Zerostrasse
Pula, Istria
Rough rock walls line Zerostrasse, a series of tunnels from World War I that run under the city of Pula, converging below the Kastel fortress. Galleries fill the chambers, while artifacts and information displays hug the tunnel walls, all providing context about Zerostrasse’s creation and use.
The basics
Most visitors find they need 1–1.5 hours to explore the tunnels’ bunkers and exhibits. (Since the tunnels have a well-ventilated design, the temperature is cool and pleasant.)
Tours of Pula generally don’t have the time to go into the tunnels, but may point out their entrance behind the Twin Gate. Follow up your visit to Zerostrasse by heading up to the Kastel fortress, as the tickets include entry to both sites. Afterwards, seek out the various Roman ruins in the area, such as the small Roman Theater, Gate of Hercules, and Roman Mausoleum.
Things to know before you go
- Guided tours of the tunnels are only bookable by telephone or email.
- The climate in the tunnels is a little cool, so bring a light jacket just in case.
- An elevator connects the tunnels of Zerostrasse with the Kastel fortress.
- Entrance fees are only payable with cash.
- Tunnels and their entrance are wheelchair accessible.
How to get there
You’ll find the main entrance to the Zerostrasse tunnels at 3 Carrarina Ulica. Visitors exploring Pula Old Town can generally walk there, but can also take a local bus to either the Pula Centar or Giardini Centar bus stop, around the corner. If you’re driving there, you can use the paid street parking outside the entrance or find parking lots and garages a little farther from the Old Town center.
When to get there
Zerostrasse is open daily throughout the year around regular business hours, but has extended opening hours from May to September. Expect the tunnels to be busy during the day, particularly in the summer as tourists try to escape the heat. Instead, try to visit in the evening, or go in the shoulder months of April, May, September, and October.
Things to see in Pula from the 20th century
Many of the attractions in Pula focus on the ancient history of the city, but some, like the Zerostrasse tunnels, focus on more recent periods of Pula’s past. Across the park outside the Zerostrasse entrance sits the MEMO Museum, or Museum of Good Memories, a small nostalgia museum showcasing what life was like between the 1950s and the ‘80s.
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