Episode 131
Dobro jutro, prijatelji!
Our super excellent lesson for this episode is a listener request!
We’ll give some time to learn the proper pronunciations of some of the hottest Croatian destinations.
They can be challenging, but it’s worth the effort!
Lesson
Proper pronunciation - pravilan izgovor
Croatia - Hr′ - vatska
Dubrovnik - Du′- brovnik
Zagreb - Za′ - greb
Rijeka - Rije′ - ka
Zadar - Za′ - dar
Plitvice Lakes National Park - Na′ - cionalni park plit′ - vička je′ - zera
Trogir - Trogir′
Rovinj - Rovinj′
Super Slatko Report
In this episode’s edition of the Super Slatko Report, DJ Moe will take us on a trip up to the northern part of Hrvatska. If you haven’t heard of the past and present significance of the Pula Arena, join us and learn about one of Croatia’s magical spots!
The Pula Arena, also known as the Pula Amphitheater, is one of the best-preserved Roman amphitheaters in the world it was built between 27 BC and 68 AD, during the reign of Emperor Augustus and completed under Emperor Vespasian. The arena was constructed on the side of a hill, on the western facing side towards the sea, the arena has 4 floors. On the eastern side the arena has 3 floors. It served as a venue for gladiator contests and other public spectacles, similar to the Colosseum in Rome.
The amphitheater is the sixth-largest surviving Roman arena in the world and for good reason. During construction the engineers considered the potential danger of hill erosion and sliding land due to rainwater, this was lessened with the construction of a system of channels for dealing with unwanted rainwater. The arena measures 132 meters (433 feet) in length, 105 meters (344 feet) in width, and could accommodate around 23,000 spectators in its prime.
The entire structure was built from local limestone, similar to a lot of the villages across Croatia that you can visit today. For the Arena, large, white stone blocks were meticulously arranged, giving the arena its large grand appearance, which has withstood centuries of weathering.
One of the unique features of the Pula Arena is its four side towers, which were part of the original design. The towers were equipped with cisterns to collect rainwater, which was used for cooling and washing. It’s said that two of the cisterns were filled with perfumed water that fed a fountain or could be sprinkled on the spectators during hot days. The amphitheatre could also be covered with velaria (large sails), protecting the spectators from sun or rain (as attested by rare construction elements). Thank you Wikipedia.
Like other Roman amphitheaters, the Pula Arena has an elliptical shape, which was ideal for providing good visibility for all spectators during events. The design allowed crowds to see all the action from every angle.
The arena is situated on the northeastern edge of Pula, near the Adriatic Sea. Its elevated position offers stunning views of the sea and the surrounding landscape, adding to its awesome presence.
After the spectacles involving gladiators were outlawed at the beginning of the 5th century when the Roman Empire began to fall, the amphitheater was left to dilapidate. It was perceived as a valuable source of readymade building material, though always remaining as public property. During the medieval period, it even served as a space for knights’ tournaments and fairs.
What about Today?
Today the Pula Arena is a popular venue for summer concerts, film festivals, and performances.
Heres a short list of Famous artists who have brought their worldly talents to the Pula arena stage.
Elton John
Luciano Pavarotti
Andrea Bocelli
Duran Duran
The Foo Fighters
Luciano Pavoroti
Placido Domingo
Jamiroqui
Norah Jones
Alannis Morisette
Sinead O’Connor
Dua Lipa
Sting played there
Manu Chao
Michael Bolton
And of course Oliver Dragojevic to name a few…
The televised concert series I referenced in my intro didn’t include these acts, but more of the cultural ensembles, operas and ballets that speak more to history and Croatias heritage.
The Arena also has underground passages that once housed gladiators and animals before battles that are now part of a museum exhibition. Visitors can explore the ancient cellars and see displays about olive oil production and winemaking in Roman times. Some of these exhibits rotate and change from year to year.
The Pula Arena has been included on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List since 1997. Its historical significance and exceptional preservation make it a candidate for full UNESCO World Heritage status in the future.
I have yet to visit Pula or the arena, but they’ve definitely been on my list for quite some time. The Pula Arena has everything, historical significance, architectural prowess, and cultural importance; making Pula Arena a magnificent symbol of ancient Roman engineering that continues to wow visitors today.
And that’s it for the Super Slatko Report!
