Pazin was established as the administrative capital of Istria, but there is no doubt, that the most important is Pula, with a population of 60,000, on the south-eastern tip of the peninsula. It is also a tourist center, industrial and large communication center, probably the oldest city on the Croatian Adriatic coast.
The symbol of Pula is the well-preserved Roman amphitheater, but before the Romans came here, nearby Nesactium was the capital of the Histri-Illyrians.
COMMUNICATION
Railway station (the. Kolodvorska 5, tel.052/541733) it's a little pink building, ok. 500 m from the amphitheater. The only railway line runs north from here, via Vodnjan and Pazin to Lupoglav, from where its branch leads to Buzet and the Slovenian border. Wanting to get from Pula to Rijeka or other parts of the country, you have to get through the Ućka massif (rail connections are coordinated with bus connections).
Trains from Pula: to Buzet (by Pazin; 6 daily; 5.15, 9.23, 13.20, 17.20, 18.03, 19.30, w nd. and holidays less), to Lupoglav (by Pazin; do 9 daily; 5.15, 6.55, 9.23, 13.20, 14.30, 15.35, 17.20, 18.03, 19.30, w nd. and holidays less); to Diva £ a and Lubiana in Slovenia (1 daily; pn.-pt. 13.20). From 13 June to 29 August 18.03 Pula-Ljubljana also runs fast. Rijeka is also accessible from Pula (a train bus in Lupoglava), and then to Zagreb. From 9 June to 5 In September, an express train runs to Zagreb on a similar basis.
The bus station is on the edge of the old town, at ul. Trg 1. Istrian Brigades (information; tel.052/502997, ticket office tel.052/500012). Buses from Pula go to all major towns of the peninsula and beyond: to Dubrovnik (20.00, on site approx. 11.00), Poreč (ok. 14 connections, less on weekends), Rivers (ok. 20 daily, less on weekends), Split (3 daily; 6.45, 11.00, 20.00), Rovinj (20 daily, less on weekends), Umag (4 daily), Opatija (13 daily), Zagreb (ok. 15 daily, less on weekends). You can also go to cities abroad: high season until 6 daily buses go to Trieste and several to Venice and Padua, and two to the town of Kopar in Slovenia.
Approximate ticket prices: Dubrovnik 366 kn, Abbey 50-55 kn, River 57 kn, Porec 32 kn, Split 256 kn, Zagreb 114—161 kn, Sad 100 kn, Padua 187 kn, Venice 172 kn.
The airport is located outside the city (Valtur field 210, tel.052/ 550105, information tel.052/530105, www.airport-pula.com). Planes fly from here, among others. to Dubrovnik, Zagreb, London, Amsterdam and charters. The Croatia Airlines office is located close to the bus station (the. Carrara 8, tel.052/218909, fax 211998).
Ferries depart from the marina at ul. Riva, close to the old town. From Pula you can sail, among others. to Mali Lośinj and to Zadani (in the season 4 weekly) and Venice (1 weekly). More information and ticket sales: Jadroagent (the. Riva 14,11052/210431, 211878, jadroagent-pula@pu.hinet.hr).
ORIENTATION AND INFORMATION
Most of Pula's monuments can be found on the semicircular peninsula near the port. This part of the city is covered by a pedestrian zone – streets surround it: Starich Statute, running along the coast of Riva, Flaciusova, Anticova, Dalmativova, Republic Square, Flanatićka and Istarska (the last two within the pedestrian zone). The train and bus stations are close to the old town. It is also close to the ferry pier.
Southern part of the city, stretched along the picturesquely shaped shore, it's a tourist district. Hotels have been built here, bungalows and campsites, and the coast serves sunbathers and swimmers. The bay begins near the Hotel Histria, converted into a large marina.
The tourist information office is located at the Forum (Pula Tourist Board; Forum 3, tel.052/219197, fax 211855, tz-pula@pu.htnet.hr; in the summer 8.00-22.00, winter 9.00-18.00). Pula on the Internet: www.pulainfo.hr.
ACCOMMODATION
Pula offers a multitude of beds at various prices. It is similar in the immediate area - to the east of the city, on the Medulin Lagoon, there are tourist towns, m.in. Medulin and Premantura. There are also in Pula, very few in Croatia, hostels. Seats must be booked well in advance. In the hotels described below, the price includes breakfast (unless otherwise stated).
Hotels and hostels
Hotel Histria (the. Verudela, tel.052/ 590000, fax 214175, marketing@arena-turist.hr). By the sea, near the marina in Pula; 457 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, beach. 80 € / os. in a double room. Pula Hotel (the. Please 31, tel.052/386922, fax 386165, info@hotel-pula.com). By the sea; 384 places; restaurant, swimming pool. 40-71 € / os. in a double room. Milan hotels (the. They stand 4, tel.052/210200, fax 210500, hotel-milan@pu.tel.hr). Close to the sea; 24 places; restaurant. 60 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Brioni (the. Verudela 24, tel.052/ 215585, fax 213671, marketing@arena-turist.hr). By the sea; 400 seats; swimming pool, beach. 54-56 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Park (the. Verudela, tel.052/375000, fax 375018, marketing@arenaturist. hr). By the sea; 242 places; restaurant, swimming pool, beach. 47-49 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Palma (the. Verudela, tel.052/ 590760, fax 214175, marketing@arena-turist.hr). By the sea, close to the marina; 219 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, beach. 48—50 € / os. in a double room.
