In Istria), we went to Slovenia.
The sea coast of Slovenia is small, only 47 km, and 4 cities fit on it. The very first from Croatia is Portorož (“Port of Roses” in our language), after 3 km is Piran, then Izola and Koper. And then Italy begins.
For five centuries this coast belonged to Venice, and the Venetian spirit still hovers in these cities.
Koper is a port city, but it has a well-preserved historical center.
Izola, a former fishing village, is famous for its natural beauty.
Portorož- a prestigious resort with sandy beaches (albeit on imported sand), where, in addition to swimming, mud-salt treatment and thermal water treatment are performed.
And yet the most attractive city of the Slovenian coastal region is. That's where we headed.
The map clearly shows that we are still located on the Istrian peninsula and that the nearest airport for the seaside resorts of Slovenia is the Italian Trieste.
Road to Piran
We left the Croatian hotel after breakfast and literally about forty minutes later we were already at the border. Our passports were quickly stamped, and now we were driving along the sea, looking with curiosity at the new country. Green hills, small houses, rows of vineyards.
Then the famous Slovenian salt pools began - “Sechovel salts”.
Do you know what the most common souvenir is in the seaside towns of Slovenia? - Local salt. The local salt mines are already 7 centuries old (and we know how cities that simply stood on the Salt Route rose up - say, Bavarian). They say that to this day salt is extracted here in the old way, by natural crystallization, without the use of chemistry or technological processing. I didn’t understand this issue, and I didn’t buy this salt myself, but they say that such salt is not only not harmful, but also quite useful. So be prepared that souvenir shops will offer you branded salt. By the way, in Sečovelje (a salt mining village on the border with Croatia) there is even a Museum of Salt Miners.
The first Slovenian city on our way is Portorož. A city of prestigious hotels and health centers, the most expensive resort on the Slovenian coast. The local casino is visible from a distance.
Hotels follow one after another.
A short drive between cities (3 km), and we stop at a parking lot in front of Piran. In the city itself, traffic is limited, so we walk along the sea to the city center. From the parking lot to the city center it takes about 10 minutes to walk.
Sights of Piran
Piran occupies a narrow peninsula. The Church of St. George with its bell tower rises above the city.
There is a small one on the cape Church of Mary the Healer. In ancient times there was a lighthouse here, and the light of this lighthouse gave the name to the city. “Pyr” is fire in ancient Greek (pyrotechnics immediately comes to mind).
Piran Front Square - Tartiniev Trg, or Piazza Tartini (in the city the names are duplicated in Italian, as in some Croatian cities) - named after the violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who was born in Piran in 1692.
Initially, on the site of the square there was an internal pier, in 1894 it was filled in due to its unsanitary condition (oh, a second one could have come out!), and a spacious oval square was created.
In the center of the square stands a monument to Giuseppe Tartini.
By the way, Tartini’s house has been preserved and stands on the same square - there is now a museum for the maestro.
The most representative building at Tartiliev Market is Municipal Palace, or the Town Hall, decorated with a portico with columns and a Venetian lion. In the Town Hall, in addition to works by other artists, there is a painting by Tintoretto.
At the corner of the square, a red building with Venetian windows attracts attention. Its local name is “Venetian”.
According to legend, a rich Venetian merchant, arriving in Piran, fell in love with a local girl. She reciprocated. For some reason, he did not take her to Venice and could only offer her a relationship that was not sealed by marriage. Rumors spread throughout the city. Then the merchant bought this house in the center of the city and on the facade he wrote the inscription “Let them talk” (this inscription is embossed on a white sign on the second floor - “Lassa pur dir”). From the balcony of the house, the girl looked out at the sea for her lover’s ship. In general, her fate was unenviable: to live among universal condemnation and censure and wait for fate to bring her windy happiness to the city again.
Church of St. Peter in Tartini Square.
Above the entrance there is a bas-relief: Peter receives the keys to heaven from Christ
Adjacent to the square is a local market - abundant in the southern way: fruits, cheeses, prosciutto, wines.
Let's walk along the embankment to the tip of the peninsula.
On the headland stands the modest 13th-century Church of Mary the Healer ("Mary of Health" in Slovenian). At the church there is a 17th-century neo-Gothic tower and a lighthouse.
