Pula Arena
First-century Roman amphitheatre with its full outer ring intact, still used for concerts.
Pula's amphitheatre was raised in stages during the first century AD, reaching its final form under Vespasian, and could seat something in the order of twenty thousand spectators drawn from the Roman colony of Pola and its hinterland. It is the only surviving Roman amphitheatre to keep its complete outer wall along with all three architectural orders and its four side towers, which held wooden staircases and cisterns used to feed the awning and fountains.
The seating tiers were quarried away for building stone in later centuries, but the elliptical shell of local limestone still rises to about thirty-two metres on the seaward side. The vaulted chambers beneath the arena floor now hold a permanent display on olive oil and wine production in Roman Istria, with presses, amphorae and reconstructed equipment. The building is managed by the Archaeological Museum of Istria and is used each summer for concerts, opera and the Pula Film Festival.
Highlights
- The only Roman amphitheatre retaining its complete outer wall and four towers
- Elliptical limestone shell rising to about 32 metres above the sea side
- Underground chambers with a display on Roman olive oil and wine production
- Summer venue for the Pula Film Festival, opera and concerts
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