This city of just over 54,000 is the largest of Croatia's historic Istria region, on the northern Adriatic coast in the country's northwestern corner. I recently visited Pula for three days, taking in its top sights and feeling its beauty. If you're interested in rich culture/history as well as leisure pursuits, the best time to visit is from April to October (and to build a better, customised experience, try the TripHobo trip planner). Its long, rich history dates back more than 2,000 years, and among its major attraction are monuments built after Istria became part of the Roman Empire in 177 BCE, while others are legacies from the Venetian Republic and the Habsburg Austro-Hungarian Empire.

This one, the Pula Arena, is among the world's best preserved Roman amphitheaters (in part because it was maintained during the Middle Ages as a venue for tournaments), and is three stories high, built of limestone between 27 BCE and 68 CE to accommodate up to 20,000 spectators. Among the fascinating details visitors can still see are vast water cisterns and underground passages used by gladiators. These days it also hosts performances and sporting events.

Read more in Tripatini contributor Olivia Bond's post Pula Is a Marvelous Lesser Known City of Croatia.