Descent into the water:
“Venetianness” is spilled throughout the streets of the city. No matter what alleys you go into, you will not be left with the feeling that you are, well, if not in Venice itself, then certainly in Italy.
They love dogs here (there were three in the shot):
The "real" main square of Piran - the one where the city center was originally (until the 13th century) - is located just above Tartini Square and is called Trg 1st May, or Old Square.
Compared to Piazza Tartini, it seems small and crowded with houses. In its center there is a podium, to which steps lead, and everyone ascending the steps is greeted by sculptures of Grace and Justice.
In the Middle Ages, there was a cistern here to collect rainwater - drains run from the roofs of the houses to the cistern.
Behind the Old Square, a narrow passage goes up and to the right, leading to Jewish Square. From there the alley leads to the very top, and we find ourselves above the roofs of houses, near the Church of St. George.
The main decoration of the church is the marble altar and beautiful vaults.
Behind the church the slope ends abruptly. There is an observation deck at the edge of the cliff. They say that in very clear weather you can see Venice from here. No matter how hard we looked, we couldn’t see it, although the weather was sunny.
The bell tower of the church is a smaller copy of the Venetian bell tower in Piazza San Marco.
Behind the church is the baptistery.
In addition to the main church of Piran - the Church of St. George - there are several more churches hidden in the alleys and streets of the city. Be sure to find the Minorite Church of St. Francis - it has a nice courtyard and cloister. Opposite the Minorites is the small, inconspicuous Church of Mary of the Snows. Charming.
Fortress walls
After exploring the back streets of Piran, head to the city walls to admire Piran from the outside. The first walls enclosing the peninsula to the east appeared in the 7th century. Seven gates—entrances to the city—have survived to this day.
The fortress walls look especially impressive from the observation deck from the Church of St. George.
A steep and narrow descent down, then an ascent through narrow streets, and now we are among small houses surrounded by trees. We approach the First Rashpor Gate.
Entrance to the fortress walls is paid - 1 euro. There is a turnstile there, you need to flip a coin.
From the fortress wall you can clearly see the entire cape with the Old Town.
On the other side of the wall are slopes covered with vegetation.
Wild beach
A stadium with stands approaches the fortress wall, unexpectedly large for such a town.
We return to the city through the lower city gates, they are called the Second Rashporsky.
Imagine a small cozy Italian town on the shores of the Adriatic Sea. A sun-drenched embankment, narrow streets going somewhere upward, laundry hung between old houses, numerous churches and... cleanliness! Cleanliness is a word that confuses you, because in Italy the concept of “cleanliness” is quite relative. But don't be surprised! All this is possible, only with a small amendment: this town is located in Slovenia and is called Piran.
The name of the city most likely comes from the Greek word “pyr” - fire. Even in ancient times, large bonfires were lit on the shores of the peninsula, which served as beacons for ships approaching the shores of the Greek colony of Aegida - the current city of Koper.
According to researchers, the founding date of Piran can be considered the end of the 5th century. Then the Roman population of the interior regions of the Roman provinces of Noricum and Pannonia tried to take refuge on the peninsula, fleeing the raids of the Huns. Written mention of Piran can also be found in "Cosmographies" anonymous from Ravenna, written in the 7th century. In his work, the author, among other Roman settlements on the Istrian coast, also names the settlement of Piranon - present-day Piran.
Piran, central Tartini square The first settlers of the peninsula were the Istrians, one of the Illyrian tribes (hence the name of the Istrian peninsula). The Istrians, famous as skilled navigators and formidable pirates, threatened the maritime trade of the Roman Empire in the Adriatic. But in 178-177 BC, after a series of short wars, the Romans finally took possession of the peninsula and founded their colonies here. In the 5th century, hordes of Huns descended on the peninsula, but they did not control these lands for long, and in the 7th century, Piran fell under the rule of Byzantium.
Like other coastal cities of the Istrian peninsula, where the Romanesque population predominated, Piran tried to focus in everything on the gradually gaining strength of the Venetian Republic. In the 10th century, Venice became the strongest maritime power on the Adriatic and, assessing the prospect of expanding its trade routes, sought an alliance with the Istrian cities. In 933, Piran signed a trade agreement with Venice, on the latter’s obligation to protect the city from external enemies, and in 1283 it became part of the Venetian Republic.
