Koper Croatia. Koper Slovenia

Slovenia is unique in its own way geographical location, a country. Moving onto alpine skiing from the Alpine peaks, you actually immediately get to the beaches of the Adriatic coast. There are not many cities on the Slovenian coast, and the main one among them is Koper (Sl. Koper, Italian Kapodistria). Despite the fact that the city's population is only about 25,000 people, Koper is the largest Slovenian city and port on the coast of the Gulf of Piran.

Until the 19th century, Koper was located on an island that in ancient times was called “Goat”. In 1825, the island was connected by an embankment to the mainland, but the city is still, according to tradition, divided into the old “island” part and the new “mainland” part.

Koper Island

The "mainland" part is modern city with its own infrastructure, lively life and tall buildings. In the “island” part of Kopra, the picture is completely different: time seems to have stood still here. Ancient houses under red tiled roofs in the Italian style, small narrow streets facing the sea - all this reminds of the centuries-old history of Kopra, which dates back to the times Ancient Greece.

Lapidarium in Koper

HISTORY OF COPRA

In those days the city was called Aegida (Goat City). Later, when Koper is mentioned, names such as Capris (Greek: Copros), Caprea, Capre and Caprista come up. The chronicles mention that in 568 AD, Roman citizens of a neighboring city Tergeste(Trieste), due to the invasion of the Huns, they fled to Capris. The Byzantines, who captured Koper in the 7th century, renamed it Justinopolis, in honor of their emperor. Justinian II .

The name of the city Tergeste comes from the Slovenian word trg - market square. So there's not much Italian in this (now) Italian city!

Old city center

In many ways, the medieval history of the city is determined by its relations with the Venetian Republic. By 932, among all the cities of Istria, Koper became the main partner of Venice, maintaining neutrality in the event of a war between Venice and any of the cities of Istria.

This alliance brings great benefits to Koper. The city experienced a real economic boom during the Crusades, when the demand for its agricultural products sharply increased: oil, wine, fish and salt. Maritime trade also brings great profits. In the 11th-12th centuries in Koper, as in others seaside towns, an oligarchic system of government is emerging: with an outwardly republican form, power belongs to several families of noble patricians.

Loggia Palace. Venetian architecture of Copra

Thanks to its sharp economic growth, Koper grows stronger, and eventually decides to conflict with Venice. In 1145, a union of three Istrian cities - Pula, Koper and Izola - challenged the Venetian Republic. The result is disastrous: the defeated cities are forced to take an “oath of loyalty” (facere fidelitatem) to the Doge of Venice. After this conflict, the authorities of Koper began to behave extremely carefully: the city provided military assistance to the Venetian fleet in every possible way, and in conflicts between Venice and other cities, invariably taking the side of the Republic.

In 1182, as a reward for his loyalty, Koper received from Venice the right to monopoly salt production on the entire Istrian coast for a period of 29 years. The extraction of salt was of paramount importance in those days, and this helps to strengthen the status of Koper as the central city of the Istrian coast. Salt mining brought great economic benefits to the city for many centuries and was only stopped in 1911.

In 1380, Koper was brutally attacked by the Genoese (medieval Genoa). The troops of Genoa plunder the city and take away with them jewelry and sacred relics, including the relics of St. Nazarius - the heaviest punishment for medieval city(returned in 1423) But even these small attacks cannot stop the economic rise of Koper. In the 16th century, Koper was considered the largest port city in northwestern Istria. In the middle of the 16th century its population numbered about 10 thousand inhabitants. Unfortunately, more than 50% of the population died during the terrible plague epidemic that raged in Europe in 1553-1554.

Having existed until the end of the 18th century, the Republic of Venice perishes under the onslaught of Napoleon's army. In 1797, French troops entered Koper, and the city became first part of the Italian Kingdom and then part of the Illyrian Provinces (1809-1813). After the fall of the Napoleonic Empire, Koper fell under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, which remained in its possession until the First World War.

In 1918, Koper passes to Italy, and after the Second World War, in 1947, joins the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, as part of Free Territory of Trieste. When the Free Territory of Trieste officially ceased to exist in 1954, Koper became part of Yugoslavia, already part of the federal Republic of Slovenia. By this time, most of the Italians living in the city were leaving the city, moving to Italy.

WHAT TO SEE IN KOPRA

Koper is a city ancient history and the latest tourism infrastructure. Walking through the old, medieval streets of its island part, you immediately notice the enormous influence of Venetian architecture. Here everyone can see wonderful evidence of different cultures and eras. All inscriptions in the city are made in Slovenian and Italian, and every building has an Italian flavor.

The oldest decoration of Koper is the Rotunda of the Ascension, built in the 12th century. The church served as a gathering place and blessing for soldiers going to war. Inside it hangs one of the best paintings of the Renaissance in Slovenia, painted by an Italian painter Vittore Carpaccio(Vittore Carpaccio) in 1516 and here is one of the oldest bells in Slovenia (1333), cast by the Venetian master Jacob.

Koper has preserved many very original and interesting monuments Venetian period. One of these monuments is the Praetorian Palace, built in 1464 in the Venetian Gothic style. The palace is located on the central square of the city - Titov Square (Titov trg), and opposite it stands the Loggia Palace, which today houses art Gallery, with a rich collection of paintings from the 15th century.

Here, not far away, is the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, built in the 15th century. It houses the main city shrine - the tomb of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of the city, whose relics were taken out of the city by Genoese troops in 1380.

Built in the 17th century, Belgramoni-Tacco Palace is one of the most beautiful Baroque palaces in Koper. The palace has two names because at one time, one of the members of the Belgramoni family lost it overnight to another family - Tacco. Today, the palace houses the regional museum of northern Istria. The amazing palaces of Gravisi Barababianca, Brutti and Totto also once belonged to noble Venetian families, and along with many other historical buildings, today serve as a real decoration of Koper.

Belgramoni-Tacco Palace

Koper is also interesting for fans active rest. In addition to clean city beaches, a large modern water park offers its visitors many attractions for every taste. In the vicinity of the city there are many steep cliffs, long loved by mountaineering enthusiasts, as well as a small airfield offering everyone fantastic panoramic flights over the Adriatic coast.

View of Koper from above

Koper hosts numerous choral singing festivals. One of the most famous is the seaside summer festival, which every year brings together musical groups from Slovenia and other countries. Spectators from all over the world come to watch it, truly enjoying the vibrant spectacle and the city of Koper itself.

Koper (Italian: Kapodistrias)- the largest Slovenian seaside town, the capital of the Slovenian Istria and the country's main seaport. Like Venice, the old city core contains some interesting evidence of history. Once built on an island, in the 19th century it was connected to the land by a causeway and gradually merged completely with the continent. In Italian the name of the city is Kapodistrias, which means " main city Istria".

The city is located in close proximity to the Italian border and the city of Trieste (), and is connected by a new modern highway to the capital Ljubljana, as well as coastal roads to Italian Trieste and Croatian Istria. Also in Koper there is railroad station, but, compared to road and sea transport, the railway is used very poorly.

Koper has the only commercial port where ships with cargo from the Middle East, Japan and Korea arrive.

Koper Hotels They are quite cozy, and the administration of some even tries to create conditions closer to home. It is comfortable to relax here with your family, since everything is provided for the convenience of children, for example, as entertainment in one hotel your child will be offered pony riding, and in another you can rent bicycles. If you're an outdoor enthusiast, you'll have a great time at the local water park, whose pools cover an area of more than three thousand square meters. There is also a SPA center where you will be offered various programs for weight loss and for relaxation and good mood, massage and lymphatic drainage.

In the old days, Koper was located on an island with strange name Koziy, and by 1825 the island was connected to the mainland, but still, paying tribute to tradition, the city is divided into the mainland and the island.

The mainland is a modern city: the houses here are tall and the buildings are cramped. The island part has a completely different appearance: cathedrals, old houses with tiled roofs, in the architecture of which the influence of Italian traditions is clearly visible. This is understandable: the Slavs settled here in the 8th century, a century later they established close ties with the Venetian Republic, and by the 13th century Koper was annexed to Venice. As often happens, the Venetians, protecting Koper from external enemies, gradually became the rightful masters of the city. Hence the Italian style of architecture, cuisine, music. There are even two full-fledged languages ​​here: Italian and Slovenian.

