Among the reasons to visit Pula this summer, the Pula Superiorvm Days of Antiquity festival is the most celebrated. Held for the tenth year in a row, Days of Antiquity will take place between June 9 – 11, 2011 in the old city center and Amphitheater.
In June, all roads lead to Pula. You will have a lot to see here, ancient traditions celebrated by the citizens of Pula, and their visitors. Image courtesy Croatia.hr
The opening ceremony takes place June 9 at 8:30 pm in the ancient Forum of Pula, featuring various multimedia programs, and ancient music. This is the moment when the whole city steps back in time, to the days of the ancient Romans, to celebrate the city’s rich Roman legacy. Pula’s Latin name, Colonia Pietas Iulia Pola Pollentia Herculanea, will be remembered, and the many Roman buildings that survived the wrath of time will fill up with laughter, songs, and the sounds of the everyday life of ancient Romans.
The Days of Antiquity festival will feature toga parties, gladiator fights, ancient music and dance, street performers, and much, much more. Image courtesy Pula Superiorum.
Participants will enjoy the taste of ancient dishes with tasting of fine wines and oils every day. The traditional Roman breakfast, (Ientaculum Pula Superiorvm) including scrambled eggs, unleavened bread, fruit and cakes, will be served every day for the duration of the festival, and so will the lunch featuring local Istrian prosciutto, award-winning olive oil of exceptional quality and Istrian wine.
The festival reaches its climax with an original Roman experience - the gladiator fights in the famous Pula Amphitheater!
In addition, visitors will witness the making of ancient jewelry, stonemasonry and mosaics, as well as other ancient arts and crafts. This is an ideal occasion to visit the ancient monuments of southern Istria: the Pula Amphitheatre, the Archaeological Museum of Istria, Nezakcij, Vižula and ‘Roman’ Fažana. The organizers also included in the program a boat trip to the Brijuni National Park, which includes a visit of the Byzantine castrum and the Roman villa in Verige bay, and a visit at the Safari Park to see wild animals such as deer, pheasants, peacocks, zebras and Mouflon; as well as sightseeing of landmarks from the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage, such as the Euphrasian Basilica in Poreè.
The Pula Arena is the only remaining Roman amphitheatre to have four side towers and with all three Roman architectural orders entirely preserved. It was constructed in 27 BC - 68 AD and is among the six largest surviving Roman arenas in the World. Image courtesy, Wikipedia.
The festival includes many other events in the Portarata and Forum squares, such as a parade ‘Romans’, ancient dance and music, as well as a Roman movies in the movie theater Valli. Last but not least, visitors will be able to admire Pula’s gorgeous women dressed up in ancient Roman costumes. Those interested in seeing the festival can find more information at www.pulasuperiorum.com. Cost of participation, including 3 nights accommodation in a double room, is € 235,00 per person. The price also includes all tickets, all meals, and expert guidance. For information and reservations call +385 52 393 039 or email info@uniline.hr.
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