In the year of the 160th anniversary of the Battle of Vis, one of the most significant naval conflicts of the 19th century, on Monday, July 20, 2026, we are opening an exhibition that takes you to the heart of that event. We are particularly proud of the unique 360° video projection, the only one of its kind in Croatia, which allows you to experience the battle from the front row.
Aquarium Pula presents the visiting exhibition “Iron Men on Wooden Ships” of the Croatian Maritime Museum Split and the Archaeological Museum Split, supplemented by valuable objects from its own holdings and a unique 360° video projection.
The exhibition is visiting Istria for the first time, giving visitors the opportunity to learn about the circumstances, course and consequences of the battle that forever marked the history of the Adriatic and European maritime history on July 20, 1866, through original exhibits, historical displays and museological content.
Pula, a city whose development in the second half of the 19th century was inextricably linked to the Austro-Hungarian Navy, has a special significance for this important historical event. The ships that participated in the Battle of Vis were equipped in the Pula Naval Arsenal, and the victory of the Austro-Hungarian fleet contributed to the further development of Pula as the main war port of the Monarchy and one of the most important maritime centers on the Adriatic.
The official opening of the exhibition will take place in September.