Pula Arena

The Amphitheatre in Pula (Croatian: Amfiteatar u Puli; Italian: Anfiteatro di Pola), better known as the Pula Arena (Croatian: Pulska Arena; Italian: Arena di Pola), is a Roman amphitheatre located in Pula, Istria, Croatia. Constructed between 27 BC and AD 68, during the reigns of Emperors Augustus and Vespasian, the arena is one of the best-preserved ancient Roman amphitheatres in the world and the only remaining example to retain its entire circular wall structure. Originally built outside the city walls, the arena once accommodated up to 23,000 spectators and served as the main venue for gladiatorial contests, animal hunts, and other forms of public entertainment typical of the Roman Empire. The structure is built from local limestone and measures approximately 132 by 105 metres, with a height of 32 metres at its highest point. It features a complex system of subterranean passages, gates, and towers that were once used to manage performers, animals, and stage machinery. The arena’s architectural design reflects a blend of Roman engineering precision and adaptation to the Adriatic coastal landscape, offering panoramic views over Pula’s harbour. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, the amphitheatre gradually lost its original function and was used for various purposes, including as a fortress, quarry, and pasture ground. Systematic preservation efforts began in the 19th century, when the arena became recognized as a cultural monument of exceptional historical value. Today, it stands as one of Croatia’s most iconic landmarks and a symbol of Pula’s ancient heritage. In modern times, the Pula Arena has been transformed into a vibrant cultural venue, hosting numerous events such as the Pula Film Festival, concerts, opera performances, and theatrical productions. Its remarkable state of preservation, historical significance, and continuous use make it a rare example of an ancient monument seamlessly integrated into the fabric of contemporary cultural life. The site attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and is considered one of the best-preserved and most impressive Roman amphitheatres still in existence, and country's best-preserved ancient monument. The amphitheatre was depicted on the reverse of the Croatian 10 kuna banknote, issued in 1993, 1995, 2001 and 2004. History Construction The amphitheater is located 200 meters northeast of the city walls of Pula, in accordance with the Roman land division network. The Arena was built between 27 BC and 68 AD, as the city of Pula became a regional centre of Roman rule, called Pietas Julia. It is believed that construction began during the reign of Emperor Augustus and was funded by the central state treasury of the Roman Empire. It was replaced by a small stone amphitheatre during the reign of Emperor Claudius. In 79 AD it was enlarged to accommodate gladiator fights by Vespasian and to be completed in 81 AD under Emperor Titus. This was confirmed by the discovery of a Vespasian coin in the malting. The building is named after the sand (Latin harena) that once covered the inner performance area. It was built outside the town walls along the Via Flavia, the road from Pula to Aquileia and Rome. The two main axes of the outer wall structure measure 132.5 meters and 105.1 meters, with the maximum height reaching 32.45 meters. The amphitheater was built in the Tuscan style and occupies an area of 11,466 m². It is estimated that it could accommodate approximately 23,000 spectators. Built on the slope of a hill on the western side, facing the sea, the Pula amphitheater has four levels—an elevated foundation with entrances and three stories. On the eastern side, where the ground is naturally elevated, the walled portion of the structure is significantly smaller, with only the two upper stories rising above the ground. The outer wall of the amphitheater features arches 4 meters wide along the main axis, larger than the others, highlighting the main entrances (portae pompae). The entrance at the southern end was the most important, as it faced the city. This side also contained the main entrance to the arena. The second level of the seating was built around the entire perimeter of the amphitheater, consisting of 72 semicircular arcades. The third level belonged to a gallery in an oval, ring-like shape, covered by a slanted roof made of ceramic tiles and cup-shaped structures. Unlike the lower levels, the upper gallery was open to the outside, with 64 square windows. The cornice at the top of the second level supported platforms for inserting wooden masts, which towered over the amphitheater. The risk of soil erosion and slippage due to rain was minimized through the construction of a drainage system for rainwater. The arena, located in the center of the amphitheater, measures 67.9 meters along its longer axis and 41.6 meters along its shorter axis. The oval shape of the arena was ideal for processions, formations, military strategy, and the movement of armed groups. Beneath the arena was an auxiliary underground room, mostly carved into the living rock and partially built up to the required height. This space was used for holding cages for wild animals and various technical equipment for preparing the Gladiator games. In case of bad weather, the seating area was covered with cloth, using a system of pulleys and ropes. Wooden masts, which held the cloth, passed through designated openings in the stone cornice. On the opposite end, above the edges of the arena, was a metal ring supported by vertical masts. Ropes stretched between the