The Gate of Hercules, tucked into a quiet lane above the Forum, is the oldest Roman structure still standing in Pula — a simple single arch dating from the 1st century BC. It is small and plain compared to the city's other Roman monuments, but the carved head of Hercules on the keystone (battered but still recognizable) and the inscription recording the gate's patron give it real historical weight.
Most visitors walk past without noticing it, which is part of its appeal. It stands in the Ulica Castropola, about 100 metres north of the Forum, and is freely accessible. The Archaeological Museum of Istria is directly adjacent.