Basic facts about Pula

Pula is the largest town in Istria county. Town Pula is situated at the southern tip of the Istrian Peninsula. The population of  Pula is 62,080 residents in 2006.
Pula is an ancient city full of cultural monuments.
The best known and most valuable ancient monument is surely the Arena, a magnificent colloseum dating from the II. century, the sixth largest in the world. Like the rest of the region it is known for its mild climate, tame sea, and unspoiled nature with an average of sunny days of 2,316 hours per year or 6.3 hours a day, with an average air temperature of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) (6.1 °C (43.0 °F) in February to 26.4 °C (79.5 °F) in July and August) and sea temperature from 7 °C (45 °F) to 26 °C (79 °F).

History of Pula

Prior to about three thousand years ago on a hill where today is Kastel, now occurs first village, fort Histrians. In addition to circular two main city streets, from prehistoric ruins, nothing more. Rights of urban history begins with the Romans. The official name of the city was Colonia Iulia Pola Pietas, and had all the functions and structures typical of the Roman settlement of immigrants.

At the time of migration in Pula surrounding areas in 7. century began to settle Slavs and Croats. After 1331st The Pula could not escape the claws of a lion St. Brand. Venetians in Pula showed interest in the economic development of the city, because it is the most important port as a transit point on their way from Venice along the eastern coast of the Adriatic to the Levant. Frequent epidemics of plague XIV. century, as well as endemic malaria and other diseases, were drastically reduced the population so that in Pula at the end of XVII. century there were only about 600 people. However, the period of humanism and the Renaissance in European culture are all known to the public became monuments of ancient Pula: Arena, Arch of the Sergi, Temple of Augustus, so many artists and architects XVI, XVII. and XVIII. century lived in Pula, drawing and describing the Roman buildings that were a model of architecture from the Renaissance to Classical.

When Venice capitulated, Istra and Pula came under the Austrian crown. Since 1815th until the end of World War Pula was part of the Austrian Littoral (Küstenland). When the 1856th Arsenal was opened, that is the main base of the Austrian Navy, began the modern development of the city and the entire southern Istria. After the 1876th was associated with the railway line Vienna – Trieste, Pula and the nearby Brijuni islands felt the beginnings of tourism, and all the members of the imperial family, led by Franz Joseph, were guests of the Pula.

The twentieth century was the century when Pula had multiple changes of government, with departures and arrivals of parts of the population, certain social and ethnic groups, particularly after the first and after the Second World War. Heavily damaged in bombing during the Second World War, the Pula in the second half of the twentieth century, once again blossomed and developed into the largest city of Istria, significant because of two main economic sectors: industry, led by the shipbuilding and tourism.