Roman amphitheatre Arena, Pula
One of the most beautiful monuments of ancient culture in Croatia is precisely the Roman Arena in Pula – the most monumental and biggest Roman edifice still preserved in Pula, the sixth largest ancient amphitheatre in the world. Built in the 1st century, during the reign of the emperor Vespasianus (at the same time with the biggest and the most famous edifice of that type – the Coloseum of Rome) it could receive up to 25 000 spectators.
It used to host gladiator and knights’ fights, wild animals’ fights and other performances which were the most important social events in the ancient world. These performances were often costumed and they tried to evoke mythological scenes or scenes from the Roman or Greek history.
Today the Arena in Pula hosts different cultural events like the traditional Pula Film Festival, and different musical spectacles and operas, while in its underground premises there’s the permanent exhibition “Istrian olive and wine growing in ancient times”.
To perform in the Arena is a great honour for every musician, and among those who had a chance we can mention; Joe Cocker, Anastasia, Sting, Norah Jones, Zucchero, Jose Carerras, Cesaria Evora, Andrea Bocelli, Paco de Lucia, Vanessa Mae, Alanis Morissette, Simply Red, Jamiroquai, Eros Ramazzoti, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti.