Scaletea Hotel (the. Flavivian 26, tel.052/ 541599, fax 540285, krtalic@pu.tel.hr). Next to the amphitheater; 22 places; restaurant. 47 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Riviera (the. Split 1, tel.052/ 211166, fax 219117, marketing@arena-turist.hr). Near the train station; 163 places; restaurant. 45— 47 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Omir (the. Sergije Dobrić 6, tel.052/ 210614, fax 213944, hotel-omir @ post.hinet.hr). Near the Arc de Triomphe; 40 seats; restaurant. 61— 81 €/double room. (without breakfast).
Hostel Puntiźela (Anyway, Punctuate it 155, tel.052/517433, fax 517399, info@punti-zela.hr). By the sea, quite far from downtown; 245 places in 41 rooms; restaurant. 22-26 € / os. in 4 and 6-person rooms. (without breakfast).
Youth Hostel (Anyway, the. Gulf of Valsaline 4, Pula-Verudela, tel.052/391133, fax 391106, pula@hfhs.hr). 140 seats, Additionally 40 in cabins and camping; all year round, near the beach; access by buses #2 i 3. In the season 11,20-13,35 €/os., in the cabins 13,35-15,35 € / os. (cheaper after the season).
Hotel – Medulin
Hotel Medulin (Medulin, tel.052/572601, fax 576017, marketing@areneturist. hr). 368 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, bathing area. 57-74 € / os. in a double room.
Belvedere Hotel (Medulin, tel.052/ 572001, fax 572549, marketing@arene-turist.hr). 971 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, bathing area. 44—55 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Mutila (Medulin, tel.052/576004, fax 572700, marketing@areneturist.hr). 565 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, bathing area. 45-59 € / os. in a double room.
Hotel Minerva (the. Sad 33, tel.052/576795, fax 380086). 60 seats; restaurant. 26-48 € / os. in a double room.
Campsites
Campsite They are standing (Anyway, They stand, tel.052/ 387144, fax 387748, marketing@arena-turist.hr). 1 IV — 30 X; on the peninsula, reserved; 2100 seats. 6,90 €/os., 3,05 € / child, 12-14,40 € / plot with electricity connection.
Camping Puntiźela (Anyway, Squeeze it 155, tel.052/517433, fax 517399, info@punti-zela.hr). 1 IV — 30 X; quite far from downtown; reserved; 1400 seats. 4.90 €/os., 2,50 € / child, 5,40- 9,40 €/installment, 2,60 €/power connection.
Camping Taśalera (Anyway, Oppressive, tel.052/575555, fax 575533, milan.taljat@pu.hinet.hr). 1 IV-30 IX; on a peninsula far from the city; 700 seats. 4.90 €/os., 2,40 € / child, 4,90 € / tent + car, 5,80 € / caravan + car, 2,65 €/power connection.
Campsites – Medulin
Camping Kaźela (Medulin, tel.052/ 576050, fax 576050, teh.eko.kamp-kazela@pu.tel.hr). 1 V-30 IX; 3500 seats;, for textile and naturists. 5-6,90 €/os., 3,10-4,40 € / child, 9,80-14,50 € / plot with electricity connection.
Camping Medulin (Medulin, tel.052/ 572801, fax 576042, marketing@arena-turist.hr). 3 IV-9 X; 3500 seats. 6,30-7 €/os., 2,70-3,10 € / child, 8,80- 14,40€ / plot with electricity connection.
Apartments and private accommodation
Europa apartments (Verudela, tel.052/ 590781, fax 222798, marketing@arena-turist.hr). 894 places; restaurant, swimming pool, by the sea. 84-88 € / apartment 2-3-os., 84-101 € / apartament 4-os. Horizont Apartments (Golden Rocks, tel.052/213949, fax 210162, marketing@ arenaturist.hr). 1324 places; bathing area. 60—95 € / apartament 2-os., 85— 106 € / apartament 4-os.
Punta Verudela Residence (Golden Rocks, tel.052/590781, fax 222798, marketing@ arenaturist.hr). 1785 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, bathing area. 60-73 € / apartment 2-3-os., 81-107 € / apartment 4-5-os., 98-113 € / apartment 6-os.
Some travel agencies that provide accommodation rentals:
The Istra Elite (the. Flaciusova 6, tel.052/214172, fax 214094, www.elite-istra.com). 24-30 €/double room, 35-43 € / apartament 2-os., 49-60 € / apartament 4-os.
Europe Istria (the. Split la, tel.052/ 529483, fax 529481, www.arenaturist. hr). 24—31 € / double room, 47—62 € / apartament 2-os., 60-83 € / apartament 4-os.
Lang International (the. Flanatic 11, tel.052/212926, fax 215060, lang-international@pu.tel.hr). 31-45 € / apartament 2-os., 50—70 € / apartament 4-os.
Travel Compass (Old Statutes 4, tel.052/ 212511, fax 211592, pula@kompas-travel.com). 29—46 € / apartament 2-os., 35—59 € / apartament 4-os.
Apartments and lodgings – Medulin
Apartamenty Al Pini (Medulin, tel.052/ 572601, fax 576017, marketing@arena-turist.hr). 256 seats; restaurant, swimming pool, bathing area. 89-93 € / apartament 4-os.
Kaźela Apartments (Medulin, tel.052/ 577470, fax 576050, teh.eko.kamp-kazela@pu.tel.hr). For naturists; restaurant, bathing area. 47-56 € / apartament 2-os., 65—78 € / apartament 4-os., 78—96 € / apartament 5-os.
Brioni Agency (Center 223, tel.052/ 576475, fax 576475, www.brioni.hr). Next to tourist information. 26-40 €/double room, 27—40 € / apartament 2-os., 43-57 € / apartament 4-os.