Take a walk through an area with a remarkable ancient history and breathe in the Mediterranean atmosphere of imperial Rome!

Right in the heart of Medulin, and just outside the main tourist area, you can find the Vižula peninsula, a quiet place with a millennia-long history. This is the site of a new multimedia Archaeological park Vižula.

The park was designed to meet the expectations of both children and adults and includes two bars, children’s playgrounds, an adrenaline park, a stage for various events in the former quarry, an archaeology school, and an antique garden. Visitors can obtain all the necessary information at the info-point at the entrance. Also you can rent VR goggles (during the high season) to enjoy the visualisation of the magnificent restored ancient villa and its individual sections . The park also features smart benches, an e-tree, a hotspot point, interpretation boards that include braille texts for blind and visually impaired visitors, and a circular tactile map. The entire peninsula is also under video surveillance.

Vižula is an exceptionally significant archaeological site. The archaeological remains in this 26-hectare area range from the Neolithic to Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages. The most significant find in Vižula is the remains of an ancient villa, which with its impressive dimensions, monumental architecture, rich decoration, beautiful mosaics and finest marble, is one of the most attractive, spacious and luxurious maritime residential villas from the period of the Roman Empire on the eastern Adriatic coast.

Arena – Amphitheater

The most famous and important monument, the starting and ending point of every sightseeing tour is the Amphitheater, popularly called the Arena of Pula, which was once the site of gladiator fights. It was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian, at the same time as the magnificent Colosseum in Rome.

The ground plan is elliptical, the longer axis measuring about 130 m and the shorter one about 100 m. Gladiator fights took place in the central flat area called the arena, while the spectators could sit on the stone tiers or stand in the gallery. It is believed that the Amphitheater could seat about 20,000 spectators. Local limestone was used for its construction. In the Middle Ages it was the site of knights tournaments and fairs.

Today, it is the venue for many different events – Pula Film Festival, various concerts, opera, ballet, sports competitions… since its capacity is about 5000 spectators.

Every week during the summer months, the Arena hosts gladiator fights as part of the historical and entertainment spectacle “Spectacvla Antiqva”.

The underground passages, once used by the gladiators, nowadays host a regular exhibition of viticulture and olive growing in Istria in ancient times. The exhibits include reconstructions of machines once used for the production of olive oil and wine (mills, presses, vessels) and amphorae used for storing and transporting olive oil and wine.

The Amphitheater is situated outside the old city walls because of its size and geographical configuration. The road that leads to the center was constructed during Emperor Vespasian, after whom it was named – Via Flavia. Even today it represents one of the main city roads.