Sights of Koper

The city has preserved many monuments from the period of the Venetian Republic, very original and interesting. The most famous building in Koper - the Praetorian Palace, it was built in 1464 in the Venetian Gothic style, located in the central square of the city - Titov Trg. Opposite the Praetorian Palace is the Loggia Palace, which houses an art gallery with a rich collection of paintings from the 15th century, and a modern, very favorite with tourists cafe.

The palaces of Armerigogna, Totto, Belgramoni-Tacco once belonged to representatives of noble Venetian families, and today they are a real decoration of the city. Koper is also proud of the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, which was built in the 15th century. The main shrine of the cathedral is the tomb of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of the city.

The oldest building in the city is the Rotunda of the Ascension, which was built in the 12th century.

One of the city's most attractive attractions is the zoo. It is not only an amusement park, but also a fairly famous research center. The zoo is huge, the variety of animals kept in it is very large, so many tourists who are interested in the animal world often choose Koper as their holiday destination: there are many opportunities to observe the habits of various animals.

Koper is also interesting for lovers of active recreation: a huge modern water amusement park offers many attractions for every taste and age. This city has long been a favorite of mountaineering lovers: in the vicinity of the city there are many steep cliffs on which you can hone your mountaineering skills, and at the same time admire the beauty of the Adriatic coast.

Another factor that makes the city attractive not only for beach lovers is the numerous choral singing festivals that are regularly held in the city. One of the most famous - the Primorsky Summer Festival - brings together many musical groups from Slovenia and other countries every year, as well as spectators who truly enjoy this vibrant holiday.

Have you ever watched a cartoon about Smeshariki? There, the main characters live in a wonderful country: sea, mountains, rivers, forests, sun and absolutely happy Smeshariki. It seems to me that the prototype of this cartoon is a small country located in Central Europe.

You can travel through the whole of Slovenia in about three hours by car. The length of the Slovenian coast is only 46 km. This small part is called Slovenian Istria, the center of which is the city of Koper, which I want to talk a little about.

My first impressions of Kopra are a state of some kind of unconditional, for some reason intoxicated happiness, when you literally glow from the inside. Surprisingly, even now, having lived here for four years, I experience the same state when I fly from Moscow to Koper.

How to get there

There are many options for getting to the city of Koper - by plane, train, car. I will describe those known to me, and you may find something of your own.

By plane

Of all the options, I always prefer a plane, preferably a day flight, preferably non-stop. Not original. But... in order to leave some other memories from the trip besides the road, I advise you to skip the sections “By Train” and “By Car”.

Moscow – Ljubljana

My favorite option is a direct regular flight (Sheremetyevo) with Adria Airways, which flies every day except Wednesday. Ticket prices range from 100 to 700 EUR one way, travel time is 3 hours.

You can compare ticket prices by.

We are happy to fly to this small, cozy airport, where after arrival it is worth drinking a cup of coffee in a local cafe - only 1 EUR, and you are already immersed in the leisurely Slovenian rhythm of life, where the main slogan is “pochasi” (slowly), and Each event ends with coffee.

From Ljubljana Airport to Koper

By car. The distance from Ljubljana Airport to Kopra is about 130 km, so the question of how to get there is very relevant. I would recommend renting a car right at the airport, since without a car, a vacation in Europe would not be complete. Read more about renting a car and getting around toll roads I'll tell you further.

By train. By shuttle, which runs once an hour, you can get to the railway station of the capital Ljubljana, then after a 2.5 hour drive along the picturesque railway, you will be in Koper. You can view the train schedule; the ticket price is 9 EUR.

By bus. There, at the railway station, there is bus station, from where you can reach Kopra by bus in 1.5 hours. You can see the bus schedule; the ticket price is 11 EUR.

By taxi. Well, for those who are in style - a taxi, which can be ordered at a separate counter at the airport. Transfer to Kopra costs about 120 EUR.

Moscow – Venice

Since the distance from Venice International Airport (Marco Polo) to Slovenian Kopra is only 160 km, I recommend considering Venice Airport when searching for the best tickets to Slovenia.

There are many direct regular flights from Alitalia, Aeroflot, AirMoldova, and Transaero from all Moscow airports to Venice. Ticket prices range the same as in Adria - from 100 EUR and above, but the likelihood of finding a cheap direct ticket is higher. Travel time is the same - about 3 hours.

From Venice to Koper

By car. At the airport, I also recommend renting a car right away, otherwise it will take quite a long time to get there on your own. Roads in Italy are toll roads, so when you enter the autobahn, you receive a ticket, which you will have to pay at the ticket office when you exit the autobahn. On average, the road from Venice to Slovenia costs 10 EUR.

In Slovenia, to pay for roads, they buy a vignette that is glued to the windshield. The vignette is sold at gas stations closer to the Slovenian border, the price is 15 EUR/week or 30 EUR/month. If you rent a car in Slovenia, the vignette will already be paid for.

By train. If you still choose public transport, then from Marco Polo Airport you should get to Mestre railway station by bus, the stop of which is located immediately outside the arrival terminal. Buses run every half hour, the fare is 8 EUR.

From Mestre railway station by train we get to the Trieste railway station, train schedule. The cost is from 13 to 30 EUR, depending on the class you are going to travel with, then from Trieste we go to Koper by Taxi for 30 EUR.

By taxi. The cost of a taxi from Venice Airport to Kopra will average 160 EUR, travel time is 2 hours.

Moscow – Pula

If you are traveling to summer time, then it makes sense to look at direct flights to Croatia. Small international Airport in Pula accepts Russian planes from early June to mid-September. S7 and Ural Airlines fly to Pula, ticket prices are low, you can find tickets for 60 EUR one way.

The airport in Pula is the closest, on average an hour away by car.

From Pula to Koper

By bus. Public transport it will traditionally cost you less: a taxi to the Pula bus station - 10 EUR, then a bus from the Pula bus station to the Kopra bus station - 11 EUR and 3.5 hours on the road.

By taxi. The cost of a taxi from the airport to Kopra is 100 EUR.

By train

I think it is advisable to travel by train for people suffering from severe aviation phobia. Otherwise, how to explain the choice in favor of the train when the price of tickets is higher compared to the price of a plane? But, nevertheless, let's consider this travel option.

There are two ways to get to Kopra by train. The first is standard and the second is exotic.

Moscow – Vienna

The standard option is to purchase a ticket for the Moscow - train, departing from the Belorussky railway station, the travel time is about 28 hours, the ticket price averages about 150-200 EUR one way in a compartment.

Then you can also continue your journey by train from Vienna to Ljubljana (with one change), the one-way price is about 60 EUR, and then by train/bus from Ljubljana to Kopra for 9–11 EUR.

You can also get from Vienna to Kopra by taxi, the average price will be 300–350 EUR. I have friends who have dared to do this more than once difficult route, and, in general, we were satisfied, but as for me, I prefer a plane or a car.

Moscow – Koper

The exotic option is that theoretically there is a direct train – Koper, i.e. not a train, but a trailer car. This new route opened recently, which was trumpeted by all Slovenian media.

Of course, this offer is only valid in the summer. Travel time – 2 days. 13 hours. The route passes through Ukraine, Belarus, and Hungary.

The price of tickets is shrouded in mystery, as is the proof of the existence of this route.

How to get from the station to the center of Koper

Trains in Koper arrive at the railway station Zelezniska postaja Koper, Kolodvorska cesta, 2.

From here you can walk to the city center or take public transport or a taxi if you are staying in the surrounding area.

By car

If we briefly describe the route by car, it looks something like this: – – – – –, approximately 2500 km and travel time... depends on your age, goals, presence of children and health.

For us, it usually takes three days with two overnight stays in hotels in Brest and somewhere in the Czech Republic, however, the second place to stay depends heavily on the time spent on the Belarusian-Polish border and on the state of traffic in Poland.

In Poland, we usually drive through Warsaw and there are at least some autobahns there, but for some reason they have traffic lights that can greatly slow you down on the way. If you want to turn off the highway at the urgent request of the navigator, you risk driving for a long time in a convoy behind a tractor at a speed of 20 km/h, which greatly undermines morale when traveling such long distances. Particularly brave people try to travel through Poland at night.

We never book hotels in advance, although we have gotten into trouble a few times because of this. The only hotel that I really love and where we stay all the time is the Hermitage in Brest.

