Piran - Pearl of the Mediterranean

Piran is a centre of culture and arts, a town of numerous events, concerts and art galleries. Let yourselves be captured by the pearl of the Mediterranean, come and get to know the history, culture and  stories of hidden treasures ...

Piran is a fascinating medieval seaside town, in the past home to fishermen and saltpan workers, a town set within a genuine Mediterranean environment that the visitors rarely come across elsewhere. The town is situated on a peninsula that ends in the promontory Punta Madonna, which used to be populated already in pre-Roman times. The first written accounts of Piran are papers from the 7th century. The origin of its name derives from the Greek word PYR (fire)  for there was always a fire burning on the promontory to warn sailors at sea.

Piran’s architectural design is medieval with narrow streets and houses built one against another, which gives the town a typical Mediterranean touch and a particular charm. On top of the hill is majestically located the baroque church of St. George with its 48.7-metre high tower bell upon which is set St. Michael’s statue. Today’s appearance of the church is from 1637. The church’s interior is decorated with artistic works, but one can admire also the many treasures on display at the parish museum, as well as the archaeological findings deriving from excavations below the church’s building. Between 1912 and 1953 the inhabitants of Piran used to travel by electric tram, which connected Piran and Portorož to Sveta Lucija, where the railway station was located, one of the stops along the narrow-gauge railway line Parenzana that could take you from Trieste to Poreč (Parenzo) and back.

Contemporary Piran is an administrative and tourist centre, during weekends it turns into a favourite destination for national and foreign visitors. The main attractions in Piran are the monument to the violinist virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini, and Tartini House, his birthplace, Tartini Square, which is named after him and used to be an inner dock only 100 years ago, the Palace of Justice and the Municipal palace dating from the period of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the newly restored Venitian palace, the oldest and most beautifully preserved Venitian gothic building on Tartini Square, the pair of stone pillars of the flag posts, the 1st of May Square, known as the Old Square, the seven entrance gates of the town walls, the oldest parts of the ramparts dating back to the 7th century, and the fortified part of the walls on Mogoron hill with eight defensive towers, near a dozen churches as well as the Minorite monastery with the vaulted alleys. Do not miss a visit to the Maritime Museum, the Aquarium (established in 1964 and renovated, managed by the Grammar, Electrotechnics and Maritime Secondary School Piran), discoverthe Aquatic Diving Museum, the Magical world of shells (Čarobni svet školjk ), the Coastal galleries (Obalne galerije) etc. Along the seaside, the promenade leads you past the many restaurants and inns with an inviting offer of genuine local dishes and local wines. At every step we are reminded that architectural elements, paintings and sculpted works are omnipresent, thus making culture accessible and artistic jewels on display not only in museums or galleries, but actually suggestively decorating the town’s streets and buildings.

On the outskirts of the Natural landscape park Strunjan, at an idyllic location where you can regenerate your strength within the Bioenergetic Park Salinera, is located Salinera Resort offering not only hotel and apartment accomodation facilities, but also a wonderful beach boasting spacious green areas with lots of natural shade, two freshwater pools and a well-maintained swimming zone.

The beach below St. George’s hill is known to be a wild beach, a favourite naturist seaside spot. It is less accessible and off the beaten track, and most suitable for four-legged pets.