Portoroz – from salt trade to boutique tourism

Avditorij Portoroz is the largest event location in Portoroz, a theatre complex where events and festivals for all generations, both the elder and the younger, take place. In summer, the outside venue hosts many theatre, music and film events. The 5th Golden Age Gym Festival meeting and spectacles took place here in 2016.

The Secovlje saltpans are considered among the largest still operating maritime saltmaking facilities. The surface area of the Secovlje Salina Nature Park is around 65 ha. The saltpan area consists of numerous basins, cristalization and evaporation pools. Although salt ceased to be the backbone of the economy, it still retains a central importance and continues to be appreciated both from a dietetics and beauty&care point of view, due to its mineral ingredients and health benefits. Sečovlje Salina Nature Park is a protected area, a nature reserve, for the area is a representative monument to our past, cultural identity and saltmaking legacy. The oldest part, called Fontanigge, is now a nature park, the aim of which is to preserve the balance in this fragile and special ecosystem, home to a rich variety of plants and animals, particularly birds that choose this favourable area for nesting. The saltpans are open to new tourist-oriented and learning activities, where visitors are welcome to come and learn about the traditional techniques of salt production and harvesting. The programmes’ objective is to raise environmental awareness and respect for natural heritage.

Fiesa is a small bay situated between Piran and Strunjan. In fact, it is a plain nestled in-between two flysch cliffs. The most interesting features are the couple of freshwater lakes, the smaller one being of natural origin and the larger one is artificial. They are located next to the seaside walking track that leads toward Piran. The lakes were declared natural monuments in 1990. Their origin is linked to the soil changes subsequent to clay mining, commissioned by a brick plant manufacturing facility. The smaller lake is filled with freshwater and measures 6,5 metres in depth. The larger one is deeper and was connected to the sea in 1963, thus inducing freshwater-saltwater mixing. This biotop creates a habitat where freshwater and saltwater flora and fauna coexist. The banks are covered in broad strips of reeds and other varieties of plants that give safe shelter to marsh birds, fish and rare endangered species of dragonflies. Panel signs are located close to the lakes. Over the last decades, the bay has developed into a holiday resort with a mobile homes camp, hotels, vacation homes and villas.

The Parenzana is a 123,1 km long narrow-gauge railway that used to connect 33 Istrian towns between Trieste and Poreč (Parenzo), namely consisting of 13 km of length in Italy, 32 km in Slovenia and 78 km in Croatia.

The railway was shut down in 1935. On the occasion of the centenary of the railway opening in 2002, initiatives for the revival of the old railway began and among the many project proposals arose the one involving the creation of a cycling and walking track. It was only after some years, in 2006 to be precise, that the project’s kickstart took place and things began to develop further.  By 2008, 80 km of railway tracks were renovated and new Croation-Slovenian tourism-related initiatives were integrated.

The greenery-covered small promontory between medieval Piran and contemporary Portoroz, boasting favourable climate conditions, is located on a 25-hectare area of Bernardin hotel resort. The central feature is the bell tower of an old, 15-century small church dedicated to St. Bernard, a quiet witness to the rich cultural heritage.

An unusual sight awaits you at Seca near Portoroz, where different cactus species are on display. To access the garden, follow the walking track from Lucija camping site or take the main roadfrom Portoroz.