A separate milestone in your car travel will be the crossing of the Belarusian-Polish border. Unfortunately, the time spent on this event is difficult to predict, especially in the summer, but I can formulate a few general principles that may be useful to you.

First, you need to choose Right the crossing point of this very border. Usually, the longest queue is at the central customs point - Terespol. Few people know that, in addition to this point, there is also a point Peschatka - Polovtse, for example, which is located 50 km from Brest, but there is practically no queue there. Another trick is time: it is better to cross the border either early in the morning or late in the evening.

If you decide to travel by car, do not forget about the additional expenses that await you on this trip. Compulsory car insurance - policy " green map", an analogue of our OSAGO operating in Europe. The cost depends on the car class and insurance period, on average from 35 EUR for 15 days. In addition, you will need to buy vignettes for travel on the roads of the Czech Republic (11 EUR – 10 days, minimum price) and Austria (8.7 EUR – 10 days, minimum price). The price of gasoline in Slovenia is 1.2 EUR/liter. On average, a car trip to Koper costs us 550 EUR round trip, excluding hotels along the way.

Have you arrived in Koper? Don't forget about coffee.

Clue:

Koper - the time is now

Hour difference:

Moscow 2

Kazan 2

Samara 3

Ekaterinburg 4

Novosibirsk 6

Vladivostok 9

When is the season? When is the best time to go

I love Koper at any time of the year, at the first opportunity I fly there at full speed, since in any season it is pleasant to relax there and there is something to see.

In general, Europeans, and in particular Slovenians, have structured their lives so skillfully that for each time of the year they have some interesting holidays, events, traditions, for the sake of which you are waiting for this time of year to arrive as soon as possible.

I was very surprised when I found out that the beginning of their seasons is not the same as ours: summer there begins on June 22, autumn on September 22, spring on March 22, and winter on December 22, which, perhaps, is more consistent with the real climate seasons.

Like us, Slovenians engage in domestic tourism mainly on days school holidays, therefore, whatever season you choose to travel, it is better if it does not coincide with the school holidays, as many traditionally go to the coast.

Thus, the autumn or potato holidays last one week and usually take place in the last days of October - the beginning of November. And October 31 and November 1 are public holidays in Slovenia, so many take extra days off and travel with children at this time.

New Year holidays, as a rule, from 25.12 to 1.01. Europe celebrates Christmas solemnly, although New Year There are fireworks and festivities in Koper.

Time winter holidays depends on the area of ​​residence, this is done so that everyone can go skiing relatively calmly. So, one half of Slovenia rests in the penultimate week of February, and the other half in the last week of February.
May Day or spring break usually take place from 27.04 to 2.05. May 1 and 2 are public holidays, Labor Day, greetings from socialist Yugoslavia. Well, the summer holidays begin on June 25, and on September 1 everyone goes to school.

The so-called “hot” season begins at the end of July and lasts throughout August, when the entire neighboring region traditionally rests.

Koper in summer

It sounds counterintuitive, but the last thing I would recommend is visiting Koper in the summer. I'll explain why. A trip to the sea in summer involves beach holiday, sightseeing in the heat is a dubious pleasure, but in order to climb mountains and swim in cool lakes, you don’t need to go to the sea at all.

Koper is located on the coast of the Koper Bay, this bay is part of the Gulf of Trieste, the largest in the Adriatic Sea. The average temperature in June is +26 °C, in July and August +29 °C, water temperature in June is +22 °C, in July and August +25 °C.

In summer, Koper reminds me of a big Turkish all-inclusive hotel. Every evening music plays on the streets of the city, children's performances and culinary festivals take place. The only difference is that in Turkey (with all my great respect) these are all cardboard decorations that will be removed as soon as the door closes behind you, but in Koper these are hundred-year-old traditions, eternity that you can come into contact with.
You can create a program of evening events without leaving the hotel by looking. In the events section prireditve/events you can see a schedule of interesting events that usually take place either on the embankment or on the main square. Almost all of them are free.

Koper in autumn

Perhaps, I would advise coming to Koper in the fall, when it’s already raining in Moscow and everyone has forgotten what the sun looks like. You can definitely get a contrast shock and fall in love with this city.

average temperature in September – +23 °C, in October – +18 °C, in November – +13 °C, and the number of rainy days ranges from 5 to 7 per month. Agree, not bad for a dull time? Yes, and the water temperature in September is still +22 °C!

From the second half of September, a significant reduction in hotel prices begins, there is no heat, so you can safely plan short and long trips for sightseeing.

One of the main autumn events is the picking of olives growing in households along the coast. Olives are collected throughout November, packed in special bags and taken to the factory. They also give out bottles of preserved oil, which is enough for the whole season. The average household hands over 400 kg of olives!

Koper in spring

The average temperature in March is +12 °C, in April – +17 °C, in May – +21 °C. February and March are considered the windiest months. There is a tramontana wind here - winter and cold, sometimes it can reach hurricane force. This phenomenon is not frequent, but quite unpleasant, since for three days (usually this wind blows for so long) you don’t want to go outside at all.

In spring, cafes are filled with people, and there are many cyclists on the streets. At the beginning of May, everyone eats asparagus, even in restaurants various dishes with asparagus appear; at the end of May, the cherries growing on the coast are already ripening.

There are advantages to visiting Kopra in the spring - low prices for hotels, lack of tourists, sunny weather and the opportunity to visit large tourist centers(, for example) without extreme.

Koper in winter

There are at least three reasons why I love winter Koper.

First: it is very beautiful in December, decorated, and Christmas carols are played from speakers in the streets. There is anticipation of a holiday and high spirits in the air. Children here receive gifts for the New Year three times. The first time - on the night of December 6-7, Saint Mikloug brings sweets to those who behaved well throughout the year, and rods to those who behaved badly, the second time - on Christmas, the third - on New Year.

IN shopping center x children's choirs perform, schools make crafts for charity bazaars, children stay in kindergartens overnight (!) to watch for Santa Claus. And they succeed!

On the main square - Titov Trg - they organize a Christmas market with mulled wine and all sorts of trinkets, and decorate a huge Christmas tree.

The second reason is that sales begin in January, we usually go to outlets in Italy to buy great things with big (up to 70%) discounts.

The third reason is alpine skiing. If you are not a fan who is ready to spend two weeks on the slopes, you can go skiing for a couple of days in Slovenia, neighboring Italy, and Austria. The average weather in the winter months is about +8 °C; there is almost never snow on the coast.

Koper - weather by month

Clue:

Koper - weather by month

Districts. Where is the best place to live?

Koper - so Small town that no matter where you live, everything will be within walking distance, and you don’t need a car to get around the city.

In the traveler safety rating it ranks among the most calm countries along with Switzerland. Therefore, you can safely walk here at any time of the day or night, in any area and feel absolutely calm.

Until recently, Koper was an island connected by an embankment to the mainland. The once former borders of the island are now framed by historical Center cities, and the “mainland” is the surrounding areas of Kopra (Markovets, Semedela, Zsusterna) located on the hills.

Accommodation for travelers can be divided into three categories - hotels, apartments, hostels.

Hotels

Hotels. I will not describe all the hotels that are in Koper, I will only write about those that are worth staying at. This does not mean that the other hotels are bad, it’s just that, for example, the Pristan or Vodisek hotels usually accommodate business travelers who come for a couple of days on business in Luka Port (Port in Koper), and the location of the BIO hotel seems to me not very good successful.

Personally, I really love the hotel Zusterna, its description can be seen. This hotel is located on the very shore, 1 km from the city center, the beach is across the road, in addition, the hotel has a water park, a visit to which is included in the room price. I am skeptical about water parks, but I go here with great pleasure because of the pleasant and calm atmosphere. If you came to Koper outside the summer season and outside the school holidays and decided to look into the water park in the morning, after breakfast, before a walk, then perhaps you will be completely alone there - both in a large seawater pool and in a small warm jacuzzi with sea views and panoramic windows. Believe me, you will no longer find such places in Europe where you can enjoy all this splendor for reasonable money alone.

The water park also has a sauna complex, but there is one “but” - for some reason in many European countries it is customary to go naked to public saunas. As a Russian person, this confuses me a little, but just be prepared for it if you decide to take a steam bath.

This hotel is considered a three-star hotel, prices in the off-season are about 60 EUR per night per person. A really good breakfast is included in the price.

