Keep a little mystery in your trip planning: Explorer Picture Mode shows a stylized version of every place instead of the real photo, so you can go by the description and reviews first and picture it your own way -- reveal the real photo any time by flipping the switch off, or just for one place at a time from its own page.
Create a free account to pick your own style (Vintage, Oil Painting, Black & White) and have it remembered next time you visit.
The Pula Arena is one of the largest and most intact Roman arenas in the world, the second-largest after the Colosseum in Rome.
Located in the Croatian city of Pula, this arena/amphitheater is one of the most intact examples found anywhere in the world and is the only one to still have all four of its side towers intact.
The first iteration of the arena was built from wood in 27 BC as Augustus turned Rome into an empire. At that time, Pula was known as Pietas Julia, an important Roman city in Eastern Europe that was connected to Rome by the Via Flavia road.
The arena would undergo several renovations throughout its history. Emperor Claudius replaced the wooden structure with stone between 41 and 54 AD. Vespasian expanded the structure in 79 AD to make room for bigger and grander gladiatorial bouts.
The final version of the arena was constructed in 81 AD by Emperor Titus. Throughout Roman rule, the Pula Arena was used to stage battles between gladiators as well as fights between captives and wild beasts such as lions.
The Pula Arena is the second-largest Roman amphitheater in the world, after Rome's Colosseum. The arena has a total height of over 32 meters high and could fit 23,000 spectators.
The amphitheater can be visited all year round, with varying opening times depending on the season. It's located within the modern town of Pula, with entry costing HRK (kuna) 70 for adults and HRK 35 for students.