They brought in Istria their culture of living. Julio Caesar’s father-in-law, Sergi family, Lecanio family, Emperor Augustus, Emperor Claudius, Emperor Vespasianus were the people that visited Pula at the time and some of them also lived in Pula or person they were in love were from Pula.

Very soon the Romans discovered the high quality of Istrian stone and started to build temples, theatres, squares, villas…

The most important monument that can be enjoyed today is for sure the amphitheatre in Pula, the Arena, dating from the 1st century AD.

In Pula there are other Roman monuments such as: Temple of Augustus, Triumphal arch of the Sergi family, Twin Gates, Hercules’ Gate, Floor Mosaic of a Roman house “The punishment of Dirce”, Small Roman Theatre that are all worth to be seen.

Temple of Augustus inspired the great Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio which in turn inspired the third US President Thomas Jefferson.

It is interesting to recall the story that many buildings around Vicenza made on Reneissance architect Andrea Palladio drawings are today part of the UNESCO heritage list and also the house in Monticello projected and made by the third US President Thomas Jefferson is part of UNESCO heritage list.

Pula's temple was hit by a bomb during WWII and reconstructed with passion between 1945 and 1947 thus would deserve to become part of World heritage.

Triumphal arch of the Sergi family was built in honour to a family that helped Octavian, future Emperor Augustus, to obtain victory over Mark Antony and Cleopatra in the battle of Actium and this monument was studied by the great Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti (or Sangallo).

Istria become the place where war veterans used to retire and probably the vacation place for the members of the imperial families which can be proved by the remains that we can see on the Brioni islands and also in the written documents and certain monuments.

Also built in that period are the small factories for the production of olive oil, wine and amphora. Pula and the Brioni islands also had important “fullonica” factories for the tunic cleaning.

The glory of the Roman Empire was shaken by the invasions of the barbarians and the Goths, but later on thanks to the Emperor Justinian, the Byzantine Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, Istria flourished once again.

The Basilica of Euphrasius in Porec and the Basilica of St. Maria Formosa in Pula remind us of that period.

The Basilica of St. Maria Formosa, built in the 6th century, was  at one time a three-naved basilica. Only a Chapel of The Basilica was preserved until the present days.

The Basilica of Euphrasius was also built in the 6th century and it is the most valuable monument in Porec. It is also the most precious monument of that period for the Western civilisation.

The Basilica of Euphrasius is on the UNESCO World Heritage list.

In the centuries that followed Istria had many different rulers: the Carolingian kings, Bavarian Archdukes, the Aquileia Patriarchs, the Venice Republic and the Counts of Gorizia.