Travel guide Pula
Small, colorful and full of life!
If you're vacationing on the island and have found a cozy apartment or holiday home in a prime location, you should definitely head to
Cagliari. There, you can spend an entire day visiting the best attractions. We recommend, for example, the historic Castello district. It majestically sits atop a limestone rock. Particularly impressive are the two defense towers. The Casteddu district has been preserved in its original structure.
Pula itself also captivates with a charming
old town and picturesque alleys. Traditional restaurants line up next to craft businesses. The shallow sea of Santa Margherita di Pula is a sight to behold and a fun activity for both young and old. Radiant blue sea and sandy dunes can be found in
Chia - one of the southern pearls of Sardinia. The locals and tourists share the place with pink flamingos! Between Pula and Nora, you'll find an aquarium at the Laguna di Nora, where you can learn a lot about the local fauna and flora.
If you want to experience the underwater world up close, grab a snorkel and discover ancient ruins, some even underwater, at the
Spiaggia di Nora. If you prefer to stay above water, you can also start sea kayaking tours. Nearby, there is a bathing bay surrounded by Spanish towers. Additionally, there is a beach where a chapel stands.
Historically unique
Have you found an apartment or a house with a garden near the beach? Then you're ready for the cultural life in Pula. So, get out of the apartment and into the fun! The
National Archaeological Museum (Italian: Museo Archeologico Nazionale) of Cagliari has been located in the "Cittadella dei Musei" since 1993. It's the highest point of the old town hill in the former royal arsenal and always worth a visit. The modern museum houses and displays important archaeological treasures. Here, you can admire figures, statues, and vases, masterpieces of prehistoric bronze art.
Even today, you can see the
traces of the Romans at an excavation site. They conquered the city in 238 BC and built over it. Baths, mosaic floors, villas, and a semi-circular theater from the 2nd to 4th century can be seen here. Outside the gates of the ancient city, there is also a Romanesque pilgrimage chapel (San Efisio). Between the ruins of Nora, the
"La Notte dei Poeti" ("The Night of the Poets") takes place in July and August. An extraordinary festival where dances, theater, and poetry are performed under the open sky. A breathtaking atmosphere between ancient villas and ruins at a unique location, perfect for activities!
A market of superlatives
If you want to cook in your holiday apartment in Pula near the water, you should definitely explore the typical Italian markets. The highlight among the markets is undoubtedly the Mercato San Benedetto in Cagliari. Here, in the market hall on two floors, you can find all kinds of food. The lower floor is exclusively reserved for seafood and fish. The rule here is: You will only find local products from Sardinia.
If you want to eat comfortably in the center of Pula or in the surrounding area, we recommend, for example, the restaurant Cucina Machrì. Excellent pasta and fish dishes are on the menu. A reservation is recommended. The restaurant La Grotta is located in the pine forest between the center and the beach. A rustic local of the Flamingo Hotel with low prices and friendly service. Generally, on the island, large banquets under the open sky are often held on Sundays. Hours before the meal, the animals are skewered and old men supervise the roasting. The herbs that the respective animal ate while grazing give them a unique flavor. Perfect for you as a culinary traveler!
Cathedral, Water, Dog
A
holiday with a dog in a holiday apartment with a kitchen in Sardinia? Of course!
Italy is known to be very dog-friendly. Pets are generally welcome. The selection of apartments and holiday homes where pets are allowed is also large. So, off with the whole family to the sandy beach, sea, and island feeling!
A great fun for the little ones and you is, for example, the
BluFan Aquapark - not far from Pula. Slides, events, and animations thrill both young and old. Adults can participate in water aerobics. Fun events like foam parties are regularly held. However, the park is only open in the
high season (July 1 to September 10). A day ticket costs €18 here. But there's not only sporting action in the aqua park. In
Santa Margherita di Pula, you can sail, dive, surf, play golf and tennis, or even ride horses. The local water sports center and the
climbing park behind the beach have already made Santa Margherita di Pula known beyond the region.
The
Cagliari region and especially the capital is as much an attraction for children as it is for adults. Beautiful gardens, the picturesque old town, and modern apartments in the city center shape the image. The imposing cathedral, the
Cathedral of Santa Maria di Castello, is an impressive bishop's church. It was originally built by the Pisans in 1217. Above the lintel of a transept portal, the front wall of a Roman sarcophagus is built in.
A journey into the past
The biggest attraction is undoubtedly the excavation site of the ancient city of Nora. You can explore this ancient place as part of a guided tour. It is one of the most important archaeological sites in the Mediterranean. Impressive remains of ruins, a temple, a tower from the 16th century, a necropolis of Punic origin, Roman baths and villas, an amphitheater, the forum, old houses, and former accommodations - there is much to discover and learn here. The Roman Amphitheater of Pula is the sixth-largest amphitheater of antiquity and one of the best-preserved. Definitely worth a visit!
Another top highlight is the city center. You should not miss a stroll in the evening through the small lively alleys and streets. Street artists offer a worthwhile program and you experience the unique ambiance of the island. If you plan a trip to the capital Caligari, you should not miss the Botanical Garden. The garden was first opened in 1866 and destroyed in the Second World War. In the following years, it was completely redesigned. The facility showcases medicinal plants, native plants, biblical