Pula Amphitheatre / Arena of Pula

The Roman Amphitheatre in Pula is one of the largest of its kind, and was built by Emperor Vespasian on the site of smaller amphitheatre. After it was enlarged in the 1st Century, around the same time frame as the construction of the Colosseum in Rome, the Amphitheatre could seat over 20,000 spectators. The arena was used then for gladiator fights and later for knights' tournaments. In the 15th Century stone from the Amphitheatre we taken and used in the construction of other buildings in Pula, including the Castle. Since then it has undergone restoration work at different times and now can seat about 5,000 people. In the summer months it is used to host a variety of festivals and performances.

The underground passages contain some archeological finds and exhibits on the local olive industry during ancient times. The Pula Arena is located north of the old city center.