Pula is the largest city in Istria County, with a really mild climate. The city is best known for its many surviving ancient Roman buildings. As a result of its rich political history, Pula is a city with a cultural mixture of people and languages from the Mediterranean and Central Europe, ancient and contemporary. Pula's architecture reflects these layers of history. Residents are commonly fluent in foreign languages, especially Italian, also German and English.
I traveled to Pula for a conference. I was surprised by the resemblance with the Italian coastal towns. The city planning, the houses, the amount of pizzerie and trattorie, would made you think you were in Italy. Unfortunately, cafes and restaurants close at 10.30 at night, so try not to get hungry after that hour!
I was expecting something more elegant and artistic, and I was not overwhelmed by the touristic exploitation of the city itself and the monuments. So, I would agree with James Joys who though of Pula as a provincial backwater, a city that seems to leave no impact on your mind after having left from it.