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Pola Monuments - late 19th Century

Photographed by:

Alois Beer (1837-1897)
Alinari Brothers: Leopoldo (1832-1865), Romualdo (1830-1891) and Giuseppe (1836-1890)
Others

Roman Amphitheater (Arena)

The Roman Amphitheatre (commonly called Arena), from the 1st and 2nd centuries, occupies a dominant position above the harbour. It has an elliptic ground-plan (132.45 x 105.10 m), the walls are 30.45 m high; it could seat 23,000 spectators. It is the world's sixth largest preserved amphitheatre. The legend has it that it was built by Emperor Vespasian on the initiative of his Pula-born girl friend Cenida.

Porta Gemina

The Nymphaeum leads to the southwest, with a way branching off to the Twin Gate (Porta gemina) from the 2nd century; an inscription is built-in above the Gate. The Twin Gate leads to the Archaeological Museum of Istria, with a park, in which exhibits are placed, in front of it.

Triumphal Arch of the Sergi

The richly adorned Triumphal Arch of the Sergi, erected some time after 31 BC near the inner part of the main town gate (Porta aurea, collapsed in 1829), is reached from the Portarata Square. A large Roman graveyard was located in front of the town gate, which Dante mentions in his Inferno (Canto IX); several marble sarcophaguses from the graveyard are housed at the Museo civico Correr in Venice. A walk through the centre of Pula is a walk through history.

Temple of Augustus

The Temple of Augustus (of the goddess Romae and Emperor Augustus) from the 1st century is located on the northern side of the square, on an elevated base, with a portico comprising six Corinthian columns and a closed cella. The Town Hall is near the temple, attached in 1296 to the Roman temple (of Diana); the back of the temple has been preserved.

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