Another hotel, which, like the previous one, belongs to the Catez system, is called Koper and is located in the historical part of the city on the embankment, the hotel is good, all rooms have stunning sea views, everything is within walking distance - both the city beach and all the city attractions. Since the hotel is large, it is only open in the summer - from June to mid-September.

You can compare room prices for the dates you are interested in using. You can also book accommodation on.

Apartments

Apartments. Of all the abundance of proposals, I would highlight two:

1. Apartment & Suites Veneziana, stylish, four-star apartments located in the historical part of the city. The only apartments of this level in Koper. Both rooms with breakfast and apartments are available, and the city beach is very close. Accommodation for the whole family will cost you an average of 100 EUR per night. In densely populated Europe, unlike Turkey itself, there are practically no private beaches, so all offers of apartments, hotels, with pictures of beaches indicate that there is a city beach nearby and it looks like this. This is especially true for Slovenia, coastline which is only 46 km. I share this well-known information, recalling the story of the owner of the apartment about booking a room by a guest from Russia, who was ready to check in only on the condition that the photographed beach belonged to this apartment. The Slovenians laughed, and I felt terribly embarrassed for my compatriot. I understand perfectly well that these are the only two weeks of the year where you want to relax in style, but in Slovenia everything seems to be a little private. There is no public here, and therefore no owner.
2. Apartment in Koper, small, recently renovated apartments are located in the Semedela area, a 15-minute walk from the city center, the Zusterna city beach is a 5-minute walk. The cost of one night for a family will cost you an average of 55 EUR. The big advantage of staying here for tourists from Russia is that the family that runs these apartments is Russian, they will be happy to tell you everything in their native language.

Price options for apartments can be viewed.

Hostels

Hostels. This kind of tourism is not very popular here, but why not if you are young and unpretentious? Here I would also highlight two hostels, based on their extremely favorable location:

1. Hostel Museum. Located right on the square next to the Kopra Local History Museum, which is located on one of the central streets leading to the embankment. The cost of accommodation is about 30 EUR per day.
2. Hostel Histria Koper. Located a little further from the center compared to the previous hostel, the cost of accommodation in an 8-bed room is 15 EUR per day.

To summarize

If the advantage of accommodation in the historical part is the opportunity to go out and walk along the ancient streets, sit in a cafe, then in the apartments of Semedela, Markovets or Žusterna you will most likely have a stunning view of the Bay of Koper and the feeling that you are living in a country house, although the most the remote area is located no more than 2–3 km from the city center.

What are the prices for holidays?

I wouldn’t call a holiday in Koper expensive; the prices are rather affordable. When my family and I go on day trips to Italy, Croatia or northern Slovenia, we always try to have dinner in Kopra restaurants. We know that it is guaranteed to be delicious, inexpensive and plentiful.

For me, the “litmus test” of all prices is the cost of coffee in a cafe. In Kopra, an expresso will cost you on average 1 EUR, and a cappuccino – 1.2 EUR, and they will also bring you a glass of water and cookies.

In a cafe you can easily ask for tap water, which you can drink here, and they will bring it completely free, even in a glass or a large jug. And local wine - Refoshk and Malvasia - is cheaper than juice in the cafe, 1 EUR per 100 ml.

Accommodation prices depend on the level of service - from 15 EUR/day in a hostel to 70 EUR/day in a good hotel (average prices per person).

You are unlikely to need a taxi here, but if you do go from the old center somewhere to the Markovets or Semedela area, the trip will cost no more than 5 EUR.

Prices for excursions here are very affordable, for example, a one-day excursion to Koper during the Christmas holidays costs only 35 EUR. In my opinion, the best way to organize excursions is through the local travel agency Kompas. Price options for tours can be viewed.

Clue:

Cost of food, accommodation, transportation and other things

Currency: Euro, € US Dollar, $ Russian Ruble, Rub

Main attractions. What to see

After taking a break from the road, I would advise you to go on a sightseeing tour of the city. Simply put, for a walk around the historical center.

Exploring the city itself and its attractions is unlikely to take you more than one day, so the next day you can safely plan a trip by car around the surrounding area.

Top 5

Beaches. Which ones are better

Beach holidays in Koper have their place, but the beaches on the Croatian coast or the sand dunes in Italy cope with this task much better.

I have sometimes heard the dissatisfaction of compatriots with Koper beaches, who expected to see animators, sun loungers and sun umbrellas here, but instead - a small, democratic city beach without frills.

The swimming season usually begins on June 15, although from June 1 all beaches are officially open. Officially open - this means that the swimming area is limited, rafts for diving are launched, lifeguards are working, cafes are open, ice cream is sold, sandboxes and playgrounds are cleaned, small libraries are open, which have books in Russian.

Since Koper is not a beach tourist Mecca, all this is done for oneself, for internal use. It’s all clean, free and conscientious, and for children there will definitely be a small corner in which they can draw and play, again for free.

There are two city beaches in Koper - one is located in the city itself - central city beach,

another, Zusterna beach, – 1 km from the center, in the Zusterna area,

next to the hotel of the same name, which can be reached along a walking road along the coast.
Of these two beaches, the beach in Zhusterna is preferable for me - it is larger, there is free parking nearby, and there is a separate shallow water area for children. The beaches in Slovenia are all pebble, with the exception of the beach in Portorož, a Slovenian resort located 20 km from Kopra.

Very picturesque beaches in Izola and Strunjan, neighboring towns, 10 km and 15 km from Kopra.

The swimming season ends around September 15, but the weather remains warm and sunny for a long time.

Churches and temples. Which ones are worth visiting?

I would advise visiting at least two temples in Koper - Catholic Cathedral Assumption of Our Lady And Orthodox Church Saint Martha.

Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady

Most main temple in Koper, the temple-museum, the construction of which dates back to the 12th century, is located on the main square - Titov Trge. Later, the façade and interior of the cathedral were restored. The cathedral houses the sarcophagus of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of Kopra, the walls are decorated with paintings by Venetian artists.
At the end of the 13th century, a tower with a bell tower was added to the cathedral, which was also subsequently restored.

Previously, this tower was like an observation tower, but now, having overcome 36 meters (which, to my shame, I have never done), you can climb observation deck and see Koper from a bird's eye view.

Church of St. Martha

It was built in 1621 and belonged to Roman Catholic Church. It is interesting because it is now a functioning Serbian Orthodox church, where services are held on holidays and on weekends, babies are baptized, and newlyweds are married according to Orthodox canons.

Here I was surprised to discover that there are differences between the Russian and Serbian Orthodox traditions. For example, during the service, men and women stand on different sides of the temple, with women with their heads uncovered and, as a rule, wearing trousers. A woman in a headscarf and skirt is certainly either Russian or Ukrainian.

Museums. Which ones are worth visiting?

I would say that Koper itself is an open-air museum. Even while taking a walk, you can see many interesting, historical objects.

If we approach the issue formally, then Koper will not bore you with a large number of museums; here there is only one - Museum of Local Lore Koper, located in the very center of the old town next to the Museum Square (Muzejski trg).

The museum was founded in 1910. Today, it contains many thematic exhibitions: archaeological, art collections (the oldest exhibits date back to the 12th-13th centuries), a unique ethnographic collection, which presents household items and furniture of local residents dating back to the 18th century.

Also interesting are the halls dedicated to modern history– World War II, socialist Yugoslavia. The museum hosts musical evenings - in the hall or in the courtyard, celebrates children's birthdays, and conducts archaeological excavations with children.

Entrance costs 5 EUR, the main exhibition is located in the Belgramoni-Tacco Palace, there are additional halls that are located in the old town not far from the main exhibition.

Parks

There are no city parks in Koper: neither the climate nor the size allow Koper to have such a luxury.

Tourist streets

As in all Mediterranean cities, the central place in Koper is occupied by the square and the clock tower. It's called Titova Square(Titov Trg) in honor of Josip Tito, leader of socialist Yugoslavia. In terms of its importance for the city, I would compare it with Red Square in Moscow.

Once upon a time, Titova Square did not make a strong impression on me. Then I knew her in different images: both summer, baked by the hot sun with lonely tourists under cafe awnings, and elegant, Christmas with palachinki (pancakes), mulled wine and a school choir.

Concerts and fashion shows are held here, and tourists are brought in by huge cruise ships, the first thing they do is lead to this square. I even saw a local beggar shouting his slogans against the local mayor, of course, on Titovaya Square.

