Piran is probably the most beautiful of Slovenia's coastal towns, perched on a tiny piece of land jutting into the sea. It feels more like an Italian coastal town, without all the Italian tourists, and for good reason: Piran was part of the Venetian empire from the late 13th century to the end of the 18th century.
Piran is situated at the tip of the Piran peninsula on the Gulf of Piran. It borders Croatia to the south, and the municipalities of Izola and Koper to the east and faces Italy across the Gulf of Trieste and the Adriatic Sea. The highest point, Baretovec pri Padni, is 289 metres high.
The town resembles a large open-air museum, with medieval architecture and a rich cultural heritage. Narrow streets and compact houses give the town its special charm. Piran is the administrative centre of the local area and one of Slovenia's major tourist attractions.
Piran is the birthplace of composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who played an important role in shaping its cultural heritage. The town's main square, Tartini Square (Slovene: Tartinijev trg, Italian: Piazza Tartini), is named after him.
In 1892, to mark the 200th anniversary of Tartini's birth, the people of Piran decided to erect a monument in his honour. Venetian artist Antonio dal Zotto was commissioned to create the larger-than-life bronze statue of the maestro, which was eventually mounted on its pedestal in 1896. The statue dominates the square, overlooked by the Cathedral of Saint George.
The municipality's festival is on October 15, which celebrates the foundation of the first naval detachment Koper in 1944. The municipality has an international airport and a marina.
PLACE TO VISIT
Tartinijev trg, the beautiful oval-shaped main square, with a statue of the famous violinist Giuseppe Tartini. This was once the marina, but after it silted up it was paved over with marble.
The Venetian House, the red building on Tartinijev trg, is a fantastic example of gothic Venetian architecture and the oldest building on the square. Built by a rich Venetian merchant to house his mistress, spot the inscription between the upper windows: it says Lassa pur dir, or "let them talk".
Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum, Open 9AM - 12PM and 6PM - 9PM, Tu-Su during July and August; 9AM - 12PM and 3PM - 6PM, Tu-Su, the rest of the year. Has several exhibits that tell the story of Piran's maritime history and culture.
See the Church of St. George. The inside is quite beautiful and the hill it is located on provides a view of the city and harbor.
Sunset over the Adriatic sea, preferably from a bar on the waterfront with an aperitivo in hand.
WHAT TO DO
Explore Piran's narrow streets. Get lost. Find a little cafe or bar and relax.
There is no beach as such, but you can swim in the sea from the many piers scattered about. There is a diving school on the northern side of the town if you want to explore the clear Adriatic Sea.
Climb to the top of the city walls to take in the view of the peninsula (follow ulica IX.Korpusa up the hill from Tartinijev trg).
Cimb up the rickety stairway to the belltower on St Geroges church for views to Croatia and Italy
Walk along the coastal path from the Church of St. George to Fiesa (about one kilometer each way).
HOW TO REACH
The nearest airport is in Trieste, about 90 minutes away by coach. Trieste is served by Ryanair, from London, among others.
There is no train service to Piran. Frequent buses connect to the nearby coastal towns of Izola and Koper, and there is a free shuttle service to the adjacent resort of Portoroz. From Ljubljana, there are buses roughly hourly, taking 2-2.5 hours for the journey depending on route.
There are at least hourly buses to Koper and around 6 buses a day to Trieste in Italy. Boat service is also available regularly from Venice.
