Holiday apartment in Pula: discover the coast, Nora and culture

Pula combines coast, nature and an unusually rich history. Around Nora, ancient urban history, religious traditions, historic buildings and tranquil landscapes come together. If you choose a holiday apartment in Pula, you can therefore plan your holiday days around very different interests: culture and archaeology, walks along the lagoon, canoe trips or time at the beach.

Historic sites between Nora and Pula

A distinctive structure on the coast is the Torre del Coltellazzo, also known as Torre di Nora. The limestone tower is around 12 metres high, has a characteristic truncated-cone shape and stands more than 50 metres above sea level. It is located on a small headland above the Gulf of Nora and the remains of the ancient Punic-Phoenician city.

Villa Santa Maria along what is now Viale Nora in Pula was built in 1838 to a design by the architect Gaetano Cima. The building was constructed in the Palladian Neoclassical style on the ruins of the old Santa Maria Pipia church. The villa was occasionally opened to the public for special cultural events or other events.

The Church of Sant’Efisio di Nora also combines faith and older history. It was rebuilt in Romanesque form in the late 11th century using sandstone and limestone from ancient Nora. The procession of the Festa di Sant’Efisio reaches Nora on the evening of 2 May; a procession takes place at sea on 3 May.

The Giovanni Patroni Municipal Archaeological Museum preserves important finds from Nora. They range from the Phoenician landing through the Roman city to the late antique city. The former royal praetorium and former town hall, Ex Pretura Regia – Ex Municipio, offers another insight into the history of the place: a prison cell and the council chamber have been preserved there in good condition. Casa Frau is a Campidanese house on the central Piazza del Popolo in Pula and today serves as the municipality’s cultural centre, the home of the municipal library and the headquarters of Pro Loco Pula.

Lagoon, forest and beach

Pula’s natural side includes Is Cannoneris, known as the Foresta Demaniale di Pula, the State Forest of Pula. At the Nora Lagoon, by contrast, the coastal birdlife takes centre stage. It offers opportunities for birdwatching; one of the most densely populated breeding grounds of the Audouin’s gull in Europe was located here.

The lagoon can be experienced on walks in the open air. Visitors can also travel by canoe between the lagoon’s islets and channels. For a classic beach day, Nora Beach offers clear, shallow water for swimming, diving and spearfishing. Su Guventeddu is a one-kilometre-long beach with fine sand in the northern part of the Bay of Nora and has a shallow sandy seabed.

More places for your travel planning: Mandas, Torre Delle Stelle, Cagliari, Sinnai, Nurallao, Camisa, Assemini, Villaputzu

To the higher-level travel overview: Cagliari.