Piran Things to Do Tips by pure1942

Walk along the seafront

Piran has a beautiful seafront and harbour which narrows to a point known as the Punta. From the bus station you walk towards the town centre along the town's outer harbour which gives nice views south towards Portoroz. Continuing along the seafront you will come to Piran's inner harbour, filled with fishing and pleasure boats. As you round the U-shaped marina, Tartinijev Trg is located on your right, overlooked by the impressive Cathedral of St. George.
Following along the seafront you follow a road lined with a huge variety of seafood and Italian restaurants which lead you to the tip of the peninsula or Punta. Here you have the Punta lighthouse and Church of St. Clement. The lighthouse here probably gave Piran its name which is said to derive from the greek word for fire - 'pyr'.
From the Punta you have great views north along the Slovenian coast. Rounding the tip of the Punta you come to a narrow stony beach which continues along the northern side of the pennisula.

Marina

Due to Piran's location on the tip of a peninsula and as one of Slovenia's most southern ports, it is not surprising that Piran has a large harbour and marina. The marina is located inside the outer harbour and is shared between pleasure boats and fishing vessels. Even during the winter season the marina is filled with both fishing and pleasure craft in equal measures. The fishing boats bring in the daily catch which can be sampled in the huge range of seafood restaurants which line the seafront. You can recognise the fishing boats due to the black plastic bags which fly from the masts to keep away seagulls and other birds.
The inner port was originally bigger but part of it was filled in to form Tartinijev Trg. The U-shaped marina is surrounded by beautiful buildings and is overlooked by the Cathedral of St. George and adjacent Venetian bell tower.

Directions: From the bus stop continue north towards the town centre. Following along the hharbour wall you will follow the road to the right and the inner harbour or marina is on your left.

Port/Marina

Due to Piran's location on the tip of a peninsula and as one of Slovenia's most southern ports, it is not surprising that Piran has a large harbour and marina. The marina is located inside the outer harbour and is shared between pleasure boats and fishing vessels. Even during the winter season the marina is filled with both fishing and pleasure craft in equal measures. The fishing boats bring in the daily catch which can be sampled in the huge range of seafood restaurants which line the seafront. You can recognise the fishing boats due to the black plastic bags which fly from the masts to keep away seagulls and other birds.
The inner port was originally bigger but part of it was filled in to form Tartinijev Trg. The U-shaped marina is surrounded by beautiful buildings and is overlooked by the Cathedral of St. George and adjacent Venetian bell tower.

Directions: From the bus stop continue north towards the town centre. Following along the hharbour wall you will follow the road to the right and the inner harbour or marina is on your left.

City Walls

Historically the walls encircling Piran were built to protect the town against invaders. the walls were started as far back as the 7th centruy and were extended and added to over the centuries.
Today the city walls are not used as protection but more as a vantage point to enjoy views out over the town of Piran and its red roofed houses and Cathedral. The walls also offer great views up and down the Slovenian coast towards Portoroz to the south-west and as far as the Italian coast towards Venice.

Directions: Reaching the city walls of Piran involces a steep climb up the hill past the cathedral plateau. Take the cobblestone street in the northern corner of Tartinijev Trg towards the Cathedral.

Tartini's Square

Tartini's Square or Tartinijev Trg is the focal point of the twon of Piran. The square is named after the town's famous composer Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770). Originally the square did not exist and was in fact an inner port of Piran. It was decided to fill in the port in 1894 to make a main square for the town.
The square houses the Town Hall, 15th century Venetian House, Tartini's Monument and the town's main tourist office as well as several small shops.

Directions: From the bus stop follow the road along the seafront and round the corner towards the marina. Tartinijev Trg is directly in front of you across from the marina.

Punta Lighthouse

The name 'Piran' is thought to have originated from the greek word for fire 'pyr' because long ago fires were lit at the tip of the Punta in Piran to guide ships into the port of Koper - originally Aegida. A newer lighthouse was built and still exists on the pennisula's tip.
The lighthouse is located at the Punta behind the Church of St. Clement with its beautiful tower.

Church of St. Clement

The church of St. Clement/Klement is located on the seafront at the tip of Piran's small pennisula or Punta as it is known locally.
A church is said to have existed on this site since the 13th century and has since been renovated and restored most notably in 1890. The church is also known as Lady of Health Church after it was renamed after a plague that swept through the Istrian coast during the 17th century. Right beside the church is the Punta Lighthouse.

Directions: From Tartinijev Trg follow the seafront to the tip of the pennisula. Alternatively try and find your way through the maze of alleys from the square to the Punta!

Venetian House

The pink coloured Venetian House in Tartinijev Trg is one of Piran's most interesting buildings. It is built in the Gothic Venetian style and is probably an good indication of what the architecture of the town would have been based on in the 15th century. The 15th century house is located in the northern corner of the square beside the cobblestone street keading up to the Cathedral and city walls.
Originally this house would have been overlooking Piran's port but this part of the port was later filled in to form the square.

(Sorry I don't have a better picture but the house is shown on the right hand side)

Directions: Northern corner of Tartinijev Trg

Cathedral of St. George

The Cathedral in Piran dominates the town's skyline and overlooks the town's main square Tartinijev Trg. A church has existed on this site from the 11th or 12th century. The most eyecathching part of the Cathedral is the belltower which was built in the early 17th century by the Slovenian architect Giacomo di Nodari. The bell tower is instantly recognisable as being venetian in influence and bears obvious similarities to St. Mark's in Venice. The tower has the same shape and pyramid shaped spire.

Directions: From the marina you cross Tartinijev Trg. to the north corner and follow the path up to the Cathedral.

Phone: ++386 5 673 34 40