James Joyce lived in Pula (then Pola) from October 1904 to March 1905. On June 12-16th, Pula will once again revive the spirit of James Joyce through a diverse cultural program marking Bloomsday. The festival gathers writers, scholars, artists, musicians, and all admirers of Joyce’s work, as well as anyone in search of a unique and inspiring cultural experience.
The programme begins on Thursday, June 12th, with the decoration of the Forum square, featuring contributions from local garden centres. Seedlings in the form of glasses, books, and the initials “J.J.” – symbols of Joyce – will bring the first breath of atmosphere to the city space.
Friday, June 13, offers a rich literary and film day. In the morning, students from the Faculty of Humanities in Pula will read excerpts from Ulysses in the iconic Uliks Café. This is followed by a screening of the Irish animated film Song of the Sea at Kino Valli, while the youngest will enjoy the presentation of the newly published picture book James Joyce and the Secret of the Pula Arena by Igor Jurilj at the Monte Zaro Kindergarten. The afternoon brings a children’s literary workshop and a lecture by Prof. Zoran Paunović titled Joyce’s Letter from Pula: The Birth of Irony from the Spirit of Nostalgia, aimed at engaging older students and fellow scholars. The day ends with a classical music concert at the Forum – a flute and guitar duo performance.
Saturday, June 14, includes a gathering at the City Library under the slogan “Saturdays in the Library with Joyce.” At the Giardini 2 bookstore, there will be a conversation with Irish philosopher Bartholomew Ryan about the six Joycean virtues, accompanied by traditional Irish songs by him and Dunja Bahtijarević. The evening culminates with a Pub Quiz at Café Uliks.
Sunday, June 15, is reserved for a literary-interpretative walk In the Footsteps of James Joyce, guided in English, Italian, and Croatian – a perfect opportunity to discover Joyce’s legacy in Pula through stories and history.
The final day, Monday, June 16 – the official Bloomsday – brings the distribution of seedlings on the Forum and an evening talk with acclaimed Irish writer Nuala O’Connor, author of Nora, a novel about Joyce’s wife and eternal muse.
Join us in Pula and celebrate Bloomsday 2025!
This unique cultural event brings Joyce back to where he once walked, wrote, and dreamed – the heart of Pula. Enjoy literature, film, music, conversations, and walks, and discover why Bloomsday is a special date on the city’s cultural calendar.
