You can now step into the past and present of Pula’s most famous square

Pula Virtual Forum

Pula, 12 December 2024 – Visitors can now explore Pula’s most iconic square, the Forum, not only in person but also through a virtual version accessible via their computers.

This ambitious project, launched by the Pula Tourist Board in collaboration with Holonet, an immersive web platform, introduces Pula Virtual Forum—a digital replica of the renowned site—and the game Time Secrets of the Forum, which transforms the square into an interactive escape room.

Bridging the Physical and Virtual Worlds for a Unique Experience

The square has been meticulously recreated in virtual form, allowing anyone, anywhere in the world, to explore it. The virtual Forum is accessible through web browsers, desktop applications, or VR devices.

Pula Virtual Forum

While the Forum has withstood the test of time, tourism must evolve to keep pace with modern demands, explained Sanja Cinkopan Korotaj, Director of the Pula Tourist Board:

“Nearly 50% of the global population now inhabits the virtual world in some capacity. With this project, we aim to introduce Pula in a way that suits contemporary habits while enhancing the experience for all visitors, wherever they may be.”

(Photo: Saša Miljević)

Digital tourists visiting the Virtual Forum are greeted by a holographic tourist representative who welcomes them and answers their questions. As they navigate the Virtual Forum, they can interact and share impressions with other virtual visitors, as well as those physically present at the location.

Tourists visiting the Forum in person can use mixed-reality glasses to access interactive content, learning about Pula’s heritage or sharing their experience with digital visitors.

Thanks to this innovative integration of a digital platform and mixed-reality experiences, physical and virtual visitors can meet, explore the city together, and even take photographs as a group.

Pula Virtual Forum

A Gateway to Pula’s Past and Present

The essence of the project lies in its ability to connect people, as Darian Škarica, CEO of Holonet, explained:

“For thousands of years, the Forum has been a gathering place where people share ideas and build communities. We’ve taken this to a new level: you can now sit at your computer in New York and meet someone exploring the Forum via VR glasses in Berlin. In a way, this square now defies both space and time.”

(Photo: Saša Miljević)

One of the highlights for many will be the chance to delve into Pula’s past through the game Time Secrets of the Forum.

This escape-room-style game transports players back to a time when the square was the central gathering point of the Roman colony of Pola.

(Photo: Saša Miljević)

By solving puzzles and challenges, participants learn about Pula’s history and work together to find their way back to the present day.

The Pula Virtual Forum, which seamlessly merges digital and physical experiences, offers a unique glimpse into the future of tourism. Here, digital and physical visitors can explore landmarks together and create lasting memories.