Surprisingly, despite such involvement in the tourist and social life of the city, the square is not vulgar with souvenir shops, high prices in cafes and the smell of sewage.
In addition to the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, there are two architectural monuments on the square:

• Praetorian Palace,

• and the Loggia Palace, 15th century.

They were built for the head of the city and for holding meetings of city councils. Since 1846, there has been a cafe on the ground floor of the Loggia Palace, which is still open today.
Three main streets radiate from Titova trga - Cankarjeva, Cevljarska and Kidriceva.

The historical center is surrounded by Pristaniska ulica, Kopalisko nabrezje and Vojkovo nabrezje.
On the southern side, large shopping centers adjoin the historical part of the city, there is a bus and railway stations.

Such a mixture of times can only happen in Europe - 10 minutes ago we were looking at the palaces of the 13th century, crossed the road and... found ourselves in a modern shopping center with the familiar Zara and H&M.

What to see in 1 day

One day is enough for a sightseeing tour of the city:

• Let us enter the city the way they did several hundred years ago: through the Muda gate (Vrata Muda, 1516) - historical entrance to the city at a time when Koper was still an island and connected to the “mainland” by a bridge.

• We will find ourselves at Presernov trg, once the main retail space Copra. The main attraction here is the Da Ponte Fountain, 1666, a replica of a Venetian fountain.

• Then we go up towards the main square along Zhupanchicheva and Chevlyarska streets. The closer to the center, the more palaces in which the local nobility lived - the Carli Palace (18th century), the Barbabianca Palace (17th century), the Orlandini Palace (18th century).

• Along the busy Chevlyarskaya Street, where there are now small shops and cafes, we finally come out to the main square, Titov trg. Here is the most important architectural complex cities - the Pretoria Palace, the Loggia Palace, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, as well as the Foresteria, where the faculties of the University of Primorska are now based. There is also a tourist information center here. Our walk has been going on for a good half hour, so it’s time to drink coffee, especially since we came to the oldest cafe, which is located on the first floor of the Loggia Palace, and it has been open for 170 years...

• Behind the main square is the neighboring Brolo Square, which once served as the city's reservoir.

• On Brolo Square there are the ancient gates of the Bishop's Palace (16th century) and the Palace of the Brutti family (18th century), now the city library is located here.

• Another interesting building on this square is Fontiko, the first half of the 16th century, it used to be a grain storage facility, now there are city administrative premises. Behind Fontiko is the Church of St. Jacoba, the oldest building in this square, 14th century.
• Continuing our walk along Gallusovi Street, we will see Elio's Palace, 1627, which later served as a money depository until 1929.
• Opposite the Palazzo Elio, one of the most interesting buildings from an architectural point of view was built - the Gravi Barbabianca Palace, 1710. Now there is a functioning music school here, so we can easily find this Palace by ear.
• We move towards the embankment, along Osvobodilne fronte street (Ulica Osvobodilne fronte), where the Gravisi-Buttorai Palace and the Tarsia Palace are located, now the Italian community and the editorial office of the local news newspaper are located there. I never cease to be amazed where newspaper people get information for their releases - time seems to stand still here, and nothing happens.

• At the end of our walk, we return to Cevlyarska Street, from where we go down the steps to Gortanov Square (Gortanov trg) and stop a little to see the Almerigogna Palace, 15th century, the facade of which is decorated with paintings and Gothic windows.
• After Gortanova Square we find ourselves on Valvasorjeva Street (Valvasorjeva ulica), where, before turning onto Tomazicev Square (Tomazicev trg), there is an old house, Perkauz, 14th century. The house received its name from the last owner, previously it was the premises of the old court (Tribunal Vecchio).
• We pass by the market and find ourselves on a small walk of fame dedicated to the memory of six Koper revolutionary heroes.

• From there, along the embankment, past the Tavern, an old salt storage facility, you can walk to the city beach, it will take no more than five minutes, and on the way I suggest you go to the Capra restaurant, located on the embankment, in the Koper Hotel, where you can have a delicious lunch.

What to see in the area

The Koper area is rich in natural and cultural attractions, which I recommend visiting.

Socerb Castle

The castle is located on the edge of a high cliff, which offers stunning views of the Slovenian coast and the Gulf of Trieste. Now the castle is very good restaurant.

One day, my friends and I walked 10 kilometers in the vicinity of Sotserb Castle - we went on a spontaneous hike and didn’t calculate either the time or the distance. Since then, my children have been wary of this place. But if heroism is not planned in your program, then pleasure from this place is guaranteed.

Miramare Castle and Park, Italy

The castle is located in the vicinity of Trieste, built on a rock in the mid-19th century, and is also interesting for its large park with exotic plants.

Duino Castle, Italy

Another ancient castle on a rock with its own legend and picturesque view. Now it is privately owned, but part of it is open to tourists.

Inside there is a unique collection of paintings and art objects. Near the castle, along the cliff, there is a picturesque walking trail, where my family and I often come for a walk.

Lipizzaner stud farm

Located in the village of Lipica, 30 km from Kopra, next to the stud farm there is beautiful park where you can play minigolf. The main highlight of the excursion is horses of a rare breed, Lipizzaners.

They are unusual in that they are born black and become completely light when they grow up.

Cape Debeli Rtic

A peninsula located 15 km north of Kopra, where there is a natural resort and a children's health center.

You can take a walk around the park, which resembles Botanical Garden, Free admission.

Aquarium in Piran

Piran is one of the cities on the Slovenian coast, located 20 km from Kopra. An ancient and beautiful peninsula town, about which there are legends that pirates once lived here. I can say that this city leaves no one indifferent: either you are conquered by it, or you run away from Piran with the desire not to return here again - this town has such a strong energy.

On the central square there is an aquarium museum, it is small but very diverse. Visiting it is a mandatory part of the school curriculum for Slovenian students.

Excursion train in Izola

To be in Koper and not visit Izola is a crime. The small, elegant town is connected to Koper by a pedestrian road along the coast, stretching over 10 km.

During the summer season, a tourist train runs through Izola and its surroundings, a ride on which is a great pleasure.

Food. What to try

Oh, how I miss Slovenian restaurants in Moscow! On the contrary, my Slovenian friends, when they come to Moscow, praise our restaurants for their variety and quality.

Without a hint from the Internet, I find it difficult to say which dishes are national, since local cuisine is greatly influenced by traditional dishes neighboring countries– Italy, Austria, countries of the Balkan Peninsula.

A common distinctive feature of dishes prepared in Slovenian restaurants is invariably high quality products, large portions and affordable prices. For example, I have never tasted such a huge and tasty Wiener schnitzel anywhere, even in Vienna.

Restaurants on the Slovenian coast traditionally offer Italian cuisine - pizza, pasta, risotto, as well as Balkan cevapcici with chopped onions and kajmak sauce.

An average pizza costs about 8–10 EUR, the same price for any dish from mid-level restaurants.

I would include fish restaurants in a separate, more expensive category. The main ones are located in the resort towns of Portoroz and Piran.

For me, a traditional dish of the Slovenian coast is squid. Usually, they are prepared in two ways: grilled (heated) or deep-fried (osverti). Grilled squid is served with boiled potatoes, spinach and olive oil with garlic and seasonings. Deep-fried squid - with fries and sauce.

After such large portions, I don’t want to talk about dessert, but for those who want it, there are usually Italian desserts - panna cotta, tiramisu, Slovenian - pancakes with chocolate, jam or nut filling.

At the end they often offer to drink a cup of coffee - espresso.

Markets and supermarkets

For those travelers who cook for themselves, Koper has a huge number of supermarkets to suit every taste. For example, we definitely go to Euro Spin and Lidl.

The first is an Italian budget chain store, where the choice of products is small, there is everything you need, but I definitely recommend buying Prosecco champagne for 3.5 EUR, half a kilo of Parmesan cheese for 7 EUR and prosciutto for 2 EUR.

The second, Lidl, is a German chain store that has very tasty bread from its own bakery, famous German sausages and pates.

There is also a market, which is open strictly in the first half of the day on Saturday, it sells fish freshly caught from the sea, seasonal fruits and vegetables grown by local farmers.

The choice of a place to dine depends entirely on the only factor, which in the case of Slovenia is not even monetary - whether you are with children or not.

If you are with children, then Pizza 33 with huge portions, fast service, and affordable prices. I recommend choosing the notorious squid or pizza.

