Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic

Piran on the Adriatic

At first glance, Piran does not seem like a fishing village. But the square of the city, Piazza Tartini, is too grand and too large. In its midst, the namesake of the square, the city-born musician Giuseppe Tartini, watches over the place. Under him, the city's offspring roars loudly and full of joie de vivre and mischief under the eyes of the mothers and is already once dragged vigorously by the pointed and dangerous-looking fences, which should keep just such naughty thing from the musician's statue. They do not manage to keep their offspring away for a long time. They climb up again, and the mothers have to intervene again. An exhausting job to keep his kids in control of Tartini Square.

 

Since it is good that the fishing village on the Adriatic, is closed to traffic. We go by bus from Portoroz across, which stops directly at Tartini Square. Those arriving by car must park in one of the parking garages in front of the city and walk to the center of Piran. Only the inhabitants of Piran are allowed to take the vehicle into the city.

 

 

Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic - with Venetian architecture

Which does not contribute to the fact that we immediately perceive Piran as a fishing village, are the magnificent buildings on Tartini Square. On the façade of the town hall is the Venetian lion, holding a book in his paw - a sign that the inhabitants of Piran were friendly to the Venetians. That's how Janez, our Slovenian companion, shows us Piran. It is no wonder that Venice had such a strong influence on Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic. The lagoon city is only about 100 kilometers away from the sea. A stone's throw, so to speak, and for the dealers from Venice anyway. These came to the Bay of Piran because of the salt, which is mined on its south side. The salt pans can still be visited today.

 

 

A Venetian even had a love affair with a piran for years. The love was so great that he built her a house in the city center. Not to be mistaken for its Venetian architecture and red color, it still seems to be true to its owner's motto: "let it go" (let it talk). This can still be seen on a relief between the two windows on the top floor of the house.

 

 

Italian tracks in Piran

Petar joins the others on a tour of the streets that lead up to the Cathedral of St. George. From the top you can see the remains of the city fortifications that stretch along the ridge. On the way they pass the Minorite Monastery, which was once built by the Franciscans in Piran. Once at the top there is a view of Piran and the bay in front of it, where a tall ship with five masts is just anchoring, just as if the merchants from Venice are still traveling the Mediterranean. In fact, it is a cruise ship sailing along the Adriatic coast. It offers an impressive sight in the evening sun.

 

 

Petar's video also shows that there is more evidence of Italy's proximity to Piran. On the tour through Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic, he encounters Italian traces. There is the hairdressing salon called Verdi or the signs showing the cathedral Sv. To designate Jurij as Chiesa di San Giorgio. After all, 7 percent of the population of Piran speak Italian. There are even Italian kindergartens and elementary schools in the city. It is no wonder that the kitchen of Piran has something Italian about it. By that I do not mean the pizzerias that are in the side streets of Tartini Square. No, Spaghetti Vongole (spaghetti with mussels) is served as our own course during our delicious dinner.

 

 

Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic, we experience with fresh fish directly from the fisherman

After all these influences of Venetian architecture, Janez wants to prove to us that Piran is still a Slovenian fishing village. He leads us to a restaurant that cannot be recognized as such from the outside. "Locals prefer to eat here," he explains to us as he heads for an old fishing boat that we wouldn't even have noticed on a walk around the harbor, it looks so weathered. "Here you get your fish fresh from the sea and directly from the fisherman's kitchen." My mouth watered immediately. And I shouldn't expect too much!

 

 

The best sea bass I have eaten so far

On the contrary, my expectations were exceeded. Neither Petar nor I are particularly fish lovers, but the fish dishes that Katarina and her husband Rokis served us on their fishing boat in the port of Piran still make me daydream and may prompt us to make another trip to Piran soon. There was a paste made from cod as a spread on homemade olive bread and sardines in it olive oil. They open our epicurean meal, which we enjoy on the beer garden tables on board their boat. As a greeting from the kitchen, there's spaghetti with Vongole. Our dinner in the Bay of Piran concludes with fish that Rokis had freshly caught from the sea that morning. A sea bream, a sea bass and two local fish species whose names I could not find out.

During our supper the tall ship had set sail in the bay and sailed into the sunset. We separate ourselves first from our hosts Janez, Katarina and Rokis, as weather lights in the distance thunderstorm announces. What a nice evening in Piran, the fishing village on the Adriatic.

 

 

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Travel Arrangements:

Book yours here Arrival by plane, bus or train*. Airports are Ljubljana and Trieste. From there you can continue by rental car, train or bus.

Arrival by bus:

• by public bus from Trieste (Italy) to Koper, Izola, Portorož and Piran
  info: www.aptgorizia.it or www.autostazionetrieste.it
• by public bus from Ljubljana (Slovenia) to Koper, Izola, Portorož and Piran
  info: www.ap-ljubljana.si
• by public bus from Croatian Istria to Koper, Izola, Portorož and Piran
  info: www.autotrans.hr

Arrival by train:
It is possible to arrive by train to Ljubljana and on to Koper. Alternatively you can arrive via Trieste.

Car Rentals:
on the motorways from Trieste (Italy) and Ljubljana (capital of Slovenia) and on the road from Pula (Croatia)
Cheap Car Hire - Book Fast and Easy! *

Accommodation in Piran and Portoroz:
At our partner booking.com you can book hotels and Accommodation in Piran * and Portoroz * easy to book online.

Our travel tips for Slovenia
We have tested these travel tips ourselves. Maybe there is something for you?

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Source: own research on site. We thank you for the invitation Slovenia.info and Portoroz Lifeclass hotels, Our opinion remains our own.

Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs, TravelWorldOnline