The Amphitheatre in Pula (; ), better known as the Pula Arena (; ), is a Roman amphitheatre located in Pula, 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.

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, 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, , 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.

The axes of the elliptical amphitheatre are long, and the walls stand 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 . The field was separated from the public by iron gates.

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.

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

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. .
  • Mlakar, Stefan, The Amphitheatre in Pula, The Archaeological Museum of Istra, 1957.

Notes

  • Pula Arena in Croatia – presentation about history of Pula Arena
  • Arena (Colliseum) of Pula
  • Archaeological Museum of Istria
  • A Cravat around an Arena
  • Histria Festival
  • Site Romanheritage.com with thousands of photos of Roman Amphitheater at Pula, Croatia, and the rest of the Roman Empire