The history behind the city of Pula, also known as Pula, is rather ironic: today the capital of the peninsula of Istria as well as a very important center thanks to its commercial port, but remembered mostly for its Roman ruins.
Its open-air archaeological sites, in fact, are visited by many international tourists who decide to charter a private jet and travel to the Croatian city enjoying a range of exclusive services made available to them that provide them with flexibility, privacy, assistance from the airport, transfer services and extra convenience for a comfortable travel experience.
Although very close to the Italian border, Pula is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Croatia both for its historical and cultural sights, but also for its beautiful beaches, the wide range of luxury hotels for the stay of wealthy tourists, as well as for its nightlife, in addition to being a crucial hub for being able to move between the other famous resorts of Istria.
Therefore, after this general background, let's look at some detailed info in this guide!
Historical and geographical background on Pula
Pula lies along the Adriatic coast of Croatia and is part of the Italian geographical region, an area delimited by entirely natural boundaries as the Julian Alps on one side and the Kvarner Gulf on the other rise around the town. Exactly like Rome, Pula is also situated above 7 hills located in the innermost part of the gulf on which the city overlooks, while offshore rise several uninhabited islets part of the area administered by the municipality. The coastline is interspersed with natural inlets, bays, and coves, among which is the city's harbor, an indentation that is well protected from the prevailing currents and winds. The earliest human traces of Pula date back to the Illyrian period, a historical segment during which today's Croatian city was nothing more than a tiny town dominated by nearby Nesactium, then the political and administrative center of the region. However, thanks to intensive colonization and the development of numerous trade routes, Pula, too, slowly began to take a leading role in trade facilitated no doubt by the expansion of economic sectors such as agriculture, fishing, viticulture and pottery production. During the Roman period, Pula saw the construction of several monuments that can still be visited, including the Arena where fights between humans and animals once took place. The Romans helped to improve the structure of Pula through works to improve the water system and canalization, also encircling the city with walls to resist invading attacks. Roman rule lasted until the 5th century before the Goths took possession of the city and made it play a military role due to its strategic location; from the second half of the 6th century, however, it was the Franks who took control of Pula, a population that allowed Slavic farmers to settle in the city but caused resistance from other Istrian cities. In the mid 1100s, Pula declared allegiance to Venice, effectively accepting the obligations of subservience; in the following centuries, various dominations alternated in the city, from the Genoese to the Austro-Hungarians, passing through the Hapsburgs and the Fascists during World War II. Today, Pula is undoubtedly not a bad tourist destination for those visiting Istria due to its beauty and its geographical location that allows easy travel in the direction of other localities in the area.
What to do and see in Pula
Sites of historical interest and the Pula Film Festival
Pula's historical and archaeological heritage is undoubtedly one of the crucial aspects of tourism in the Croatian city. Just think of the Triumphal Arch of the Sergi, the Roman walls, the Forum and the Istrian Archaeological Museum, just to name a few primary places of interest. The most famous attraction is surely the Arena, a Roman amphitheater overlooking a bay north of the ancient city. Even today, thanks to renovations and the preservation of ancient materials, the building is maintained in a perfect state that makes it look very much like the Arena of Verona or the Colosseum. In fact, it is no coincidence that the Pula Film Festival is held within it, a kermis that is organized annually and is based on the screening of new films by emerging or seasoned directors with the presence of a jury that will decide the prizes for the transposed films at the end of the competition. VIP tourists flocking to attend or participate in the event are many: therefore, exclusive services made available to them abound, from dedicated VIP bleachers to backstage passes and private transfers that take the private flight passenger directly to the arena.
The beaches of Pula
Not only history, art and culture, Pula is also known for its beautiful sandy beaches and the crystal clear sea that washes them. Some of the most famous include Verudela and Ambrela beaches, as well as Hawaii beach, a sandy shore characterized by the presence of pebbles and rocks from which to dive into the beautiful sea below. Also worth mentioning is the Kamenjak Nature Park, a nature reserve located about 10 km from the beating heart of Pula, which wealthy tourists can explore through numerous private tours or boat trips aboard yachts or catamarans to explore the most hidden and exclusive coves of the coastline.