Thus begins a long period of prosperity for the city as part of the Venetian Republic. Piran is supported by the Venetian rulers, the city receives many privileges. The most beautiful buildings in Piran were built in the 14th-15th centuries, and the Slovenians themselves still call the city “Venice in miniature”.
In 1797, the Venetian Republic collapsed, and until 1918, Piran fell under the rule of the Austrian monarchy. The 19th century also brought prosperity to the city: salt mines expanded significantly, which began to bring up to 40 thousand tons of sea salt per year.
After the First World War, Piran goes to Italy. Coastal Slovenes took an active part in the liberation movement during World War II, and after the victory over fascism, the city of Piran became part of the Slovenian Republic within Yugoslavia.
On September 15, 1947, the UN Security Council established part of the territory - from Trieste in the north to the Mirna River in the south - as the Free Territory of Trieste. In 1954, this territory was divided - the region was divided between Italy and Yugoslavia. This was finally formalized by the Osimo Treaty in 1975.
What to see:
An amazing view of Piran Bay and Piran itself opens from the heights of the medieval city walls, built between 1470 and 1534. The walls include 8 defensive towers topped with battlements. The largest surviving fragment dates from the beginning of the 15th century and is protected by the state as an object of historical heritage.
Going down the path from the fortress walls, you find yourself on a flat area, where majestically rises (aka St. George the Victorious), built in the 12th century. This baroque church with a bell and baptistery. The church houses a parish museum with unique exhibits, and also hosts wonderful concerts by famous musicians.
No matter which street you go down to the sea, you will certainly end up in the main square of the city - Tartini Square. The square itself is a work of art. It is built in the shape of an oval and lined with white stone. The entrance to it is marked by stone columns for flags, erected in the 9th century. Today it is a venue for numerous events and celebrations. This is the heart of the city. Each building located around it is an amazing monument of history and architecture.
In the center of the square stands the Tartini monument, made in 1896 by the sculptor Antonio dal Zotto. Giuseppe Tartini– the famous violin virtuoso was born and raised in Piran. The house in which he was born still adorns the square and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Tartini room today displays interesting historical exhibits, including the master’s precious violin.
Monument to the great violinist G. Tartini The façade of the municipal palace looks out onto the square. The figure of a stone lion with an open book means peace. The interior walls of the palace are decorated with works by numerous artists. Today the palace houses municipal authorities.
Stone pillar in Piran, which also depicts a lion with an open book The Venetian is a lovely red building. This is a fine example of Venetian Gothic, built in the mid-15th century. As the legend goes, a rich Venetian merchant fell in love with a beautiful Piran woman and gave her this house as proof of his love. In those days, evil people talked a lot about this passion. Therefore, on the facade of the building it is written “lassa pur dir”, which means “let them speak.”
The Venetian House, today it houses a Piran salt shop Among the historical buildings surrounding Piazza Tartini one can also note the Palace of Justice and the Apollonio Palace, the Baroque House and the Lodge Building.
In past centuries, the main income of the inhabitants of Piran came from the sea and salt production in Sečovlje, Strunjan and Lucia. At the beginning of the 19th century, large salt warehouses were built here. Salt mining in Sečovlje and Strunjan is still ongoing. Piran sea salt is unique in its composition and is valued all over the world.
The famous Piran salt, which is used to make Slovenian cosmetics Lepa vida The city of Piran can rightfully be called the pearl of the Adriatic coast. Walking along its narrow streets, rising to a bird's eye view of the fortress walls, sitting over a cup of coffee on Tartini Square, you never cease to be amazed at how carefully the Slovenians treat their history and their heritage.
Piran Slovenia is a beautiful seaside town that has largely retained medieval features in its appearance. A network of narrow streets that even the smallest car cannot squeeze through, houses with Roman pediments and balconies, an ancient cathedral, fortress walls, an embankment and a lighthouse church. It seems that everything here speaks of the former greatness of the Venetian Republic, which owned this land for centuries. And at a later time, until the end of the Second World War, Italians periodically ruled here, whose language in the coastal region is the second state language.
