Pula was our first introduction to Croatia and what a way to start!
Located on the Istrian peninsula, this seaside town is home to Roman ruins, ancient temples,
and some delicious pizza.
The town won us over right from day one, so in this video, we’re going to take you on
a tour of Pula (Pola) and show you some of the highlights:
Alright guys so our first attraction today is going to be the Roman Amphitheater.
And we walked past it on our first day here when we got off of the bus.
It looks amazing.
We've been shooting some photos and videos from the outside.
Just kind of like peeking in through the railing but now it is time to actually dish out some
cash and pay admission so we can see it up close and personal.
So here we go.
Alright Sam so we have made it in got our tickets.
How much was it?
They were 50 Kuna per person and if you take a look at this bill when I flip it over.
10 dollar.
Not 10 dollar.
10 Kuna bill.
10 Kuna bill you might that is a familiar site.
Look at that.
Quite familiar.
The amphitheatre.
Exactly.
And they also gave us like a little brochure so that we can read up.
This is great.
This information and I also really like that you can tour the place by yourself.
Oh yeah, Sam was so worried about being put on a guided tour.
Was not in the mood for that.
Pet peeve?
When I saw a lot of supposedly guided tours I was just like oh my gosh I do not have the
I can't I don't have he patience.
I can't function.
I can't stomach it today.
But it is so good we can do it independently.
Alright let's go explore.
The amphitheatre was built during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, at the same time the
Colosseum in Rome was going up.
What’s even more shocking is how well preserved it is; this is the only remaining Roman amphitheater
(Pula Arena) with all four side towers and three stories still standing.
Time for some history lessons with Audrey.
History lessons with Audrey.
You're saying my name in Spanish what is this?
Alright, so this is really cool.
They actually gave us a brochure with information so I don't even have to research anything
afterwards and do narrations.
So let me tell you.
Let's see.
So it said the arena is the most famous and the largest monument in Pula (Pola).
It is visited by more than 400,000 people every single year.
That is a lot.
Also one of the best preserved Roman Amphitheatres and the 6th largest amphitheater in the world.
And let's see what else is there here of interest.
Hmmm.
It could host up to 20,000 spectators.
Wow!
And it dates back to the 1st Century AD.
That is the size of modern like sports stadiums.
Like I'm thinking of some of the ice hockey arenas back in Canada.
They can hold up to 20,000 people or more.
Yeah.
That is crazy.
Except this wouldn't have been hockey.
No.
This would have been people fighting to the death.
There would have been a lot of action going on in here.
As a travel tip if you visit during the summer months you can catch numerous events at the
amphitheater including concerts, movie screenings and even reenactments of games from Ancient
Rome.
Alight, so the plan of action.
We have just finished visiting the Amphitheatre.
It was really really cool.
It was amazing.
Favorite attraction so far even though it is the one and only.
It will be hard to top this one I'm sure but I mean this has been awesome.
The best part has been it was like a 2 minute walk from our place.
Something like that.
Yeah, like our airbnb so close is right down the street from here.
Yeah.
But anyways I'm super hungry.
I wish we could have lunch right now but it is only eleven.
Yes.
And the restaurants don't seem to open until twelve.
So we're going to have to do some sightseeing.
I'm not sure where we are heading next.
Yeah.
But we'll figure it out.
But we have an hour to kill anyways.
Yep.
Let's go.
Okay so we are now walking along the Marina and there is actually a lot of different boat
tours you can take from here to neighboring islands and national parks.
Sam is having some fun taking photos.
So yeah, we're not planning to do a tour today.
We're just thinking food.
Um but yeah it is a really nice place to go for a stroll and yeah next I think we're going
to visit a cathedral.
When it comes to boat tours, the most popular destination is Brijuni National Park, a group
of small islands that sit out on the Adriatic Sea.
The islands have a few archaeological and cultural sites but though admission to the
park used to be free, these days you have to join one of the official excursions arranged
by the park or local tourist agencies.
