The arena in Pula is a building from Roman times and was built around the 1st century at the time of Emperor Claudius. Like similar amphitheatres from the Roman time, the arena in Pula, was the place of gladiator fights and it could receive about 20,000 spectators.

The arena has an elliptical shape, the major axis length is about 130 meters and the shorter 100 meters. The walls are about 30 m high, and the auditorium was built on four levels. Besides the gladiator fights, in the arena were held  public trials and torturer of the first Christians. One of them was St. German, who is now the patron saint of Pula. The seating schedule in the arena strictly followed the social hierarchy. After the prohibition of gladiator fights in the 5th century, the amphitheater was not used and was left to ruin, until the 18th century when began the restoration. 

Today the arena is a scene of many cultural events in the city and among them the most important is the film festival in Pula. In the underground rooms which previously housed the gladiators, today there is a very interesting archaeological museum with a rich collection of exhibits.