Information
Landmark: Forum SquareCity: Pula
Country: Croatia
Continent: Europe
Forum Square, Pula, Croatia, Europe
Overview
Forum Square-also known as the Roman Forum-sits in the very heart of Pula, Croatia, ringed by weathered columns and the stone walls of ancient Roman buildings.In the Roman Empire, it buzzed as the heart of civic and social life, and today it still draws people in, giving visitors a vivid glimpse of Pula’s layered history and weathered stone arches.The Forum Square traces its roots to the Roman era, around the 1st century BCE, when stone-paved streets first framed its open space.In the Roman city of Pola, it stood at the heart of public life-a place where neighbors gathered to debate politics, worship the gods, and trade news under the midday sun.In ancient Rome, the forum bustled not only with trade but with speeches, festivals, and solemn rituals honoring the gods and the emperor.Around the sunlit square stood temples, a basilica, and the law court, their stone steps worn smooth by countless feet.It was built to embody Roman ideals of order, power, and civic duty, echoing the city’s place in the empire, and over the centuries the square has shifted and reshaped, its stones worn smooth by countless footsteps.After the Roman Empire collapsed, the land took on new purposes, yet traces of its old glory still catch the eye-faded columns casting long shadows across the square, where a ring of ruined temples and arches turns the place into a living museum.Among the city’s highlights is the Temple of Augustus, a remarkably well-preserved tribute to Rome’s first emperor, its pale stone columns catching the late afternoon sun.On the north side of Forum Square stands a building with tall Corinthian columns and a pediment carved in intricate relief, while nearby, the Arch of the Sergii rises in honor of the family’s victories.The arch is covered in finely carved reliefs of Roman soldiers in battle, shields raised and banners flying.Beneath the square, you can still see the remains of Roman cisterns-stone chambers once used to store water, proof of the clever engineering that kept Pula thriving.Just off the Forum stand the Great Roman Baths, part of the city’s public life, where people once gathered to wash, talk, and relax.The Forum Square itself stays open to the sky, its stone pavements and walkways inviting you to wander.In ancient times, the central square bustled with vendors calling out their wares, public debates echoing off stone walls, and solemn religious rites.Today, it’s still the city’s heart-tourists and locals linger at café tables beneath striped awnings, shops curve along its edges, and the space blends the spirit of old Pula with modern life.Through it all, the square has stood as a proud symbol of Pula’s Roman heritage and its place in the empire.The square embodies Roman ideals of civic life, its open spaces built for lively exchanges between citizens and officials.Long ago, it rang with the cheers of imperial celebrations, the thunder of triumphal processions, and the solemn rituals honoring the gods and the emperor.Today, visitors wander among weathered columns, temple steps warm in the sun, and scattered ruins that whisper of that past.Walking through the square, you pass weathered stones and crumbling columns, each one a quiet link to Pula’s deep Roman past.The Temple of Augustus stands out as one of the best-preserved and most striking sights, its stone columns still warm in the afternoon sun.Today, Forum Square buzzes with festivals and events, keeping Pula’s cultural heart alive.People often gather here for public events, festivals, and live performances, the sound of music and laughter weaving a vibrant, modern thread through its ancient atmosphere.In summer, the square comes alive with open-air concerts and theater under the warm glow of string lights, and it’s also a place where you can dive into the rich history of Pula and ancient Rome.Join a guided tour to uncover the stories behind the monuments and the history that shaped the square.It’s also the perfect spot to set off toward the surrounding Roman-era ruins and the winding lanes of Pula’s Old Town.In Roman times, the Forum Square buzzed as the city’s civic heart.It hosted key public events, from tense Roman senate meetings to lively celebrations marking military victories, where cheers echoed off the stone walls.The Temple of Augustus and the Arch of the Sergii stand proudly in the square, their weathered stone still sharp in the afternoon light, giving visitors a rare look at the Roman Empire’s former grandeur in this corner of the world.Archaeologists are still digging beneath the square, unearthing coins, pottery, and hidden walls that reveal more of its Roman past, turning the place into a living, unfolding story of history.Roman Influence: The square and the buildings around it show how the Istrian Peninsula slowly absorbed Roman ways, as local traditions and laws gave way-or blended-with Roman culture and governance, much like stone roads replacing dusty village paths.Just a few minutes’ stroll from Forum Square, the Pula Arena rises in pale stone, a towering Roman amphitheater that ranks among the best-preserved anywhere.Forum Square in Pula offers a vivid glimpse into Roman entertainment and public life.On its northern edge stands the Temple of Augustus, dedicated to the emperor and still commanding attention with its weathered stone columns.A short walk away, the Arch of the Sergii rises in tribute to the Sergii family, a bold reminder of Roman power.The square sits at the heart of Pula’s Old Town, where you can wander cobbled lanes past medieval façades and scattered Roman ruins.More than just a gathering place, it’s a living thread to the city’s ancient past.With landmarks like the Temple of Augustus and the weathered stone Arch of the Sergii, this place is a must-see for anyone drawn to the world of ancient Rome.The square still bustles with life, inviting visitors to wander between Pula’s ancient stone arches and its lively cafés, where the past and present mingle in the air.Whether you love digging into history or just wander with a camera in hand, Forum Square is a must-see corner of Pula’s past.