As for Pula Cathedral (Katedrala uznesenja Blažene Djevice Marije), it turns out it
was closed when we tried to visit, so we can only show you the outside.
After all that wandering around town, it was finally time for lunch.
We arrived at Jupiter Pizzeria just as they were opening and didn’t waste any time grabbing
a seat on their outdoor terrace.
Pizza in Croatia.
That is the plan for today's lunch.
And you're probably thinking Pizza?
You're not in Italy order something local.
But pizza is super popular here.
We're basically like right across the sea from Italy.
You've just got the Adriatic in between.
So yeah, pizza is huge here and we're eating at a place called Jupiter Pizzeria.
Apparently it is the top pizza place in the whole city.
Yeah.
We researched it.
We did our research guys.
Oh yeah.
Hahaha.
Yeah, so we just placed our orders.
We're getting one local pizza and another seafood one because we're right by the coast.
So I can't wait for that to arrive.
We also ordered a glass of red wine.
So this is shaping up to be a great meal.
Uh!
I know.
Try that wine for us.
Oh yeah.
Good stuff?
Yes, it is nice full bodied, dry red.
You're going to like this one.
This is good stuff.
Alright guys so the food has arrived.
So so quickly.
I think they just threw in our pizza as soon as we ordered it and check it out.
This one is the frutti di mare.
The seafood one.
And honestly I'm going to have to read the ingredients because there is so many that
I don't even remember.
Yeah.
There is a lot going on.
So frutti di mare.
This one has tomato, cheese, scampi.
I don't know what scampi is.
Mussels, tuna, salted sardines, squid and garlic.
And cheese.
Did I also say cheese?
It has got lots of cheese.
And I ordered the medium size oh my gosh which I think I can totally handle.
But yeah look at that thing of beauty.
The colors.
They also had a jumbo size but there is no way we each needed jumbo.
Yeah, because we're thinking maybe we want dessert so we're going to hold off on the
giant one.
Oh ho ho.
I'm really excited to hear your reaction.
Yeah, at first I was just going to order a tuna one.
I thought that was the only thing they had with seafood.
Yeah.
But then I flipped the page and I saw you had this masterpiece so uh.
That is what we went for.
Uh.
Mmmm.
Oh man.
I got a nice salty sardine in there.
Haha.
That is good stuff.
Really really good stuff.
Alright Sam ready to introduce use to your pizza?
Yes.
We've been neglecting this poor thing over here.
And this is the Istriana one.
Let's read off the ingredients.
The menu.
Because yeah it has a lot.
So it comes with tomato, mozzarella, prosciutto, arugula, rucola.
Let's try that.
Mmmm.
Oh man that is really good.
Yeah?
I'm just totally in my happy place right now.
Eating pizza.
Pizza is one of my all-time favorite foods.
It is what I grew up liking the most as a kid.
And I mean my taste-buds have evolved but I still like a good pizza to me is right near
the top of the food chain.
And you know what is another reason to be in your happy place?
Why is that?
The weather.
Yeah.
You've got sunshine.
I know I'm wearing shorts.
It is like mid to late October right now.
I'm wearing shorts.
Shorts and sandal weather.
I haven't worn shorts in months.
Haha.
So now that we've had our lunch we are walking back up the hill and our next spot is going
to be a fortress we spotted on the way here.
So we'll go check it out and see what it is all about.
The fortress we spotted turned out to be Pula Castle, also known as Kaštel.
Located atop a hill right in the centre of Pula, this fortress was built by the Venetians
during the 17th century.
Admission was 20 kuna per person and there were two different museums exhibits to visit,
however, we’d argue that the main draw are the views.
Slightly blinded by the sun at the moment but we've made it to the top of the fortress
and hands down the coolest part about visiting this attraction are the views.
Yeah.
You get from the top you can see all of Pula.
You've got the amphitheatre off in the distance.
Yep.
And you can also see this iconic bell tower.
You sure can.
