose window.The church consists of a singlenavewith threeapses.An unusual feature of this church is the doublepulpit,with one part projecting into the street. A 15th-century woodenpolyptychfrom anEmilianartist adorns the altar. The west portal is decorated with shell motifs and arose window.The adjoining monastery dates from the 14th century. The cloisters display some antique Roman artefacts.

TheArchaeological Museum of Istriais situated in the park on a lower level than theRoman theatreand close to the Twin Gates. Its collection was started by MarshallMarmontin August 1802 when he collected the stone monuments from the temple of Augustus. The present-day museum was opened in 1949. It displays treasures from Pula and surroundings from prehistory until theMiddle Ages.The building was constructed under Austro-Hungarian rule and was the former k.u.k.Staatsgymnasium,the Austrian high school. TheAquarium Pulais the biggest aquarium in Croatia, located in the Austro-Hungarian fortress Verudela, which was built in 1886 on the peninsula 3 km (2 mi) from the centre of the city of Pula. Transforming the fortress into the aquarium has been in progress since 2002. The installation encompasses about 60 tanks on the ground floor, the moat, and the first floor of the fortress. In an area of approximately 2,000 m2(21,528 sq ft), visitors can view inhabitants of the Northern and Southern Adriatic Sea, tropical marine and freshwater fish, and representatives of European rivers and lakes. From the roof of the fort, visitors may view the entire city of Pula. It is also possible to see the first marine turtle rescue centre in Croatia.

Fort Bourguignonis one of many fortresses in Pula that the Austrian empire erected to protect the port for its navy.

Nesactium[39]is an ancient hill fort settlement, which is considered to be the oldest urban settlement in Istria. The town is settled about 10 km north of Pula, next to Valtura and Pula Airport. The site itself is located above Bay of Budava, and it is well protected by its steep hills. Nesactium is first mentioned as the main settlement of the Histri, the oldest people on the peninsula, which was the eponym for Istria. Livy was the first who mentioned Nesactium, and the altar dedicated to Emperor Gordian from the 3rd century, where "Res Republica Nesactiensium" is mentioned, confirmed the actual existence of this city. The search for the city began in 1900, whenPietro Kandlerfirst put together the toponym Vizače with ancient Nesactium.

As a result of its rich political history, Pula is a city with a cultural mixture of people and languages from the Mediterranean and Central Europe, ancient and contemporary. Pula's architecture reflects these layers of history. Residents are commonly fluent in both Croatian and Italian but also in foreign languages like German and English. From 30 October 1904 to March 1905 Irish writerJames Joycetaught English at the Berlitz School; his students were mainlyAustro-Hungarian naval officerswho were stationed at theNaval Shipyard.While he was in Pola he organised the local printing of his broadsheetThe Holy Office,which satirised bothWilliam Butler YeatsandGeorge William Russell.[40]

  • Pula Arena exterior
  • Pula Arena interior
  • Istrian National Theatre
  • Punta Verudela
  • Arch of Sergii
  • Byzantine Piran Reliquary at the Pula Archeological Museum
  • Lungo Mare beach
  • Light design byDean Skiraon cranes in Pula harbour
  • Pula Cathedral
  • TheTemple of Augustus

Tourism

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Riviera Hotel (right)

Pula's surrounding natural environment, countryside and the turquoise water of theAdriatichave made the city popularsummer holidaydestination. The pearl nearby is Brioni island orBrijuninational parkvisited by numerous world leaders since it was the summer residence ofJosip Broz Tito.Roman villasand temples still lie buried among farm fields and along the shoreline of the dozens of surrounding fishing and farming villages. The coastal waters offer beaches, fishing,wreck divesto ancient Romangalleysand World War I warships,cliff diving,and sailing to unspoiled coves and islands large and small.

Pula is the end point of theEuroVelo9cycle routethat runs fromGdańskon theBaltic Seathrough Poland, theCzech Republic,Austria,SloveniaandCroatia.

It is possible to trackdinosaurfootprints on the nearby seashores; certain more important finds have been made at an undisclosed location nearBale.

Transport

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Žverinac hydrofoil at the port of Pula

Pula had an electric tramway system in the early 20th century. It was built in 1904 as a part of Pula's economic crescendo during the Austro-Hungarian rule. After World War I, during the Fascist rule, the need for tram transportation declined and it was finally dismantled in 1934.

