Aquarium Pula

Aquarium Pula and its collection

Aquarium Pula is an aquarium in Pula, Croatia.

The aquarium holds 211 species, including blacktip reef sharks and caimans, and runs a turtle rehabilitation unit. By early 2020, 160 loggerhead turtles had been treated there and returned to the sea.

History

The building is an Austro-Hungarian fort dating from 1886. It passed to Italy in 1918, was taken by Germany in 1943 and handed to Yugoslavia in 1945. Military use ended in the 1950s, after which it served as a hotel, stood empty from the late 1980s and was converted in 2002.

Animals and collection

Animals on show include glavata želva, plemenite periske, mediteranske meduze, plaštenjaka and režnjaka.

Exhibits

Its exhibits include Fort Verudela - Mediteransko područje, Baterija San Giovanni - Egzotična područja, Livade morskih cvjetnica, Pjeskovito dno and Otvoreno more.

Things to do

Things to do include Butterfly walk and Rehabilitation center.

What the venue says

• Oporavilište
• Consumption of food and beverages is prohibited within the exhibit areas, but options for refreshments can typically be found nearby outside the main historic fort structure.
• Ample and free parking is available nearby on the Verudela peninsula, though visitors during peak summer months recommend arriving early (around 10:00 AM) to secure a spot.
• Housed within a historical fortification featuring multi-level architecture and thick stone walls, accessibility can be limited in certain historical sections, though visitors should check directly for specific ramp or elevator accommodations.
• Individuals with disabilities receive a 50% discount at the entrance.