And some church that we have not visited yet but I'm sure we'll make time for it soon.
And then over on the other side you get a shot of all of the boats and the water.
Yeah, these massive cranes.
It is really cool.
It is quite the perspective from up here.
So we are now approaching the forum which is kind of like a plaza or a square and this
would have been the center of social life during the Roman times.
And over here on my left we actually have the Temple of Augustus (Augustov hram) so
we're going to go there next.
Have a look.
Actually there is a huge tour group going in there right now so maybe we'll wait a few
minutes and go in after them.
Over the course of the centuries, the Temple of Augustus has seen many uses from a Christian
church to a grain storehouse, but at present, it houses a very small 1-room museum – and
when we say small, we mean you can visit in 5 minutes!
Okay, so we just finished visiting the temple.
It was 10 Kunas each.
Honestly, it is super tiny in there.
It is just one room with some statues and yeah.
That is basically it.
So I mean I don't know if it is worth it.
Maybe if you enjoy antiquities and you want to see some old sculptures.
But it is super small.
Like I think we were in there maybe four minutes and then we walked out.
So yeah, the temple is really cool from the exterior but I guess I'll leave it up to you
to decide whether you want to pay to go in or not.
Then again it is not super expensive.
So this next place is a little bit tricky to find so plotted on Google Maps and it is
going to take you to a parking lot that is correct.
You're going to follow the signs that say Rimski Mozaik and then you're going to walk
through this gate.
Say hello to Sam.
Come on in.
And yeah it honestly looks like you're going to someone's residence.
At first I was like this can't be it.
Yeah but it totally is.
It is just over here.
And then viola here it is.
The Roman Mosaic is just a short walk from the Forum, so it’s worth the little detour
down back streets.
This incredible well-preserved floor depicts the Punishment of Dirce, which is straight
out of Greek mythology.
Now we are going to finish the day with some gelato at our airbnb because I feel like we've
earned it.
We've been walking around a lot today.
We deserve gelato.
Of course ice cream is always a must.
Sam want to tell us what you got?
Oh my gosh this is so good.
Waffle cone pistachio.
Yeah.
It is just so so good.
Yeah, he said.
Oh my gosh and it only cost 1 Euro.
So it is currently mid October but this morning we are on our way to the beach.
Um, we actually befriended the guy who sells gelato because we go there so often for ice
cream.
Yeah, it is literally right by our apartment.
Yeah, right outside the gate.
And he was asking us oh have you gone to the beach already and I kind of looked at him
funny like no it is October.
It is cold out.
But he insisted that no the air may be cold but the water is still warm.
So we believed him.
We don't have our swim wear but at least I'm willing to dip my toes in to find out.
We'll dip our feet.
Um, so yeah on our way to
the beach.
Hahaha.
So here we are.
We have made it to the beach.
How many people are swimming in the water Sam?
An absolute grand total of zero.
I think that means the water is cold but let's do a real test.
Oh man.
So here in Croatia it is very rare to find a sandy beach.
It is usually quite pebble-y.
Woah woah Sam is going in with sandals and everything.
What is going on over there?
Oh my gosh.
It is definitely not warm.
It is not warm?
It is surprisingly not as cold as I thought it would be but yeah that is absolutely not
swimming weather.
No?
I mean if you look off into the distance they have like a scuba diving school.
Yeah.
And they all have wet suits on so that is a very telltale sign.
And I enjoyed coming here.
Like even though we didn't really go out on the water.
Yeah.
And whatnot.
It was just a nice quiet like peaceful place.
Very different from you know like the city.
Yeah.
So it was worth coming here.
And you can tell that this would be an amazing spot in the summertime.
Like the water is crystal clear.
Look at that.
Yeah.
So yeah, if you're here in summer.
Summer in Pula (Pola).
Check out the beaches.
Definitely.
Yeah.
Lastly to wrap up on our time in Pula we went on a little tour of the city at sunset.
So we'll leave you with a few shots from that.