The city of Pula, although not the capital of the county of Istria, is its largest city and urban center, located at the southern tip of the Istrian peninsula.
The city was colonized in Roman times, which is more than evident by the huge, well-preserved arena dominating the cityscape. In modern times, it began to gain importance when the Austrians began to use the port for naval purposes; shipbuilding and the military industry began there in the 18th century.