Piran is an old port town in Slovenian Istra. The town is bilingual, Italian and Slovenian. The Italian name for the city is Pirano. It is situated at the cape of the Piran peninsula. Piran has kept its medieval appearance with narrow streets and closely built houses, which gives it a typical Mediterranean character and a special charm.
On a hill above the houses, the church of Saint George is situated, with a high tower and an interior with many paintings and intricate artwork. Piran has been settled since before Roman times. In the years between 1909 and 1953, Piran was connected with Portorož and Lucija by an electric railway. Today, Piran is an administrative and tourist center which attracts both local and foreign visitors. Some of the most fascinating sites in Piran include the Tartini Square, the Town Palace, the Tartini Monument, the Tartini House, special stone columns for flags, the Court Palace, the May 1 Square, also known as the Old Square, and the old town wall composed of three walls from different time periods. In the city center is the Aquarium which was established in 1964. The Promenade extends along the coast and offers many restaurants with a wide variety of local foods and drinks. Church of Saint George offers an extraordinary view of the old town and the Gulf of Trieste. It was built in 1638 on the site of the Romanesque basilica and the Gothic three-nave church. A bell tower stands independently of the church. It was built in 1609 after the model of the bell tower of St. Mark in Venice. Tartini Square was originally a seafront for fishing boats. It was demolished in 1894. In the middle of the square stands a bronze monument to Giuseppe Tartini, a famous Piran countryman, composer, violinist and music educator. The Church of Our Lady of the Snows is located along Bolniska Street. It was built in 1404 and rebuilt in the baroque style in the 17th century. Opposite the church stands the church of Saint Franciscan monastery. The monastery cross corridor with a portal is a remarkable work from the 17th century.
Narrow streets in Piran make it impossible to drive cars, so there are parking places in front of the city. Piran, Seča and Portorož are connected by a regular local bus route. A newer part of the town developed outside the walls along the coast towards Portorož.
Photos
![Piran - Tartini Square <br> Court Palace Piran - Tartini Square <br> Court Palace]()
Court Palace
![Piran - Tartini Square <br> Town Hall Piran - Tartini Square <br> Town Hall]()
Town Hall
![Piran - Tartini Square <br> Tartini Monument and the belfry of St. George's Church Piran - Tartini Square <br> Tartini Monument and the belfry of St. George's Church]()
Tartini Monument and the belfry of St. George...
![Piran - Tartini Square <br> Venetian House Piran - Tartini Square <br> Venetian House]()
Venetian House
![Piran - Tartini Square <br> St. Peter's Church Piran - Tartini Square <br> St. Peter's Church]()
St. Peter's Church
![Piran - St. George's Church <br> Strunjan Bay Piran - St. George's Church <br> Strunjan Bay]()
Strunjan Bay
![Piran - View of Piran (Travesini Palace, St. George's Gate, St. George's Church ...) Piran - View of Piran (Travesini Palace, St. George's Gate, St. George's Church ...)]()
View of Piran (Travesini Palace, St. George's Gate, St. George's Chur...
![Piran - South part of Piran Piran - South part of Piran]()
South part of Piran
![Piran - View of Piran through sailing boats in port Piran - View of Piran through sailing boats in port]()
View of Piran through sailing boats in port
![Piran - Old town centre of Piran Piran - Old town centre of Piran]()
Old town centre of Piran
![Piran - Mediterranean town Piran Piran - Mediterranean town Piran]()
Mediterranean town Piran
![Piran - Piran surrounded by the sea Piran - Piran surrounded by the sea]()
Piran surrounded by the sea
![Piran - Town Walls <br> Town wall Piran - Town Walls <br> Town wall]()
Town wall
![Piran - Promenade Bernardin <br> View of Piran Piran - Promenade Bernardin <br> View of Piran]()
View of Piran
![Piran - Kidricevo nabrezje (Kidric Quay) <br> Tartini Theatre Piran - Kidricevo nabrezje (Kidric Quay) <br> Tartini Theatre]()
Tartini Theatre
![Piran - Kidricevo nabrezje (Kidric Quay) <br> Hotel Piran Piran - Kidricevo nabrezje (Kidric Quay) <br> Hotel Piran]()
Hotel Piran
![Piran - Trg bratstva (Brotherhood Square) <br> The Marciana Gate Piran - Trg bratstva (Brotherhood Square) <br> The Marciana Gate]()
The Marciana Gate
![Piran - Bolniska ulica (Bolniska Street) <br> Minorite Monastery of St. Francis with church belfry in background Piran - Bolniska ulica (Bolniska Street) <br> Minorite Monastery of St. Francis with church belfry in background]()
Minorite Monastery of St. Francis with church...
![Piran - Zelenjavni trg <br> Dolfin's Gate in Piran Piran - Zelenjavni trg <br> Dolfin's Gate in Piran]()
Dolfin's Gate in Piran
![Piran - Aquarium <br> Ribiski trg (Fishing square) Piran - Aquarium <br> Ribiski trg (Fishing square)]()
Ribiski trg (Fishing square)