It is the people that write the history of a town. A story that our ancestors spun, and that we who live here keep on weaving. sea view of the town 26 City Walls embrace Piran As we look at the stalwart city walls, The embrace holds its streets walk along their ramparts, we may and squares, the palaces, eight have some difficulty imagining that churches, art galleries, museums, work on the first city walls probably the aquarium, and many restaurants, began in the distant 7th century A.D. taverns and cafes. The walls used to be a shield for the Regardless of the season, here it town, its bulwark. A safe embrace. feels as if time had stopped long ago. In 1991 Piran became member of the There is a sense of peace that invites European Walled Towns association, you to stay. With homemade food, a and though the fortifications used to toast, artistic sights, a walk through represent security in the old days, the town, which was, as we say here, they have fortunately been a tourist literally “built from salt” from the attraction for quite a while now. But nearby Sečovlje salt pans. There is that the walls still embrace the town certain... Je ne sais quoi in the air that of Piran, which is, in its entirety, a gently whispers: Stop, be here… stay protected monument of cultural heritage. here… Embrace Piran! An embrace is like a closed circle. The present day elliptically shaped Begin it by strolling into town and platform made of white marble and following the coastline to the Tartini designed by the famous architect Square. This is the salon, the heart of Boris Podrecca is based on the layout the town. Piran was supposedly first of the very same tramway tracks. mentioned in written sources in the The square is named after the violin seventh or eighth century A.D., and it virtuoso Giuseppe Tartini, a native of was known as Piranon in antiquity. the town. His statue, finished in 1896 The main square used to be a by sculptor Antonio dal Zotto, adorns mandracchio or inner port for fishing the square to this day. And the Tartini boats, but it was filled in in 1894 to House, where the maestro was born, create the present square. An electric is among the oldest in town. The tramway roundabout was even laid Tartini memorial room holds a variety down here, for a line operating of interesting exhibits, among these between 1909 and 1953, connecting the priceless Tartini violin. Piran with Portorož and Lucija. Piran was supposedly first mentioned in written sources in the seventh or eighth century A.D., and it was known as Piranon in antiquity. The town theatre also bears Tartini’s The legend goes that a rich Venetian name and provides a venue for many merchant fell in love with a beautiful events of various artistic genres, girl from Piran and to prove his including those with a venerable love, he gifted her with this house. tradition.The Tartini Square is also As ever, the gossip spared no one. given a particular mark by the So the lovers made an inscription Veneziana, a beautiful light-red on the facade: “lasa pur dir” or “Let building, the finest example of them talk”... and went on loving Venetian gothic architecture in Piran, each other. built in the mid-15th century. From The Tartini square and monument its corner balcony, long ago a maiden are presided over by the Municipal might have looked on, waiting for Palace. In remembrance of the Most her darling... Serene Republic of Venice second floor of the palace facade features a stone sculpture of a winged lion holding an open book under its paw. The open book signifies peace, while a closed one would signify wartime. The interior of the palace, which to this day hosts the municipal authorities, is adorned by the works of many artists, but a special place is held by a painting by 20 Tartini Square with the monument 17 Venetian House 24 Minorite Church of St. Francis salt producing in the Sečovlje salt pans Domenico Tintoretto, relating another Behind the Venetian house on the of the many Piranese legends. Tartini Square the cobbled street Other interesting buildings on the climbs to St. George’s church, built Tartini Square include the Baroque in the 12th century. This baroque House, the Apollonio Palace, the church with its bell tower and Law Palace and the Loggia. baptistery dominates the hill above The entrance to the square is the town and truly is Piran’s most symbolically marked by the stone recognisable icon. It is supported pillars of the flag posts, dating back by a structure of walls and arches, to the 9th century. which was, as the church itself, The Tartini Square is the scene of completely renewed, to save it many events, a meeting place, a from the effects of time and the place for people. The heart of town. elements. St. George’s church is named after the town’s patron saint. The church hosts the parish museum Piran has a rich sacral heritage, built of St. George with a treasury, throughout different periods lapidaries and an archaeological of history. pit. In the same street, next to the There are the churches of St. Mary presbytery, there is the Georgios of the Snows, St. Mary the Consoler, Pastoral and Cultural Centre, St. Mary of Health, St. Peter, St. which with its outdoor space and Roch, St. Stephen and the Franciscan hall is also a pleasant location for monastery and cloister with the church events in Piran. Many excellent of St. Francis. concerts, performed by extraordinary The cloister is an architectural gem, musicians from all over the world are a special place, of peace and beauty, also held at St. George’s. and has as such long been a venue St. George’s church is the largest for art exhibitions and classical in town and is named after the town’s music events, among which the patron saint. Piran Musical evenings have the longest tradition. The town of Piran is protected in its entirety as a monument of cultural heritage. in Slovenia and around the world, from when the time stops - coffee time its beginnings up to the present day. Salt festival in Piran The Piran Aquarium has several tanks, holding around 140 species of sea life from the Slovenian sea. The Civic To the pride of the town and its people, Gallery was recently renovated to the Piran has several museums and galleries design of architect Boris Podrecca and safeguarding its legacy. The Maritime has an important place in the European Museum of Sergej Mašera resides context of visual arts. It features a rich in the Gabrielli Palace next to the permanent collection, many exhibitions port. It features exhibits documenting are organised here and there is the Slovenian maritime history and the traditional Ex-Tempore workshop of maritime past of the North Adriatic visual and ceramic arts. Beside the coastal area. The museum also Civic Gallery, there is also the Herman offers permanent exhibitions outside Pečarič Gallery in town, a former tailor the palace: in the Villa San Marco shop from the turn of the 19th and in Portorož, in Tona’s House in Sveti 20th century, hosting a collection of Peter and the Saltmaking museum in the paintings bequeathed by the artist to Sečovlje salt pans. the town of Piran, and there is also a The Museum of Underwater Activities is a series of open air sculptures to see, the colourful mosaic of the history of diving Forma Viva on the Seča peninsula. If the Tartini Square has the honour of neighbouring buildings connected to being the heart of town, the 1st May it. Stairs lead to the entrance of the Square or Old Square is the heart of the platform, watched over by the sculpted old Punta quarter, and used to be the personifications of Law and Justice. administrative centre of town up until The old city core of Piran was the 13th century. probably fortified with walls as early All the main streets lead here, like so as the 7th century A.D. The city walls many arteries, and you can really feel have eight defensive towers, and the pulse of the town in this square. the city quarters were named after We come here to enjoy a glass of local the seven town gates, which are wine, to do some shopping, the local preserved to this day: The first and children love to play in the square and second Raspo gates, the Marciana its central elevated platform is the gate, the Mugla gate, the Dolfin gate, scene of many events in the summer. the Campo gate, and the baroque St. George’s gate. They were built in After a severe draught in 1775 different time periods, but they all a stone rainwater collector was represented gateways through which built here, with gutters from the people entered the town. If the Tartini Square has the honour of being the heart of town, the 1st May Square or Old Square is the heart of the old Punta quarter, and used to be the administrative centre of town up until the 13th century. 04 1st May Square Port of Piran hinterland - Moon bay Where did you, who now wonder the local genuinely extra virgin olive streets of Piran reading these lines, oil, and maybe have a dish that enter its gates? our grandmothers used to cook, Will your path take you to Punta, making an art out of putting simple where today the locals are reviving ingredients together? Will you be the old customs of sharing time surprised by the many events in together and preserving the memory town? We still appreciate and know of a precious culture of living? how to do all of the above.