Pentagonal Tower, Poreč, Bezoekersgids & wat te doen in de buurt

The Pentagonal Tower (Peterokutna kula) is a 15th-century Venetian defensive tower at the entrance to the old town of Poreč, Croatia. It stands at the start of Decumanus Street, the main thoroughfare of the historic centre, and is one of the clearest reminders of the centuries when Poreč was part of the Venetian Republic.

The story behind it

The tower was built in 1447, when Venice ruled Poreč, to guard the town against attack from both land and sea. Its position matters as much as its walls: it sits where the old town meets the mainland, at the point where the town's main street begins, so for a long time it marked the threshold of the city.

Decumanus Street itself is far older. It follows the line of the main east-west street of the Roman settlement of Parentium, and the grid of the old town still echoes that Roman plan. Walking in through the tower, you pass from a Venetian gateway onto a street with roots in antiquity.

What to look for

• The unusual five-sided shape of the tower, which gives it its name and sets it apart from the plainer towers found in many Adriatic towns.
• The Gothic character of the stonework, a reminder of the style favoured by Venetian builders in the 1400s.
• The relief of the winged lion, the emblem of Venice, which shows who held power in Poreč when the tower went up.
• The view along Decumanus Street from the tower, with the narrow lane running straight into the old town between stone facades.

Tips for your visit

• Allow about 10 to 15 minutes to look at the tower from outside, longer if you continue along Decumanus Street.
• Go early in the morning or in the evening for fewer people and softer light on the stone; the old town gets busy at midday in summer.
• Check current opening hours and access if you hope to see the inside, as it may not be open to visitors at all times.
• The Euphrasian Basilica and the old town's squares and cafés are close by on foot, so the tower makes a natural first stop.

See it on a quest

The tower is one stop on Poreč old town must see, a self-guided walk through the old town. You reach it on foot as part of a longer route, the app tells you about each place as you arrive, and you solve a puzzle based on what is in front of you. One ticket covers the whole group, and you can start whenever you like, with no guide and no set departure time.