Piran is located on a narrow cape jutting into the Adriatic Sea, at the base of which is the largest resort in Slovenia - Portorož. The size of the town is small, only a kilometer in length and 700 meters at the base of the triangle. But here there is everything that should be in a resort town, and the central Tartini square, named after one of the luminaries of Italian violin art, a native of these places, and a fairly spacious marina (harbour) for yachts, and the theater, of course Tartini, hotels and even a football stadium.
The beaches in the Piran area are rocky, pebble or even concrete slabs, from which you need to go down the stairs to the sea. The sea in Piran is Adriatic, quite deep, warm, the bottom is rocky.
The first is Tartini Beach. It is located north of the Marina, near the square of the same name. It is a concrete-filled shore with breakwaters and a small pebble area in the area of the harbor protective dam.
The second one is named Prešeren. It is located on the opposite side of the peninsula and is approximately the same sad concrete picture with steps to descend into the water, only without breakwaters.
Beach in Fiesa Bay.
Having wandered along the beaches of Piran, we can conclude that the city is not very suitable for a beach holiday, although if you follow the coastal path (a stone-paved path) a kilometer from the Church of St. George to the east along the coast, you will find yourself in Fiesa Bay. Here along the path there is a wild pebble (in some places nudist) beach. And near the Fiesa *** and Barbara *** hotels it is quite civilized, there are playgrounds, rentals, amenities and cafes.
So we can say that in Fiesa Bay there is the only beach, albeit pebbly, not counting small areas in the Marina area.
City of Piran.
Embankment.
The Piran embankment covers the entire peninsula along the shore. It starts near the Marina, passes by the rocky Cape Madonna, at the lighthouse and the Church of Mary and ends under the hill on which the Church of St. George. Despite its small width, the embankment is one of those rare streets in Piran where you can drive by car, but mostly walk along it. Along the embankment there are hotels, cafes, and fish restaurants. The Piran embankment is a great place for walking, relaxing, and relaxing in a cafe.
Central square of Piran. Through the efforts of the townspeople, the once fishing pier has been transformed into a beautiful and cozy vacation spot for city guests and local residents. The ellipse lined with white stone is surrounded on all sides by ancient Gothic buildings. The square is named after the great Italian violinist, very revered in Slovenia, Giuseppe Tartini, whose monument stands in the middle, and in the house where he was born there is a museum.
Old Square (1 May Square).
It is the center of the old town, where the main streets of Piran converge. The square is a favorite meeting place for local residents and city guests. People go here to have a glass of wine or do some shopping. In summer, festivals and performances take place here. On the square there is a cistern for collecting rainwater in case of a siege and the Church of St. Donatus from the 14th century.
Hotels in Piran.
There are a great variety of hotels in Piran. There are large, expensive hotels, and apartments. Almost all of them are located in old buildings and do not have large areas or swimming pools.
Restaurants.
Restaurants and local cuisine are one of the main reasons why tourists love to visit Piran. Most of these establishments are located on the embankment, on the seashore. Small cafes, larger cafes, fashionable restaurants - there is a great variety of them here. You can find tables right next to the water. The cuisine is mainly Slovenian and Italian, with many seafood dishes. Among the wines served, the local red Refoshk and White Malvasia are especially popular. And frequently visited restaurants overlooking the Marina and passing yachts are located near Tartini beach - Three Widows and Pavel the First and Pavel the Second.
Prices in small cafes and reputable restaurants are not particularly different and are quite affordable.
Nightclubs and entertainment.
The nightclub Disco Night Club Tri Papige is located on the embankment near the Pavel 2 restaurant, in close proximity to the beach. A small, cozy place, with a bar and a pole. Among other entertainments, I would like to recommend walking around the city and along the path along the sea. Yacht trips, diving and sea fishing. A trip to Portorož to the casino, and, of course, to Venice.
Market (Zelenjavni Square) and shops in Piran.
The market is located right behind the local government building, a little away from Tartini Square. Most of the sellers trade until 12 o'clock, but there is one who is on the market all day. There is also a fish shop (open until 12.30), where you can buy fresh fish and seafood, and meat.
