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Square in Pola (1842)

The centraI square in Pula is located on the site of the old Roman forum and has, unlike its surface, managed to retain its layout.

The ancient Forum was rectangular, and beside it a military road passed that came from the direction of Poreč and passed the Porta Aurea, then led to Pula's port on the Kvarner, in present day Pomer. From Pula's capitolium, that is today's Kastel, paths came downhill and delimited the Forum. Another road led to the sea. At the lower part of the Forum stood two twin temples, examples of charming architecture: the one closer to the sea was dedicated to Roma and Augustus, whereas according to legends the other one was dedicated to the goddess Diana. To the right of the temples, at the very foot of the hill stood a large and grandiose building which is considered to have been a basilica or building for public services and court. Its remains were visible two centuries ago, even today they have not completely disappeared. Other buildings that have been concealed by time were located on the remaining parts of the square, where monuments honouring emperors, generals, distinguished citizens stood. Only the statue of Licinius remains, while another statue was probably in honour of Septimius Severus.

In the Middle Ages, when Pula had an independent administration, and was still a prosperous and well populated city, a new building was erected that was used for the Council meetings, as the seat of the tribunal and residence of the Rector. The Temple of Diana was incorporated into it, so that the building stood between the temples of Diana and Augustus. It was built from the stone collected from the remains of ancient buildings, then cut and constructed according to the best architectural skill of that time. A special feature of the building were numerous decorated windows on the upper part of the facade. Although the pointed arch dominated in architecture at that time, the influence of Roman buildings, that Pula frequently imitated, was felt. On the ground floor of the palace was the loggia, magnificent stairway on the lateral wall, while the crenellation was full of engraved coat of arms and weapons of knights and nobility. Its corners were decorated with fantastic creatures.

In the seventeenth century the entire facade suddenly collapsed, but although very damaged, one part has remained and bears witness to the originaI appearance of the edifice. The palace was rebuilt in the style characteristic of that period, and once again it became the seat of the Council, tribunal and Rector, whom the Venetian government appointed the title of count and who, together with four other citizens, was entrusted with town administration and administration of the surrounding country. Habits of living of the Rector did not spare Roman and medieval remains so that they were either destroyed or their purpose changed so greatly that they can no longer be identified. In this century the TempIe of Augustus has been freed from the buildings that concealed it. The same has been done with the TempIe of Diana or at least what remains of it.

The palace is the seat of the I.R. Commissariat, district court and administration, whereas one of its halls has been turned into an assembly room.

Even today the square is one of the loveliest, largest and most harmonious in the region, and serves not only as a favourite meetmg pIace for people, but also as a market-place. If the old direction toward the sea was preserved so that the TempIe of Augustus was, as it had once been a part of the square., its harmony and very well preserved condition would make the square an even more precious site.

Source:

August Tischbein and August Selb (paintings), Pietro Kandler (Italian text), with translations by Srdja Orbanic' (Croatian), Jakob Löwenthal (German) and Vedrana Brajkovic' (English). Book published by C.A.S.H. Histria Croatica (Pula, 1997) and entitled:

Hrvatski: Uspomene sa slikarskog putovanja - Austrijskim Primosjem
Deusch: Erinnerrunger einer malerischen reise in dem Oesterreichischen Kusternlande
Italiano: Memorie di un viaggio pittorico nel litorale Austriaco
English: Reminiscences of the Artists' journey along the Austrian littoral

Vedi anche:

"Viaggio Pittorico - 1842" (Paintings gallery)

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This page compliments of Marisa Ciceran