PIRAN
Piran is a town in southwestern Slovenia, located in the Gulf of Piran on the Adriatic Sea. Characterized by Venetian Gothic architecture, the city has beautiful narrow streets and alleyways to wander around. It is said to be one of the best-preserved medieval towns in the Mediterranean.
A brief history of Piran
The name Piran is derived from the Greek word for fires, 'pyr', that are lit at the very tip of a peninsula to guide ships to the port, which today is called Koper. The Romans then named the settlement Piranum, they were followed by the Slavs, Byzantines, Franks and the Patriarchs of Aquileia. Then beginning in the late 13th century, the Venetians ruled the city for five centuries. Under the Venetians, the town became prosperous, and they constructed most of the grand buildings. However, the last decades of Venetian rule were marked by decadence, due to the competition with the nearby Austrian port town of Trieste. Then in 1797, the city became annexed to the Austrian Empire; but later ceded to the Napoleonic Empire between 1806 and 1814. After various battles, by the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Piran was a flourishing Austro-Hungarian market and spa town with excellent transport connections; it grew to over 12,000 inhabitants. After being ceded to Italy in the First World War, Piran went under Yugoslavian administration in 1954, and a large proportion of the population immigrated to Italy. In 1991 Piran became part of independent Slovenia.
Things to do in Piran
Firstly head for Tartini Square, the main square, named after violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini, of whom in 1896 a monument was made. It is a lovely spot to watch the world go by and have a coffee. During the summer months vehicles are permitted to park within the square and so it's wholly pedestrianized. The square was initially a dock for small fishing boats, located outside of the first city walls, but in the Middle Ages, the pier became surrounded by important buildings and palaces which caused a buildup of sewage, so officials decided to bury the dock and set up a square there in 1894. The Maritime Museum is also well worth a visit, it features an impressive Roman amphora preserved underneath a glass floor as well as tales from Slovenian Naval history and cannons, machine guns, binoculars, from the Second World War.
Beaches around Piran
Fornače beach has terrific views of Piran and has pebbles. It is along the coast towards Portoroz; there is also a pedestrian path linking the two towns, which runs mainly along the coast and takes less than an hour. Strunjan Beach and Nature Reserve is a beautiful place to take a dip. The coastal views are just amazing, nature here is unspoiled, and you can even see fish swimming in the clear sea, there is a stunning from the top of Moonbay. To get there, park at Parish Church of Maryˋs Apparition and hike down to Moonbay.