Pula Airportis located north-east of Pula, and serves both domestic and international destinations.[41]Similarly to nearbyRijeka Airport,it is not a major international destination. However, this has changed over recent years aslow-cost airlineRyanairstarted scheduled flights to Pula in November 2006.Easyjetoffers many flights to UK airports. Jet2 also offers flights from Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds-Bradford, Belfast, Manchester, and East Midlands Airports. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operates scheduled flights from Stockholm and Copenhagen during summertime. Nearbyinternational airportsincludeTriestein Italy,Zagreb,Croatia's capital andLjubljana,Slovenia's capital. There are direct flights into Pula airport from London during the whole year and several other large airports in Western Europe during summer.

Pulaprometcity bus

On 9 April 2015European Coastal Airlinesestablished a dailyseaplaneservice from the downtown seaplane terminal at the city's main waterfront. Destinations as of April 2015 areRijeka,theisland of RabandMali Lošinj.[42][43]The airline ceased operation in 2016.

A train service operates north from Pula through to Slovenia, however, the line remains disconnected from the rest of theCroatian Railwaysnetwork. Plans to tunnel the 'missing link' between this line and from Rijeka have existed for many years, and despite work commencing on this project previously, have never seen completion. People traveling to Rijeka or Zagreb by train must get off in Lupoglav and take a bus to Rijeka.

Pula Bus Terminus/Terminalis the main hub for Istria and is located on the edge of town just west of the Amphitheatre. From there, excellent service to a wide range of local, domestic, and international locations is available throughout the year. Several bus companies operate from this Terminus including the local service run by Pulapromet. There is also a guaranteed direct line from Pula to Trieste/Venice, especially into spring/summertime.

Passenger ferries also operate from the port area to nearby islands, and also toVeniceandTriestein Italy from June to September.

Nearby towns and villages

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Porer Lightouse

International relations

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See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Croatia

Twin towns – sister cities

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Pula istwinnedwith:[44]

  • Graz,Austria(since 1972, partnership established in 1961)[45]
  • Trier,Germany(since 8 September 1970)[46]
  • Imola,Italy(since 1972)
  • Verona,Italy(since 1982)
  • Čabar,Croatia(since 1974)
  • Kranj,Slovenia(since 1974)
Other forms of city partnership
Friendly relationships

