Amfiteatar - Arena Pula

Pula Amphitheater - Most important information

The amphitheater in Pula, or the Arena, is an ancient Roman amphitheater. It was built by the order of Emperor Vespasian in the first century, at the same time as the famous Colosseum in Rome. Today, the theater is the most important monument in the whole of Pula, and it is undoubtedly an unmissable attraction when visiting this city.

History of the Amphitheater in Pula

The amphitheater in Pula was intended for gladiator fights: the Arena in Pula was built between 100 and 200 AD. At the same time, Pula was called Pietas Julia and was the leading regional center of Roman power. Gladiator and knight fights were held there, as well as arduous battles with wild beasts. The Arena in Pula witnessed the most critical events in the ancient world since the entire arena could accommodate as many as 20,000 spectators. It was built near the city, outside the walls, along the road from Pula to Rome.
The Arena's shape rivals the world's most prominent theaters at the time: the Arena had an elliptical shape, while in the middle, there was a flat area or Arena. Onlookers stood in the gallery or sat on the stone steps. It was built from local limestone and used for knightly tournaments and various fairs in the Middle Ages.

Significance of the Amphitheater in Pula
Today, the Pula Arena is used for various summer events, Film and Equestrian festivals, music and opera concerts, and many others. Today, its capacity is 5,000 spectators, and during the summer, gladiatorial fights modeled after the ancient ones are held under the name Spectacvla Antiqva. In the room once intended for gladiators, today, an exhibition called Olive growing and viticulture of Istria in antiquity is held, which offers examples of reconstructed oil and wine processing machines from antiquity and the Roman era.

Opening hours and ticket prices

The Arena in Pula is open every day for its visitors except for January 1.

Opening hours: The Amphitheater in Pula has different opening hours depending on the time of year. Thus, from April to May, visits will be possible from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. or 10:00 p.m.; during other months, the Arena is open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Pula Amphitheater website.
Ticket price: The ticket price for adults is HRK 70, while the price for children and students is HRK 35.

How to get to the Amphitheater in Pula?

The Amphitheater in Pula is located near the Temple of Augustus and Titov Park on the seashore. It is easy to reach by public transport, on foot, or by car.

By bus: There are several bus stops in the vicinity of the Amphitheater, and it is possible to get there by bus lines 2a, 8a, 9, 5, 21h, 22, and many others.
On foot: If you are coming from the direction of Montezaro, you will need a 10-minute walk to the Amphitheater across Istarska Street. If you are coming from the direction of Šijanska šuma, follow the 43rd Istarske divizije Street, which will take about 15 minutes of easy walking.