A look into the hidden corners of Piran. The old harbor town, which has the remains of medieval walls, is fully protected as a cultural and historical monument. Characteristic narrow streets, surrounded by close-set houses, descend from the church elevation towards the central square along the coast, which emphasizes the Mediterranean style of the city. As a cosmopolitan seaside town that was influenced by nearby Venice, it is one of the most authentic and picturesque towns on the Adriatic coast. In addition to the architecture, maritime museum, aquarium and other attractions, the city also offers events, culinary specialties and nearby natural attractions that attract visitors.
A look into the hidden corners of Piran – Preserved medieval appearance
Piran is an old port village on the Slovenian coast of Istria, which is also called Piran in Italian. It is located on the headland of the Piran peninsula and retains its medieval appearance with narrow streets and closely built houses, which gives it a special Mediterranean charm. At the top of the hill above the houses stands the church of St. George with its high tower, which hides many works of art. The city has a bilingual population, as they speak both Slovenian and Italian, and can boast of a long history, as it was inhabited already in Roman times. Between 1909 and 1953, the town was connected to the nearby towns of Portorož and Lucia via an electric railway.
A view into the hidden corners of Piran – Church of St. Jurija and other cultural and historical monuments in Piran
Church of St. Jurija is known for its exceptional viewpoint, as it offers a view of the old town and the Gulf of Trieste. In 1638, the current church was built on the site of the Romanesque basilica and the Gothic three-aisled church. Next to the church stands the bell tower, which was built in 1609 after the model of the bell tower of Saint Mark in Venice. Tartini Square used to be a sea bay for fishing boats, but it was filled up in 1894. In the middle of the square stands a bronze monument to Giuseppe Tartini, a famous native of Piran who was a composer, violinist and music teacher. The Church of Mary Snow is located next to Bolniška Street. It was built in 1404, and in the 17th century it was rebuilt in the Baroque style. Opposite this church stands the church of St. Francis with a cloister, which includes an outstanding work from the 17th century – the cloister cloister with a portal. There are narrow streets in Piran that do not allow car traffic, so there are parking lots in front of the city. A regular local bus route connects Piran, Seča and Portorož. The newer part of the city developed outside the walls along the coast towards Portorož.
A look into the hidden corners of Piran – The history of salt production in Piran and its importance in trade
Salt production, which includes salt production, maritime transport and salt trade, has been an important economic activity in Piran since the early Middle Ages. This was reflected in certain rights and duties they had in concessions and duties, as well as in the first city statute. After Piran joined the Republic of Venice, the production and distribution of salt was controlled by a Venetian official who maintained a monopoly over the salt trade. Nevertheless, by marketing salt, Piran came into contact with a wider area of Europe and the Middle East. Traders came from various regions, including Carniola, Carinthia, Styria, Karst, Friuli, Holland and even Turkey. Due to its position as a key port in this area, Koper had an advantage over Piran, but Piran was still an important center for salt production and salt trade.
Every year, the salt-making season in Piran ends on the feast of Saint Jerne, on August 24, when after the mass for a good harvest, the salt-making families return to their homes. Modern salt production has led to the abandonment of the traditional migration of families that characterized this occupation in the past. In the area of the Sečovel salt pans, you can still see the ruins of the saltworks houses, which are typical of this landscape. In the saltworks museum, the original way of extracting salt according to the Venetian tradition has been preserved and presented, which includes the correct proportions of the salt fields, the original working procedures and the storage of salt in restored saltworks houses.
