Herkulova Vrata (Gate of Hercules), Pula

Standing at the entrance to Pula’s former Italian quarter is the ancient Gate of Hercules. Like the Twin Gates, it was rediscovered during the 19th century. The gateway is constructed from roughly cut stone blocks. Above the arch is a weathered carving of Hercules, identifiable by his beard and club.

Beside the carving is a partially damaged inscription bearing the names of two prominent Romans: Lucius Calpurnius Piso and Gaius Cassius Longinus. Lucius was Julius Caesar’s father-in-law, while Gaius was the brother of Cassius, one of Caesar’s assassins. The two men were appointed to oversee the official establishment of the Roman colony at Pula Bay.

The gate is approximately 13 feet high, while its entrance is about 12 feet wide. Hercules was regarded as the guardian of ancient Pula. After Octavian ordered the destruction of the city, he reportedly allowed it to be rebuilt at the request of his daughter Julia. A Latin inscription associated with the city has been translated as “Colony of Pietas Julia Pula, by the strength of Hercules.” The gate remains one of the oldest surviving Roman monuments in Pula and a reminder of the city’s ancient origins.