Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
classical buildings and watched over by the bell tower. Go for a swim at one of its rocky
beaches. Wander Piran's piers and catch its glow at sunset.
Piran also works as a base for visiting the caves, horses, and castles of the nearby
Karst region (see previous chapter). Notice, too, that it's conveniently on the way between
Piran(pee-RAHN) issmall; everything iswithin afewminutes' walk.Crowdedontothetip
of its peninsula, the town can't grow. Its population—7,500 a century ago—has dropped to
about 4,200 today, as many young people find more opportunity in bigger cities.
Piranclustersarounditsboat-speckledharborandmainshowpiecesquare,TartiniSquare
(Tartinijevtrg).UpthehillbehindTartiniSquareisthelandmarkbelltoweroftheCathedral
of St. George. A few blocks toward the end of the peninsula from Tartini Square is the heart
of the Old Town, May 1 Square (Trg 1 Maja).
From Tartini Square and the nearby marina, a concrete promenade—lined with rocks
to break the storm waves and with expensive tourist restaurants to break your
budget—stretches along the town's waterfront, inviting you to stroll.