If you are left to your own devices, then you can wait a little and try masterpiece desserts at the Capra restaurant, and, for example, steaks or pasta with seafood at Al Mulin. It seems to me that Kopra restaurants simply cannot disappoint..

Budget

• "Pizza 33". Krozna cesta, 27, Koper.

• "Primavera". Prešernova cesta 55, Izola

Mid-level

• "Nimis". Istrska cesta 70, Koper.
• "Hotel Gusht" Drevored 1. maja 5, Izola.

Holidays

Coastal Slovenians love holidays and use even small occasions to have fun. Since Koper is the most Big city on the coast, he takes the entire holiday blow upon himself.
The busiest period with holidays is summer. Of the most interesting summer holidays, I would highlight two – Rumena noch (Yellow Night) and Feshta Kalamarov (Squid Festival).

Rumena Noc

Perhaps the biggest summer festival on the coast takes place on the last weekend of July. Dedicated to the cultural and culinary traditions of various regions of Slovenia, a large concert stage is being assembled on the embankment, and attractions for children are being brought to the city. People from all parts of Slovenia come to Koper for this event; the city is celebrated for two nights in a row. On the last day there is a big fireworks display.

At this time we are celebrating two whole family day birth, so walking on Rumenu at night has become our tradition too.

Festa Kalamarov

At the beginning of July, a squid festival takes place in Koper. On the streets you can try various culinary variations on the theme of squid - grilled squid, osverti (deep-fried), squid salad, pizza with squid. Of course, all this with local wine and cheerful music.

Although I personally love the squid from the Pizza 33 restaurant more than the festival ones, local traditions should be respected...

Sladka Istra

In autumn the biggest holiday is considered Sladka Istra(Sweet Istra). Held in mid-September, various sweets are sold throughout the city - pastries, sweets, chocolate.

Other events

In addition to the traditional holidays - Christmas and New Year, there is a Carnival in Slovenian Istria, in which the entire Slovenian coast participates, the carnival procession goes from Kopra to Portorož. Usually this event takes place at the end of February, it is a kind of our Maslenitsa, farewell to winter. Similar to the Venetian Carnival, children and adults dress up in costumes and watch, and some participate in the carnival procession, scattering confetti, eating crofas (donuts with jam). The holiday is also celebrated in schools and kindergartens. For one day, children come to school/kindergarten in carnival costumes, walk around the city and also eat crofas.

I have observed more than once how sincerely adult Slovenians, not to mention children, have fun at this holiday.

Safety. What to watch out for

In short, there is nothing to beware of on the Slovenian coast. There are no pickpockets, no street bandits, no sexual harassment, you will not be deceived in the store or at the market, you can walk peacefully at night.

Moreover, if you have any problems, passers-by will definitely help you and explain everything. It is noteworthy that the entire nation speaks excellent English. This is apparently due to the fact that almost all television here is in English with Slovenian subtitles.

Shadow life probably exists here too. I think that it was not organized by the Slovenians, but being here as a tourist, you are unlikely to feel it.

Things to do

Little Koper can compete with big cities in terms of organizing active leisure time.

Sports programs

In neighboring Trieste, the major international sailing regatta Barcolana takes place, which turns into an enchanting celebration with wine and music.

Educational programs

Slovenians are very offended by the fact that they are often confused with Slovakia and are not known at all in the world. They believe that this is a flaw of Slovenian politicians. Apparently, for this purpose in Koper there is educational program for tourists, starting in July - August, aimed at studying the Slovenian language, culture and traditions. The duration of training is about three weeks. It is believed that we, Russians, easily master the Slovenian language due to its similarity with ours. I hasten to dissuade you: in order to speak freely and understand everything, ingenuity alone is not enough.

Shopping and shops

There is shopping in Koper for every taste: from chain brands to exclusive Italian brands.

In the city itself there are two large shopping centers - Super Nova And Planet Tush with traditional brands Zara, H&M, etc. These stores are unlikely to surprise Russian fashionistas.

I would recommend doing fashion shopping in Trieste, where there are many expensive and not very expensive shops with excellent shoes, bags and casual clothing.

On the border of Slovenia and Italy, before reaching Trieste, there are two shops worth visiting - the large Bata shoe store, located at the factory of the same name, and Twin Set, a store of elegant women's clothing, mainly dresses - they usually have a large selection and frequent sales.

There are two outlets near Kopra:

• Palmanova Outlet Village(80 km).

• Not far from Venice McArthur Glen(145 km). I like the second one better.

The best time to shop is when the sales are just starting - in early July and early January. Then there is a large selection and sizes. On the other hand, at the end of the sales season (end of August, end of February), discounts reach 70%, but there is a chance that the size you need is no longer available.

Bars. Where to go

• Lord Byron. A small bar located in the historical part of Kopra, next to the Muda Gate, open daily until midnight. The age of visitors is average and above, the decor is in English style, the average check is 10 EUR.

And three casinos:

• Casino Portorož. Obala 75a, Portorož.
• Casino Bernardin. Obala 2, Portorož.
• Casino Riviera. Obala 33, Portorož.



Extreme Sports

I’ll be honest, a holiday in Koper is not for those who like to tickle their nerves. Among the extreme activities, windsurfing and diving courses are offered here.

Windsurfing can be done on Žusterna beach, the cost of one individual lesson is 55 EUR. Diving courses are available at the Zusterna Hotel, the cost depends on the duration of the classes and the equipment chosen. The dive itself takes place off the coast of Piran, the deepest and most picturesque place on the Slovenian coast.



Souvenirs. What to bring as a gift

• Prosciutto. Dry-cured, thinly sliced ​​meat, pork ham, in Spain - jamon, in Italy - prosciutto. Usually served with olives, tomatoes, cheese, olive oil, and also melon. We usually buy prosciutto at Euro Spina, the price is 2 EUR.



• Guilt. I would advise you to bring one variety that everyone without exception likes - dry red wine from the small family winery Lisjak, Teran variety. Sold in unusually shaped bottles designed specifically for this wine. Price – 11 EUR.



• Piran salt. This is a kind of brand of the Slovenian coast; famous restaurants buy this salt, since only with it do dishes achieve a complete taste. So they say... Since this salt is very expensive, a small bag can be bought as a souvenir. Price – about 5 EUR.



• Crystal "Rogaška". A good memory of your trip will be a piece of crystal from a local glass factory with a 350-year tradition. I choose wine glasses. Prices vary from 10–15 EUR and above.



• “Human fish” from Postojna Jama. A funny souvenir from Postojna Jama, a soft toy in the shape of a human fish, a unique underground animal that lives in these caves. A small fish costs 7 EUR.



• Carnival chimes. The main characters of the carnival, which takes place at the end of winter, symbolizing its exile. During the carnival processions, the Kurents make all sorts of noise, jump, and dance. This souvenir still needs to be found, the price is about 8 Euros.



How to get around the city

As I already wrote, Koper is a very small city, and there are no options for getting around Koper. Vehicle no need.

There are stands around the city with bicycles that you can rent, the cost is about 5 EUR, the riding time is unlimited. Then the bike simply returns to any rental bike parking lot along the way.

Another unusual way of transportation is also a bicycle, but with six seats. This service is offered only in the summer; many families ride around the city on such bicycles. They have one drawback - you can’t get into the old part of the city - the streets are too narrow.

Taxi. What features exist



You can pay for the fare from the driver, or you can buy a ticket at the ticket office. I think there is no point in purchasing travel cards, since you will only use the bus once at best.

Transport rental

It is better to rent transport at the airport to save on transfers to Kopra. If you haven’t done this, then Koper also has such a service.

For example, the Hertz company is located at: Koper - Kolodvorska Cesta 7. The average price for renting a car is 20–25 EUR/day.



Price options for car rental can be viewed at.

The main advice to motorists is to forget the Russian driving style and switch to a law-abiding, European style without overtaking on the right and parking for two cars.

Compliance with traffic rules is monitored by the ubiquitous patrol service - Redarstvo, which mainly checks the correctness and payment of parking. In case of violation, a fine or warning is issued. If the driver is in the car, they will approach him and politely ask him to drive away.

There are three types of markings for parking spaces on the road - blue, yellow and white. Blue markings mean that parking is paid, somewhere nearby there is a payment terminal, the ticket from which must be placed behind the windshield so that the time until which parking has been paid can be seen. The average price is 0.5–1 EUR per hour.

