The Arena is an ancient Roman amphitheatre located in Pula – Istria – Croatia.
It is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers entirely maintained. It is build between 27 BC and AD 68, as the city of Pula became a regional centre of Roman rule, called Pietas Julia. The building is named after the sand (Latin harena) that covered the inner, performance area. It is among the world’s six largest surviving Roman arenas. The Arena is also the country’s best-preserved ancient monument.
History
The Arena is first built in timber during the reign of Augustus (2–14 AD). It is replaced by a small stone amphitheatre during the reign of emperor Claudius. In 79 AD is expanded to accommodate gladiator fights by Vespasian. Finally completed in 81 AD under emperor Titus.
St. Germanus, of whom little is known, is allegedly tortured in the Amphitheatre in or around 290, and subsequently martyred outside the city, on the road to Nesactium. The legend is apocryphal. The Arena remained in use until the 5th century when emperor Honorius prohibits gladiatorial combats. It is not until 681 that combat between convicts, particularly those sentenced to death, and wild animals is forbidden too. In the 5th century the amphitheatre began to see its stone plundered by the local population. By the 13th century, the patriarch of Aquilea forbade further removal from the Arena.
Today
The Arena is open to the public daily, and the underground passages house exhibitions of viticulture and olive growing in Istria.
Today, the Arena is a venue for many concerts. Performances have included ones by Foo Fighters, Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras, Jamiroquai, Anastacia, Norah Jones, Elton John, Sting, etc. It has a capacity of about 5000 spectators, and also hosts operas, ballets, sports competitions as well as the Pula Film Festival.