The prices are more expensive than in stores, but the vegetables and fruits at the market are so fragrant, and the tomatoes are simply magical!
There are few shops in the town, mainly small grocery markets and souvenir shops. The nearest Mercator supermarket is in Portorož
Attractions.
We can say that the entire old town of Piran is a tourist attraction. Its narrow streets, balconies that meet in height, medieval buildings, ancient churches, an embankment with many restaurants and a swaying forest of masts in Marina, all this is woven into a single ensemble and makes up a complete and unique landmark of Slovenia - Piran.
How to get to Piran.
Regular buses run to Piran from Ljubljana and from the coastal cities of Izola and Krper. Travel time from the capital (142 km) is up to 2.5 hours. From seaside resorts only 20 - 30 minutes. Of course, you can take a taxi or rent a car, since the roads in Slovenia are European. But you won’t be able to move around the city itself; the entry of nonresident vehicles is limited. Therefore, you will have to leave your car in a paid parking lot at the entrance to the old city, and then use the local free bus or walk; the road at a brisk pace to Cape Madonna (extreme point) will take only 20 minutes. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that free parking is only for locals, and the fine for violation is 50 €! Parking is much cheaper - 1.7€ per hour and 17€ per day.
You can also get to Piran by ferry. Ferry services connect the city with Venice (once a week) and Trieste (8 times a week). A boat trip to Trieste will take 30 minutes and cost from 20 €. To Venice - almost 3 hours and about 100 €. The pier is located right in the Marina.
Map of Piran.
Map of Piran with shops, hotels, restaurants, streets and houses.
On the map of Slovenia, Piran is located on the tip of a small peninsula, bordering the Pran Bay from the north, on the other side of which Croatia already begins. In the depths of the bay is Portorož, which is only a kilometer away, although coastal development is not interrupted.
Read more: resorts in Slovenia:
I came to Piran quite by accident while walking around Portoroz. Of course, I had the idea of visiting it specifically, but I didn’t think it was so close and I would find myself there so quickly. From the center of Portorož to Piran it takes 20-30 minutes on foot if you walk really very slowly. It is very easy to understand that you are in another city. A bus stop will appear, colorful houses will appear in large numbers and a map of Piran will appear. The city itself is quite small and has a population of just over 4,000 people, but it is significantly different from its neighbors. First of all, the city itself looks like an open-air museum, very beautiful and bright. Further, it is located in the Gulf of Piran, which in general makes it very different from the simple coast of Slovenia. The city itself has many beautiful views, and in another review I will show the city from above, it may be even better there. In the meantime, I want to introduce the city from the border to Portorož and its center.
1. The map meets a traveler from a neighboring city. It’s difficult to get lost here, the city is small, but it won’t hurt to get acquainted. In Piran there are two official languages: Slovenian and Italian, everything is usually duplicated, but not on the map...
2. If in Portorož there are mainly hotels and rare residential buildings, then in Piran there are mainly many small Italian houses. In general, these places once belonged to Italy, Trieste, then to Yugoslavia, there were disputes with Croatia and they continue. In general, Slovenia is very unlucky with the coast, it is already small, and they also want to squeeze this out. 
3. The sea here, of course, is like the sea. No different from Portorož 
4. Here, where the big house with balconies is, this is Portorož, i.e. there is no border at all 
5. I won’t spam photos of the suburbs, this is the last one 
6. Piran himself looks like this. Very chic. I really liked this city 
7. 
8. I think lovers of Italy will like it here. Of course the atmosphere is not the same, but it is very similar, and the prices are much lower. Italians themselves come here to relax because it’s cheaper. And Slovenians go to Italy to work, for example... Knowing two languages helps them. 
9. Piran has its own small port and here is the entrance to it, marked with colored beacons or whatever they are correctly called 
10. Agree, it’s very atmospheric when the boats are in the city, everything is so neat and clean. It’s hard to say whether these are boats of locals or tourists, but there are quite a lot of them. 
11. The water is clear 
12. The houses are all bright, with different shades. beauty 
13. St. George's Cathedral is visible from all sides. I’ll go up to it later and show you the views from it. The location is good for viewing the city from above. 