Yellow markings mean that parking is only allowed for company cars, white markings mean parking is free, but in Koper, as a rule, it is only allowed to local residents who buy an annual parking pass.

Koper - holidays with children

I think Koper is a wonderful place to holiday with children. It is best to stay at the Zusterna Hotel. If you're visiting in the summer, there's a beach across the street with a children's playground, fenced-in children's swimming area, delicious ice cream (try the orange one) and a large sandbox.

In any other season, the water park in Zsusterna is guaranteed to please you and your child. There is only one slide, but there is a large saltwater pool, warm Jacuzzis and a small pool for kids.

Slovenians love children very much. The situation when a stranger begins to praise your baby is by no means uncommon here. My children and I like to order “Otroshkin cappuccino” at the cafe - a children’s cappuccino made from milk foam, milk and cocoa in “adult” mugs, you will be served with cookies or candy, it costs 0.5 EUR.

In the summer, free children's performances are held on the embankment, with posters posted throughout the city.

The holidays that are celebrated here are Sladka Istra, Carnival, Rumena Night with Attractions, all a little childish and will definitely be remembered by the little traveler. In Moscow we really miss these funny holidays.

What about excursions? And Škocian Bay, and Postojnska Jama, and the aquarium in Piran, and riding the train in Izola - all this is for children.

I would highlight three directions for day trips:





Ski holiday

All local residents skiing from childhood to old age. Parents start their children skiing as early as 3 years of age. On the slopes you can see babies skiing deftly with a pacifier in their mouth. In the fifth grade at school, as part of a compulsory program, students go to the mountains for a week, where they learn to ride.

Before the winter season, a fair of ski equipment and equipment is held in Koper, where used ski equipment is sold.

There are ski schools in Koper, which during the season, on weekends, take everyone to the nearest slopes and teach them how to ski, or simply ride in groups divided by skill level.
It is no coincidence that this sport is so popular here; there are many ski slopes Slovenia, Italy, Austria.

Ski passes

I know that Slovenians are proud of their ski slopes and their champion skiers. Usually they prefer Slovenian ski resorts, Italians prefer the Dolomites, Russians, as a rule, choose either Austria or Italy, so I’ll tell you a little about all the places close to Koper where you can go skiing.

In the north of Slovenia there are several dozen ski resorts. The most famous of them are Maribor Pohorje, Kranjska Gora, Bovec. Prices for ski passes are around 22–30 EUR/day.

The closest ski resorts in Italy are located in the Dolomites, mountains unique in their beauty. The most famous of them is Dolomiti Superski, which unites six ski resorts into a single ski area. Today, this is the largest ski area in the world with a single ski pass; it will cost you on average from 39 to 49 EUR/day, depending on the season.

The closest Austrian ski and thermal resort– Bad Kleinkirchheim, located 2.5 hours by car from Koper. A ski pass costs on average 40–45 EUR/day.



, .

Industrial and port Koper is the main city of the Istria region. In a previous article on I wrote that Koper is the liveliest city on the Slovenian coast. And indeed it is. Firstly, the population of the city is 27,000 people, this is more than in all the coastal towns I have already described combined, and secondly, Koper is home to the main and only port of Slovenia, the mainstay of the local automotive industry. There are two large enterprises here - Cimos, a supplier of Citroen cars, and Tomos, a manufacturer of motorcycles.

For tourists, Koper may be interesting for its attractions, there are no less of them in the city than in the super touristy Piran, and shops. Near the port there is a whole area of ​​modern and diverse shopping malls on the scale of our Mega. Shops are open on weekdays and on Saturday from 9 to 21, and on Sunday from 9 to 15. Everything is clear with the shops, you won’t be able to see anything fundamentally new in them, so I’ll go straight to the sights of Koper and tell you why you shouldn’t save on a hotel and choose Koper as a base for holidays on the Slovenian coast.

Koper is the most Old city throughout Slovenia, Pliny himself mentioned it in his writings under the name Aegis, it survived the Roman Empire and Byzantium, but most of the monuments have been preserved from the times of the rule of the Venetian Republic. Under the wing of the Venetian lion, Capodostria (Italian) or Koper (Slovenian) experienced its golden age. Its influence extended over a large territory from Buzet to Novigrad (now it is Croatian cities). And during the rule of the Habsburg Empire, Koper lost its former greatness, losing the palm to neighboring Trieste and, oddly enough, this contributed largely to the preservation of monuments of the Venetian period. So there is a lot to see in Koper.

Koper is the only city on the Slovenian coast where tourists are offered a tourist card (Koper city card), which allows them to use public transport, see a number of attractions and get discounts on local restaurants. This fact in itself already suggests that the city has something to offer curious tourists. Public transport may only be needed if you are leaving Koper; the old town itself is very compact and it won’t be difficult to travel the length and breadth of it in 2 hours.

It so happened that the main attractions are concentrated around four squares of the city:

1. main square Titov bargaining
2. located almost close to Titov Torg Brolo Square,
3. Piazza Carpaccio at the sea promenade
4. Prešernov Square- the most pagan square of Koper.

If you walk around these four squares, you will see everything there is to see in Koper. We parked in Brolo Square, but it would be logical to start my story about the city’s attractions from the main square, so the description of Brolo Square will be at the end.

Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary and the bell tower from Brolo Square

Titov Torg Square

The very center of the city is Titov trg Square - the only square on the coast that can easily compete with the famous Tartini Square in Piran. The Venetian style clearly present in its architecture is somewhat harsh and laconic.

There is a tourist information office in the Praetorian Palace, where you can take a free map of the city with marked attractions and buy it if you wish tourist map Kopera. It is believed that the construction of the Praetorian Palace began in 1254, but usually when such distant dates are named, this means that some palaces that bear little resemblance to the present one were built and rebuilt on this site. The very concept of “praetor” came to us from the Roman Empire and means leader, leader. It turns out that the palace received its Roman name during the heyday of the Venetian Republic, which is not very logical, but what can you do, the past often hides interesting details from us. On the façade of the palace there are winged Venetian lions.

Praetor's Palace on Titov Torg Square

In the palace, by paying only 3 € you can see the 19th-century Copra veduto, a closet in which outfits for celebrations were stored, an old pharmacy from the late 17th century and various items belonging to the nobility. Veduto Kopra is just a view of the city when it was still an island; the date of its creation is not written on the painting itself; it is believed that this is the 19th century. It remains to state the fact that in 100-150 years the city has changed almost beyond recognition. Now only one tower has survived, the city has become part of the mainland and a huge port has grown next to it, and now there are simply gigantic ships sailing on the sea compared to the pitiful little boats depicted in the picture. What can historians talk about when it comes to more distant times?

19th century Copra Veduto

The Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary stands on a site that was built in the ancient period, and in front of today's church there was a Romanesque basilica on this site. The history of the cathedral dates back to the 12th century, when the city received its own diocese. Appearance The cathedral today is a mixture of Gothic and Renaissance styles. On the right is the base of the campanile, you can climb it for only 3 € or free of charge if you have a Koper city card.

Cathedral of the Ascension of Mary on Titov Torg Square

The church stores numerous treasures: a large altar painting “Madonna and Child Enthroned and Saints” created in 1516 by Vittorio Carpaccio, a stone tomb of the Kopra patron Saint Nazarius from the 15th century and others. Vittorio Carpaccio is a very famous Venetian artist, then I will show you the house in which he was born and lived. The interior of the cathedral was changed in the 17th century by the famous architect Giorgio Massari; nothing remained of the Gothic and Venetian style.

Cathedral of the Assumption of Mary

Opposite the Praetor's Palace there is an equally beautiful building - the Loggia, which houses a cafe and an art gallery. During his visit to Koper, Stendhal, then the French consul in Trieste, was struck by the beauty of this magnificent building, built in 1462. The arcade is very reminiscent of the Doge's Palace in Venice, the scale is smaller, but the shapes are the same.

Loggia on Titov Torg Square

The loggia is decorated with a terracotta statue of the Madonna and Child, installed in a corner niche, placed in memory of the devastating plague of 1554.

Loggia - terracotta statue of the Madonna

Foresteria and Armeria now look like one whole building, but in fact there used to be two of them, both buildings were built in the 15th-16th centuries. The foresteria served to receive and accommodate the guests of the landowners. The neighboring Armeria building served as a weapons warehouse until 1550; later it housed a city storage facility and a pawnshop; if you look closely, you can find a fair amount of details that distinguish one house from another and mentally draw a dividing line.

Foresteria and Armeria on Titov Torg Square

Chevlyarskaya street

At this point we leave Titov Torg Square. Koper turned out to be a very patriotic city, everything old streets hung with flags with the city's coat of arms. In the upper corner I inserted an image of the city's coat of arms. This sun is depicted on the Muda gate. In Slovenia, it is customary to insert the coat of arms of the area on car license plates; in Koper, most cars have a sun on the license plate.

Chevlyarskaya street

Chevlyarskaya Street is a typical medieval street of the city; it was once the busiest street in the city, where artisans and merchants settled. The Barbabian Palace now houses tax office Kopra, and tax officers have to walk to work; it is not possible to travel there by car.

Barbabian Palace (1710)

Streets of Koper

Prešernova Square

The main decorations of Prešernov Square were the fountain, created based on the Rialto Bridge in Venice and the Muda Gate. It is from one of the heraldic signs depicted on these gates that the Koper coat of arms is copied - a sun with a human face. This is the only gate preserved in Koper; previously there were 12 of them. The gate itself was copied from an ancient triumphal arch on the orders of a certain local landowner, where the original stood is not reported anywhere.

Muda Gate, sun under the pediment

The Muda Gate is the most pagan local building, although it was built in 1516 in a completely non-pagan time. I was most interested in knowing where such a strange name came from? But alas, nothing is said on this topic anywhere.

Image of the sun on the gate under the pediment

The Da Ponte Fountain continues pagan traditions. In the fountain, four water deities spit water. Previously, the aqueduct supplying water to the city ended at this place; it has not survived to this day.

Da Ponte Fountain">
Da Ponte Fountain

Piazza Carpaccio

The next focus of attractions was Piazza Carpaccio. It was named in honor of the famous Venetian painter, whose painting we could see in the Cathedral of the Ascension of Mary. It is decorated with the Column of Justina, erected in 1572 in honor of the victory at the Battle of Lepanto (Koper equipped the gallion for this battle), a Venetian well in the shape of a column capital (transported in 1936) and the house of the famous Venetian artist Vittore Carpaccio (1465-1526). Wikipedia says that the exact dates of the artist’s life and exact place of birth are unknown, but in Koper they show the house where he was born and lived. Carpaccio's house is made of stone with figured windows, right behind the Column of Justina.

Carpaccio's house and square in Koper

On the capital of the column there is the Koper coat of arms - the sun, and on the shield there is a double-headed eagle. Double-headed eagles were used as a coat of arms by several states - Byzantium, which had died by that time, the Holy Roman Empire, the Principality of Chernigov, Tver, and Moscow, the Golden Horde and even some smaller princes, so double-headed eagles are often found in Europe. This is one of the arguments of the famous author of the New Chronology in favor of the existence of a previously huge single empire.

Statue of Justina on a column in Koper

On the other side, Piazza Carpaccio is bordered by an ancient salt warehouse, now for some reason it is called the Tavern. Maybe city holidays with food are held here? There are plenty of salt warehouses on the Slovenian coast, but Koper is the most picturesque. Salt mining was one of the most profitable businesses In the Middle Ages, this entire region grew from the extraction of salt.

The Venetian winged one adorns the wall of the salt warehouse facing the sea.

Tavern - former warehouse of St. Mark's salt

Kidricheva street

Church of St. Nicholas on Kidricheva Street

The houses along Kidricheva Street were under renovation. Apparently the ancient wooden rafters are already refusing to support the second floor hanging over the first one.

House with wooden rafters

The palace of Totto ex Gavardo was almost entirely covered in forests; only a winged lion was photographed. By the way, the lion was strengthened on the facade only in 1924; before it decorated some fortress in the province.

Venetian winged lion at the Palace of Totto ex Gavardo

The Belgramono-Tazzo Palace was built in the 17th century and is the most beautiful palace in the Baroque style in Koper. After the First World War, the City Museum of History and Art was located here, today it houses the Museum of Local Lore, which stores precious cultural heritage northern Istria from the prehistoric period onwards, with an emphasis on the Venetian cultural layer. The local history museum can be visited for €5 or free with a Koper city card. The palace has two names, since one of the members of the Belgramon family lost it at cards, and the palace became the property of the Tazzo family. After the death of the last family member, the city authorities gave the house over to cultural activities.

Belgramono-Tazzo Palace

Brolo Square

Can you imagine that the granary building suddenly became a historical and cultural monument? It turns out that this happens. The construction of Fontizo (former grain warehouse) is mentioned already in 1392, the final form was formed around 1460, later the façade was slightly changed. The building is one of the oldest buildings in Brolo Square. From the very beginning, the building was intended as a granary, from which grain was distributed to the townspeople during years of bad harvest or war, an almost biblical story about seven fat years and seven lean years. On the building, in addition to the Renaissance and Gothic windows, you can admire the rich coat of arms. In the Brutti Palace there is now the Koper Library, to the left of the palace is the Church of the Ascension of Mary.

Embankment and port of Koper

The beach is free, there are free showers and toilets nearby. On the opposite shore of the bay is the village of Ankaran; its beaches offer an excellent view of the port, so I wouldn’t recommend it for a seaside holiday either. There is a large campsite and a number of bungalows in Ankaran, of course they do not mention the close proximity to a huge modern port in the descriptions of their services.

Ankaran has become famous for its hospital where patients with tuberculosis are treated, the local climate is very useful for patients with pulmonary diseases, one can only hope that patients with open tuberculosis observe quarantine.

Koper city beach

This is the city of Koper, there is something to see in it, there is a place to go shopping, you can stay there in the off-season, but in the summer I personally would not want to swim on Koper beach.

Today Koper again, as in ancient times, competes with neighboring Trieste. Ships with cargo from industrialized countries of Asia arrive at its port and are then transported to Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic. After passing through the Suez Canal, ships head to Koper, the Mediterranean port that is closest to largest cities Central Europe.

The main seaport of Slovenia, the ancient city of Koper, is located in the southwest of Slovenia on the Istrian peninsula. Koper dates back to Antiquity - the Greek settlement of Aegida was located here. During the Roman Empire, the city was called Capris, and Koper reached its heyday when it became part of Venice in the 13th century - it was then that it became the most important port and market town Istrian peninsula.

Story

During the Venetian Republic, Koper began to be called Caput Histriae, which means “chief in Istria”. In Italian it is still called Capodistria - “head of Istria”. After the collapse of the Venetian Republic in 1797, Koper was captured by the Austrians, and in 1918, along with the entire peninsula, it went to Italy. For a long time, Koper was located on an island where shepherds tended their flocks of sheep. Only in 1825 the island was annexed to the mainland by an artificial isthmus, however, the division into island and mainland parts remains to this day. The island part is concentrated with monuments of medieval architecture, a seaport and beaches, while “on the mainland” it is a modern city with dense buildings and tall buildings.

After World War II, Koper became part of the "Free Territory of Trieste", which was controlled by Yugoslavia, and in 1954 it finally became part of Yugoslavia. In 1991, the city became part of the newly independent Slovenia, but even today Italians live here and Italian is the second official language.

The city's attractions

In the central square of the city (Titov Trg) there is the Praetorian Palace, built in 1464, the most famous building in the city. Opposite it, on the other side of the square, is the Loggia Palace, which houses a collection of works of art. Also worth seeing are the houses of the Venetian nobility - the Armerigogna and Totto palaces, and the oldest city building - the Rotunda of the Ascension, whose history dates back to the 12th century. Among the most important sights of Kopra is also the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady. The cathedral houses the tomb of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of Kopra.

Koper today

Today Koper is the largest seaport and logistics center on the Adriatic, through which a significant part of European cargo turnover passes. The port has 12 terminals, and the volume of cargo transportation in 2014 exceeded 19 million tons. The cruise ships Costa Favolosa and Costa Concordia also call at the port, and route sea transport to Trieste and Venice also departs from here.

Koper is also famous for its football team. FC Koper belongs to the strongest league in Slovenia, and the famous football player Mladen Rudonja is a native of Koper. Also born in the city are the famous painter Vittore Carpaccio, tennis player Andreja Klepac, and singer Tinkara Kovac, who represented Slovenia at Eurovision. Many tourists come to Koper to visit music events, the Primorye Summer Festival is especially popular.