Senior Sailor Says:
As one of Slovenia’s oldest towns, Piran dates back to the Illyrian Histri tribes. They were farmers, hunters, and fishermen. Then came the Romans 178 BC.
From 1283 to 1797, Piran was part of the Republic of Venice. After 1797, Piran bounced back and forth between Austrian, French, and Italian rule, and in 1954, it became part of Yugoslavia. Since 1991, Piran has been part of Slovenia.
I am learning this fascinating history as a passenger on the Viking Saturn, a small ship in Viking’s Ocean fleet. My cruise, “Empires of the Mediterranean,” visits four other countries: Italy, Croatia, Montenegro, and Greece.
I joined my local guide on the pier, along with a small group of other like-minded passengers, after we tendered from the ship. We all had the same goal: to learn about this historic and charming community and to take in its beauty. With cobblestones underfoot and a thunderous-looking sky overhead, we walk into the old city.
Piran is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini, who played an essential role in shaping the city’s cultural heritage, our guide says over the Quietvox. This Viking creation allows the guide to narrate the tour without having to shout over street noise. Passengers use headphones to listen to the narrative.
The town’s main square, oval-shaped Tartini Square, is named after him. In 1892, the 200th anniversary of his birth, a monument to Tartini was erected. The statue dominates the square, overlooked by the Cathedral of Saint George.
Piran is like an open-air museum of red-roofed buildings and medieval charms. Beautiful architecture and narrow, winding streets create a surreal time travel.
After visiting the square, the sky begins to lighten as we follow our guide up a hill to visit the Church of St. George and take in views of the city and the coast.
The church is a prominent landmark. It was built in the 17th century and showcases the Baroque architectural style. The church features a striking bell tower, inspired by the Campanile of St. Mark’s in Venice.
Inside, we discovered beautiful frescoes and a richly decorated altar and learn that St. George is the patron saint of Piran.
We follow our guide back down the hill and into the maze of narrow cobblestoned lanes and colorful houses.
She tells us that Piran is known for its traditional salt production, dating back to the Middle Ages. The salt pans along the Adriatic coast are a UNESCO World Heritage site. The industry focuses on producing high-quality sea salt, primarily for culinary use.
Our tour officially ends, and we are free to explore. There are a few places to shop. My daughter purchased salt from Piranski Soline. We visited a few other shops before slowly making our way back to the pier and the tender that would take us back to the ship.
After this, our first day at sea, we hoped this was a preview of the many adventures to come. It was.
For more information on “Empires of the Mediterranean,” click here.