Excursions around Pula
As mentioned, Pula is also an excellent base for visiting the other natural areas that arise around the Croatian city, such as Medulin, the landing place for boats or charter yachts that sail to the Brijuni Islands Nature Park. Not only that, in the immediate vicinity of Pula there are also a number of well-known Istrian towns and resorts such as Porec and Rovinj, for which daily tours and day trips depart, which wealthy tourists can use to immerse themselves in traditional Istrian culture. Finally, in the Pula area it is also possible to enjoy water skiing, parasailing and snorkeling, as well as being able to rent motor or rowing boats.
Climate and best time to visit Pula
A humid subtropical climate reigns in Pula, characterized by fairly mild temperatures in both summer and winter, but fairly widespread precipitation throughout the year. In the spring period, for example, the weather remains pleasant and quite dry since there is rainfall but it is not as abundant or frequent. Average temperatures hover around 15°C, with peaks of up to 22°C during April and May; days are mostly sunny and pleasant for visiting the city's architectural sights. In summer, temperatures are not too high as they reach a high of 33°C; therefore, mugginess and or excessive heat are quite rare, while in the evening the weather cools down with temperatures that may even fall below 22°C. Rainfall is definitely less than in spring and fall, but some rainy days may occur. Autumn, that is, the period from September to November, is characterized by heavy rainfall that peaks especially in November; however, temperatures still remain pleasant with peaks up to 23°C. The same cannot be said in winter, although temperatures hardly ever drop below freezing: in December, highs can be as low as 10°C, while in January and February averages hover around 3/4°C. Snowfall is not as frequent because of the proximity to the sea, although snowy days may still occur. In light of what has been said so far, the best time to charter a private jet to Pula is definitely spring or summer, periods in which the weather is pleasant and allows visiting the city's attractions in a completely serene and comfortable way.
How and why to fly a private jet to Pula
Pula Airport (ICAO code LDPL) is a small but nevertheless very important hub for civil traffic purposes throughout Istria. Expanded only in recent years, in addition to operating numerous scheduled flights, it has also specialized in charter and private flights due to the presence of a dedicated general aviation terminal always available to passengers who choose to charter a jet to get around. For this, wealthier tourists have access to several exclusive services that make their travel experience comfortable and flexible: these include catering services, entertainment on board or in the small Lounge present in the airport, several dining outlets, bars, stores, some fully equipped meeting rooms, a free WiFi connection, as well as security checks and check-in operated in a manner completely detached from those dedicated to scheduled flights. The runway that Pula Airport uses is rather small in size: therefore, a viable alternative to the more common private jets is to hire a turboprop aircraft capable of landing and taking off smoothly even at airports with shorter runways. The city center is about 8 km from the airport, a distance that can be traveled both by rental cars with or without a driver, but also by cab and even by helicopter, a certainly convenient and fast solution that allows the passenger on the private flight to arrive in the city in the shortest possible time.
How much does it cost to fly private to Pula
About a 2-hour flight from Pula is Palma de Mallorca, a Balearic island certainly among the most sought-after destinations for tourists traveling by private jet. Given the limited size of the runway at Pula Airport, only the rental of a Light Jet or Medium Jet is possible at the respective prices of approximately €11,000 and €20,000. Major routes include one that connects the Croatian city to Paris with a flight that takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes; a Light Jet is available at about €10,000, while a Medium Jet is at about €18,000. The proximity to the Italian territory means that several routes are operated with some of the most important hubs such as Naples, which is about 1 hour and 10 minutes away; renting a Light Jet involves an expense of about €7,000, a figure that rises to about €15,000 for a Medium Jet.
The most suitable jet for flying to Pula
The short runway at Pula Airport makes it perfect for use of the Beechcraft King Air 200, a turboprop aircraft capable of accommodating 6 or 7 passengers and particularly suitable for short-haul flights. It is an aircraft that offers excellent value for money with a spacious cabin, a speed capable of touching 500 km/h and a range of more than 2,500 km total. Among the light jets, on the other hand, mention must be made of the Cessna Citation CJ2, one of the flagships of the category as it puts the 7 accommodating passengers totally at ease in its revised, elegant and spacious interior cabin. Flights aboard such an aircraft are very rapid given the maximum attainable speed of more than 750 km/h and at the range of more than 3,000 km. Finally, also deserving of honorable mention is the Gulfstream G150, a Medium Jet that offers very high levels of comfort to the 7 passengers it carries by means of a cabin equipped with reclining seats and sofas, great speed thanks to the 850 km/h that can be reached, and a very long range that exceeds 4,000 km that can be covered.
The most frequent flights to and from Pula
Below of the most frequent links to Pula:
