Must-see attractions in Slovenian Coast

  • Tartinijev Trg

    Piran

    The pastel-toned Tartinijev trg is a marble-paved square (oval, really) that was the inner harbour until it was filled in 1894. The statue of a nattily…

  • Cathedral of St George

    Piran

    A cobbled street leads from behind the red Venetian House Tartinijev trg on to Piran's hilltop cathedral, baptistery and bell tower. The cathedral was…

  • Titov Trg

    Koper

    In the centre of old Koper, Titov trg is a Venetian-influenced stunner; mercifully, like much of the Old Town’s core, it is closed to traffic. On the…

  • Cathedral of the Assumption

    Koper

    Plumb on Titov trg is the Cathedral of the Assumption and its 36m-tall belfry, now called the City Tower, with 204 climbable stairs to superb views. The…

  • Praetorian Palace

    Koper

    On the southern side of Titov trg is the white Praetorian Palace, a mixture of Venetian Gothic and Renaissance styles dating from the 15th century and the…

  • Bell Tower

    Piran

    The Cathedral of St George's free-standing, 46.5m bell tower, built in 1609, was clearly modelled on the campanile of San Marco in Venice and provides a…

  • Mediadom Pyrhani

    Piran

    This exciting new multimedia, interactive museum takes you on an innovative journey through Piran's historical story, with a 'time machine' and numerous…

  • Trg Brolo

    Koper

    Linked to Titov trg to the east, Trg Brolo is a wide and leafy square of fine old buildings, including the late-18th-century baroque Brutti Palace, now…

  • Kidričeva Ulica

    Koper

    On the north side of Kidričeva ulica are several churches from the 16th century, including the Church of St Nicholas, plus some restored Venetian houses…

  • Sečovlje Salina Nature Park

    Slovenian Coast

    This 750-hectare saltpan-studded area, criss-crossed with dikes and channels, has a wealth of birdlife – 290 species have been recorded here.

  • Trg 1 Maja

    Piran

    Trg 1 Maja may sound like a socialist parade ground, but it was the centre of Piran until the Middle Ages, when it was called Stari trg (Old Square). The…

  • Venetian House

    Piran

    One of Piran’s most eye-catching structures is the mid-15th-century Gothic Venetian House, with its tracery windows and balcony, in the northeast of…

  • Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum

    Piran

    Located in the 19th-century Gabrielli Palace on the waterfront, this museum's focus is the sea, with plenty of salty-dog stories relating to Slovenian…

  • Carpacciov Trg

    Koper

    One of the most colourful streets in Koper, Kidričeva ulica, starts at Carpacciov trg, where the Column of St Justina commemorates Koper’s contribution –…

  • Punta Lighthouse

    Piran

    Punta, the historical ‘point’ of Piran, still has a lighthouse, but today’s is small and relatively modern. Attached to it, however, is the round,…

  • Prešernov Trg

    Koper

    The 17th-century Italian family who erected the fountain in Prešernov trg was named Da Ponte; thus it is shaped like a bridge (ponte in Italian). At the…

  • Besenghi degli Ughi Palace

    Izola

    Izola’s most beautiful building – albeit looking a little worse for wear – is this late-baroque palazzo below the Parish Church of St Maurus. Built…

  • Čevljarska Ulica

    Koper

    Atmospheric Čevljarska ulica, a narrow commercial street for pedestrians, runs south from Titov trg. As you walk under the arch of the Praetorian Palace,…

  • Forma Viva

    Portorož

    Perched atop the Seča Peninsula south of town (beyond the marina), Forma Viva is an outdoor sculpture garden with some 130 works carved in stone. The real…

  • Minorite Monastery

    Piran

    The Minorite Monastery has a lovely cloister, and the attached Church of St Francis Assisi was built originally in the early 14th century but enlarged and…

  • Almerigogna Palace

    Koper

    At the end of Čevljarska ulica and down the stone steps is the Almerigogna Palace, a painted Venetian Gothic palace (now with a very basic pub on ground…

  • Church of St Clement

    Piran

    Just behind Punta lighthouse, the round, serrated tower of the Church of St Clement (originally built in the 13th century but altered 500 years later)…

  • Parish Museum of St George

    Piran

    The Parish Museum of St George includes the Cathedral of St George's treasury and catacombs; it also allows you to access the church's interior. Items of…

  • Manzioli House

    Izola

    The Venetian Gothic Manzioli House was built in 1470 and was the residence of an Istrian chronicler in the 16th century. Today it houses the bureau…

  • Belgramoni-Tacco Palace

    Koper

    The Belgramoni-Tacco Palace, dating from the early 17th century, houses the Koper Regional Museum. Not surprisingly given its construction date, there's a…

  • City Tower

    Koper

    Plumb on Titov trg is the Cathedral of the Assumption and its 36m-tall belfry, now called the City Tower, with 204 climbable stairs. Tickets are sold at…

  • Church of St Nicholas

    Koper

    On the north side of Kidričeva ulica there are several disused churches from the 16th century, including the Church of St Nicholas. The exterior is…

  • Parish Church of St Maurus

    Izola

    This renovated, salmon-coloured, 16th-century church and its detached bell tower are on the hill above the town. The views are the main reason to climb up…

  • Rotunda of John the Baptist

    Koper

    Behind the Cathedral of the Assumption to the north is a circular Romanesque Rotunda of John the Baptist, a baptistery dating from the second half of the…

  • Brutti Palace

    Koper

    Linked to Titov trg to the east, Trg Brolo is a wide and leafy square of fine old buildings, including the late-18th-century baroque Brutti Palace, now…

  • Municipal Palace

    Izola

    On Veliki trg is the Municipal Palace, which now houses offices of the local council. It was built in Gothic style in 1325; but the present baroque facade…

  • Column of St Justina

    Koper

    The Column of St Justina commemorates Koper's contribution – a galley – to the Battle of Lepanto in which Turkey was defeated by the European powers in…

  • Fontico

    Koper

    On the eastern side of Trg Brolo is the Fontico, a granary where the town’s wheat was once stored, with wonderful medallions and reliefs adorning the…

  • Medieval Town Houses

    Koper

    Opposite the Totto Palace are some wonderful medieval town houses, with protruding upper storeys painted in a checked red, gold and green pattern.

  • Totto Palace

    Koper

    On the north side of Kidričeva ulica are some restored Venetian houses and the 18th-century baroque Totto Palace, with winged lion relief.

  • Taverna

    Koper

    The western edge of Carpacciov trg is marked by the large arched Taverna, a one-time salt warehouse dating from the 15th century.

  • Simon's Bay

    Izola

    The best beach close to Izola is at Simon’s Bay, about 1.5km to the southwest. It has a grassy area for sunbathing.

  • Loggia

    Koper

    On the north side of Titov trg is the arcaded Venetian Gothic Loggia built in 1463; attached is the Loggia Gallery.

  • Vissich-Nardi Palace

    Koper

    On the eastern side of Trg Brolo is the 17th-century Vissich-Nardi Palace containing government offices.

  • Strunjan Landscape Park

    Slovenian Coast

    For centuries the people who lived at Strunjan, a peninsula halfway between Izola and Piran, were engaged in salt-making. Today the old salt-pan area is…

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