Pula between Lagoon, Coast and History
Accommodation in Pula
Pula between Lagoon, Coast and History
Pula combines ancient urban history, Romanesque ecclesiastical architecture, coast and lagoon. Around the Gulf of Nora, a roughly 12-metre-high tower, traces of an ancient city, a Romanesque church and a lagoon landscape inhabited by coastal birds come together. Those wishing to combine culture and nature can explore historic buildings and archaeological finds in Nora alongside birdwatching at the lagoon.
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Photo: Gianni Careddu via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Architecture and Historical Traces
The Torre del Coltellazzo, also known as Torre di Nora, stands on a small promontory above the Gulf of Nora and the remains of the ancient Punic-Phoenician city. The tower is made of limestone, is approximately 12 metres high, has a characteristic truncated-cone shape and stands more than 50 metres above sea level.
Villa Santa Maria was built in 1838 along what is now Viale Nora. The design was created by the architect Gaetano Cima; stylistically, the building belongs to the Palladian Neoclassical style. It was built on the ruins of the old Santa Maria Pipia church and was occasionally opened to the public for special cultural events or other events.
The Church of Sant’Efisio di Nora was rebuilt in Romanesque form in the late 11th century. Sandstone and limestone from ancient Nora were used in its construction. The Giovanni Patroni Municipal Archaeological Museum offers another gateway to the past: it preserves significant finds from Nora, spanning the period from the Phoenician landing through the Roman city to the Late Antique city.
Historical evidence can also be found in the townscape itself. Casa Frau is a Campidanese house on the central Piazza del Popolo in Pula and today serves as the municipality’s cultural centre, the municipal library and the headquarters of Pro Loco Pula. In the former royal praetorium and former town hall, Ex Pretura Regia – Ex Municipio, a prison cell and the council chamber have been preserved in good condition.
Lagoon, Beach and Nature
The Nora Lagoon offers birdwatching opportunities thanks to its rich coastal birdlife. It was once home to one of the most densely populated breeding areas for Audouin’s gulls in Europe. Visitors can take walks outdoors at the lagoon and travel by canoe between the islets and channels.
Different coastal landscapes take centre stage during a seaside stay. 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. Nora Beach offers clear, shallow water for swimming, diving and underwater fishing.
Special Dates and Landscapes
The procession of the Festa di Sant’Efisio reaches Nora on the evening of 2 May; on 3 May, a procession takes place at sea. In contrast to the historic sites and the coast, Is Cannoneris is known as Foresta Demaniale di Pula, the State Forest of Pula.
More Destinations
Nuragus, Villasor, Camisa, Villaspeciosa, Santa Margherita Di Pula, Notteri, Sinnai, Olia Speciosa
To the overview of the wider travel region: Cagliari.
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