outer masts and the inner metal ring held the fabric in place. In legend, Saint Germanus, of whom little is known, was tortured in the Amphitheatre in or around 290, and subsequently martyred outside the city, on the road to Nesactium. The amphitheatre remained in use until the 5th century, when Emperor Honorius prohibited gladiatorial combats. It was not until 681 that combat between convicts, particularly those sentenced to death, and wild animals was forbidden. In the 5th century the amphitheatre began to see its stone plundered by the local populace. By the 13th century, the patriarch of Aquileia forbade further removal from the arena. Details The exterior wall is constructed in limestone. The part facing the sea consists of three stories, while the other part has only two stories since the amphitheatre was built on a slope. The maximum height of the exterior wall is 29.40 m (96.5 ft). The first two floors have each 72 arches, while the top floor consists of 64 rectangular openings. The axes of the elliptical amphitheatre are 132.45 and 105.10 m (434.5 and 344.8 ft) long, and the walls stand 32.45 m (106.5 ft) high. It could accommodate 23,000 spectators in the cavea, which had forty steps divided into two meniani. The seats rest directly on the sloping ground; The field for the games, the proper arena, measured 67.95 by 41.65 m (222.9 by 136.6 ft). The field was separated from the public by iron gates. The arena had a total of 15 gates. A series of underground passageways were built underneath the arena along the main axis from which animals, ludi scenes and fighters could be released; stores and shops were located under the raked seating. The amphitheatre was part of the circuit of the gladiators. Each of the four towers had two cisterns filled with perfumed water that fed a fountain or could be sprinkled on the spectators. The amphitheatre could be covered with velaria (large sails), protecting the spectators from sun or rain (as attested by rare construction elements). Below the arena was a system of canals which collected rainwater and effluent and drained into the sea. This amphitheatre, through its conservation, has served as an example for the study of ancient building techniques. Later use In the Middle Ages the interior of the Arena was often used for grazing, occasional tournaments by the Knights of Malta and medieval fairs. In 1583 the Venetian Senate proposed dismantling the arena and rebuilding it within Venice. The proposals were rejected. Today, a headstone celebrating the Venetian senator Gabriele Emo's opposition to the plan is currently visible on the second tower. In 1789, stone was taken from Pula arena for the belfry foundations at Pula Cathedral. This was the last time the arena was used as a source of stone. Restoration General Auguste de Marmont, as governor of the Illyrian Provinces during the First French Empire, started the restoration of the arena. This was continued in 1816 by the Ticinese architect Pietro Nobile, commissioned by the Emperor Francis I of Austria. In 1932, the arena was adapted for theatre productions, military ceremonies and public meetings. In its present state, seating capacity is around 7,000 and 12,500 for all standing events. Present day The arena is used as a venue for many concerts. Performances have included ones by Duran Duran, Foo Fighters, Luciano Pavarotti, Đorđe Balašević, Plácido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Nina Badrić, Hillsong United, Patrizio Buanne, Jose Carreras, Dino Merlin, Jamiroquai, Anastacia, Eros Ramazzotti, Maksim Mrvica, Norah Jones, Zucchero, Zdravko Čolić, Alanis Morissette, Sinéad O'Connor, Elton John, Dua Lipa, Robbie Williams, 2Cellos, Sting, Michael Bolton, Seal, Il Divo, Tom Jones, Gibonni, Manu Chao, Oliver Dragojević, Leonard Cohen, Grace Jones, Moderat, David Gilmour, Avril Lavigne, Arctic Monkeys, and Frank Zivkovic. It has a capacity of about 5000 spectators, and also hosts operas, ballets, sports competitions as well as the Pula Film Festival. The arena is open to the public daily, and the underground passages house exhibitions of viticulture and olive growing in Istria. The arena has also been used for cinematic works such as Titus, a 1999 film adaptation of Shakespeare's revenge tragedy Titus Andronicus by Julie Taymor. On 8 July 2019, a football match was played between the former players of FC Bayern Munich and the Croatia national football team as part of a tourism partnership deal between FC Bayern Munich and the Istria Tourist Board signed in 2018. Two professional ice hockey games were played there on September 14 and 16, 2012; KHL Medveščak, a Zagreb-based Erste Bank Eishockey Liga club, hosted HDD Olimpija Ljubljana and the Vienna Capitals. Panorama Concerts List of events, concerts or any other public gathering on Pula Arena. See also Pula Film Festival List of Roman sites References Turner, J., Grove Dictionary of Art, Oxford University Press, USA. New Ed edition, January 2, 1996. ISBN 0-19-517068-7. Mlakar, Stefan, The Amphitheatre in Pula, The Archaeological Museum of Istra, 1957. Džin, Kristina. Mirko Žužić (ed.). Arena Pula. Zagreb: Viza MG d.o.o. Remetinečka cesta 81, Zagreb. ISBN 978-953-7422-15-8. Notes External links Pula Arena in Croatia Archived 2021-04-14 at the Wayback Machine – presentation about history of Pula Arena Arena (Colliseum) of Pula Archaeological Museum of Istria A Cravat around an Arena Histria Festival Archived 2021-01-24 at the Wayback Machine Site Romanheritage.com with thousands of photos of Roman Amphitheater at Pula, Croatia, and the rest of the Roman Empire