Notable people

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See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^"Vijećnici Gradskog vijeća".pula.hr.City of Pula.Retrieved28 April2024.
  2. ^Register of spatial units of the State Geodetic Administration of the Republic of Croatia.WikidataQ119585703.
  3. ^ab"Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements"(xlsx).Census of Population, Households and Dwellings in 2021.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.2022.
  4. ^Skorin-Kapov, Jadranka."A short historical overview of Istria and, especially, Pula".croatianhistory.net.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2020.Retrieved13 March2017.
  5. ^"Istria in the Bronze Age (1800-1000 B.C.)".istrianet.org.Archivedfrom the original on 30 January 2021.Retrieved7 April2012.
  6. ^abc"Tracking the History of the Hillforts in Istria and Slovenia".istrianet.org.Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2013.Retrieved7 April2012.
  7. ^"A short historical overview of Istria and, especially, Pula".croatianhistory.net.Archivedfrom the original on 20 January 2020.Retrieved6 January2010.
  8. ^"Istria on the Internet – Customs – Legends – Pola".istrianet.org.Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2013.Retrieved27 January2010.
  9. ^abcd"A HISTORICAL OUTLINE OF ISTRIA".www2.arnes.si.Archivedfrom the original on 8 June 2011.Retrieved27 January2010.
  10. ^"Strabo, Geography, 1.2.39".Archivedfrom the original on 24 October 2021.Retrieved21 February2021.
  11. ^"Pomponius Mela, Chorographia, 2.57".Archivedfrom the original on 28 January 2021.Retrieved26 May2020.
  12. ^"Lycophron, Alexandra, 1011".Archivedfrom the original on 8 June 2020.Retrieved26 May2020.
  13. ^Ivelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 10
  14. ^abDžin 2009,p. 7
  15. ^abcdIvelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 12
  16. ^ab"Arheoloski muzej Istre".mdc.hr.Archived fromthe originalon 13 October 2008.Retrieved27 January2010.
  17. ^Ivelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 13
  18. ^"Charlemagne – The making of Europe".mhas-split.hr.The Museum of Croatian Archaeological Monuments.Archivedfrom the original on 21 July 2011.Retrieved27 January2010.
  19. ^"A Historical Outline of Istria".zrs-kp.si.Archived fromthe originalon 6 April 2009.Retrieved27 January2010.
  20. ^abIvelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 15
  21. ^Die postalischen Abstempelungen auf den österreichischen Postwertzeichen-Ausgaben 1867, 1883 und 1890, Wilhelm Klein, 1967
  22. ^abFirst World War– Willmott, H.P., Dorling Kindersley, 2003, Page 186-187
  23. ^abCresswell, Atkins & Dunn 2006,p. 117.
  24. ^Kocsis, Károly; Az etnikai konfliktusok történeti-földrajzi háttere a volt Jugoszlávia területén; Teleki László Alapítvány, 1993ISBN963-04-2855-5
  25. ^"Summary: Islam in Europe, European Islam".Cser.it. Archived fromthe originalon 6 March 2009.Retrieved11 July2009.
  26. ^"Trentino Friuli città".rbvex.it.Retrieved5 June2023.
  27. ^E. White and J. Reinisch (2011).The Disentanglement of Populations - Migration, Expulsion and Displacement in Postwar Europe, 1944-49.Palgrave Macmillan UK. p. 81.ISBN9780230297685.Archivedfrom the original on 9 August 2022.Retrieved16 February2022.
  28. ^Ivelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 24
  29. ^Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Sirocco".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 25 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 157.
  30. ^Ivelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 28
  31. ^Ivelja-Dalmatin 2009,p. 29
  32. ^"CLIMATE PULA – Weather".tutiempo.net.Archivedfrom the original on 2 July 2013.Retrieved26 January2010.
  33. ^"EuroWEATHER – Maximum temperature, Pula/Pola, Croatia – Climate averages".eurometeo.Archivedfrom the original on 8 November 2018.Retrieved26 January2010.
  34. ^ab"Pula, Croatia – Climate data".Weather Atlas.Archivedfrom the original on 24 April 2019.Retrieved9 March2017.
  35. ^"Population by Age and Sex, by Settlements, 2011 Census: Pula".Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.December 2012.
  36. ^"Population by Ethnicity, by Towns/Municipalities, 2011 Census: County of Istria".Census of Population, Households and Dwellings 2011.Zagreb:Croatian Bureau of Statistics.December 2012.
  37. ^"Arch of the Sergii Pula - Visit Pula, Croatia".visitpula.hr.Retrieved7 June2024.
  38. ^"Temple of Augustus Pula - Visit Pula, Croatia".visitpula.hr.Retrieved7 June2024.
  39. ^Historical sites in Pula."Nesactium near Pula".PulaCroatia.Archivedfrom the original on 5 August 2020.Retrieved21 November2018.
  40. ^"Dear Dirty Dublin – redirect".Lib.utulsa.edu. Archived fromthe originalon 29 March 2008.Retrieved23 August2009.
  41. ^AIPfrom theEuropean Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation[dead link]
  42. ^"Fotogalerija: U Pulu iz Splita hidroavionom stigli prvi putnici – GlasIstre.hr".glasistre.hr.Archived fromthe originalon 11 April 2015.Retrieved23 April2015.
  43. ^"Timetable – European Coastal Airlines".Archived fromthe originalon 17 April 2015.Retrieved23 April2015.
  44. ^"Međunarodna suradnja Grada Pule".Grad Pula(in Croatian and Italian). Archived fromthe originalon 5 May 2012.Retrieved28 July2013.
  45. ^"Twin Towns – Graz Online – English Version".graz.at. Archived fromthe originalon 8 November 2009.Retrieved5 January2010.
  46. ^"Grad Pula: Građani Triera u posjeti gradu prijatelju Puli".19 October 2015. Archived fromthe originalon 19 October 2015.
  47. ^(Protocol of partnership and town twinning in 1997)[full citation needed]
  48. ^Международные Связи – Администрация муниципального образования город-герой Новороссийск(in Russian). Archived fromthe originalon 23 December 2011.Retrieved21 December2011.
  49. ^location of Croatian rebellion
  50. ^(since 2003)
  51. ^(since 2002)
  52. ^Mikuličin, Ivana (4 December 2017)."HELENA MINIĆ MATANIĆ 'Mnogi muškarci i u 21. stoljeću svoje supruge tretiraju kao ukras života'".Globus.Archivedfrom the original on 2 October 2018.Retrieved2 October2018.

General and cited references

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Further reading

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Published in the 19th century

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Published in the 20th century

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Wikivoyage has a travel guide forPula.
Wikimedia Commons has media related toPula.
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