14. The most central place of the city is Tartini Square, in honor of the Italian composer who was born here. The area is quite large and beautiful. You can hold quite large and interesting events. 
15. There are many restaurants in the city with outdoor tables and umbrellas 
16. 
17. Tartini monument and behind it the city administration or city hall 
18. 
19. On the shore there is a model of the city made as if from books 
20. The edge of the city is Cape Madonna with a lighthouse. 
21. Church of Mary the Healer, and behind it a lighthouse. 
22. If you come here by car from other cities, then 3-4 hours will be enough for the city. 
23. Among the stones near the shore there is a sculpture of a girl 
24. 
25. This is what I liked. Why go to the beach when you can sunbathe on the roof of your house? :))) It’s true that you can fall off the roof 
26. The streets themselves in the city are pedestrian. A car simply cannot get through here, they are narrow. All cars are parked at the beginning of the city and there are only a few roads in the city for them. 
27. Wandering the streets for fun will take about half an hour 
28. Everyone will find a lot of different interesting little things for themselves in such places 
29. Then these streets will lead up to the cathedral and other places. 
30. But I will write about the city from above in another review 
31. A sign calling for keeping the streets clean of animals. 
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Bird's eye view of Slovenian city of Piran resembles the tail of a lizard that lay down to rest on the shore of the dazzling blue Adriatic Sea. The red tiled roofs of ancient houses, like warm scales, fit tightly together, making Piran look alive and real from the nearby hills.
The city is located on the Istrian peninsula, and just over four thousand people call it home. It is one of the resort towns of the Slovenian Adriatic Riviera, and is only a few minutes away by car. However, those who choose the walking route will be even more lucky - the walk will not take more than half an hour, but the road that runs along the shore of the bluest sea will bring a lot of pleasant impressions.
Piran was once part of the Venetian Republic, and therefore its architectural masterpieces still remind of its former greatness and make more and more new guests gasp with delight. An ancient church with a tower subtly reminiscent of the Venetian one from Piazza San Marco, the remains of a fortress wall, beautiful houses of noble families, winding medieval streets paved with cobblestones - Piran is so picturesque that any image of it can become a ready-made postcard on the theme “The best holiday in Europe” .
Piran's two famous squares are also the city's main attractions. On one of them there is a pearl of medieval architecture - St. George's Cathedral, the construction of which began in the 12th century. This saint has long been considered the patron saint of the city, and therefore the temple in his honor and the clock tower are carefully restored and preserved by the townspeople.
The second city square is named after the Italian violinist Giuseppe Tartini, born in Piran. For more than a hundred years, the square has been decorated with a monument to the great composer, and the most famous building on it is the Venetian House. The terracotta-red structure stands out among others with its special grace. Airy window openings and a carved white balcony seem to transport the traveler to the narrow streets of Venice, where the middle-aged rich merchant was from, who built the building for his beloved. Too much of an age difference between them gave food for gossip, and therefore the Venetian placed a marble tablet on the façade with the inscription in Latin “Let them speak...”
After walking around to your heart's content and looking at the deep blue bowl of the Adriatic from the observation deck on the fortress wall, you can go to one of the city restaurants and order any seafood dish. Piran is the kingdom of true culinary specialists who know a lot about preparing seafood. Gourmets consider the best restaurant to be “Pavel” on the city embankment, although in any establishment you can find a luxurious menu, reasonable prices, and the extraordinary hospitality of the owners, for whom the guest’s comfort is a matter of honor.
The Italian past also plays a role in Piran's present. Its official languages are equally Slovenian and Italian, all signs and names are duplicated in both languages, and Italian brightness and spontaneity are closely intertwined here with Balkan temperament and hospitality. The distance to the Italian border is just over twenty kilometers, and Venice can be reached by ferry in just three hours. Another feature of Piran is that it is impossible to travel on it by car. The city streets are so narrow that even a small car seems like a bull in a china shop here. Therefore, you will have to leave the car in the parking lot at the entrance and enjoy a walking trip through the ancient city, imagining yourself as the Venetian Doge or his beautiful girlfriend and listening to how the ancient chimes on the tower of St. George see off into oblivion every quarter of an hour...
