OTHER Amphitheatre in Pula The most famous and significant monument, the Pula Arena, is a structure in which gladiator fights were held. It was built in the 1st century, during the period of the rule of Emperor Vespasian, at the same time as the Coliseum in Rome. It is elliptical in shape, with the longer axis 130 meters in length and the shorter axis of 100 meters. In the center is a flat region - the fighting ground, while spectators sat on the stone steps or stood in the galleries. It is thought that the Arena could hold up to 20,000 spectators. It was constructed of local limestone. In the Middle Ages, the Arena was used for knights’ tournaments and fairs.