Pola

Pola (Croatian: Pula) is the largest city and port in Istria county in Croatia, and the former "Portsmouth" of the Austro-Hungarian navy.

It is known for its multitude of ancient Roman buildings, the most famous of which is the Arena, one of the best preserved Roman amphitheaters. The city has a long tradition of wine making, fishing, shipbuilding, and, today, tourism. It has also been Istria's administrative centre since ancient Roman times.

History

After the collapse of the Roman Empire Pola fell into decline. It was constantly fought over, because of its strategic position and natural harbour, by Italian city-states including Venice, Pisa and Genoa, until the Venetians finally took Pola in 1331. They ruled the city until the collapse of the Venetian Republic in 1797 when Pola passed to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In 1919 it was awarded by the western Allies to Italy, being part of Italy's irredentist claims on that coastline. Following World War II Pola was awarded by the victorious communist and plutocratic Allies to the artificial state of Yugoslavia, which now became a communist dictatorship.