We took the local bus to Izola//Isola where there is a wonderful Tourist Information Office. In all towns throughout Europe (or the Balkans), just look for the big "I" which is usually the local Information Office. Tina, tic.izola@izola.si, gave us tons of information on the entire Istrian Peninsula as well as other parts of Slovenia. There's so much to see and too little time to do everything.

With maps and information from Tina in hand, we walked around the Marina (there is a walking path that extends for miles and goes from town to town)...

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We started the day by touring the town walls before hordes of tourists descended on Piran. The walls encircled the oldest part of the own in the 7th century. As the town grew, more walls were built. The final walls were completed between 1470-1534 encircling all of Piran. View image

There were eight towers with battlements of which seven gates are still preserved. Piran is a member of the "Friendly Circle of Walled Towns" which is dedicated to preserving what few walled towns are left in the world.

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Around the Istrian Peninsula, most towns have a Slovenian name (Piran), and Italian name( Pirano). This area is part of Slovene Istria and is extremely Mediterranean even though the tip of the peninsula juts out into the Adriatic Sea. The climate is mild, and land fertile which accounts for the vineyards, olive groves and fruits grown here. (The groves and vineyards were the first thing to catch my eye driving toward Piran.)

On a clear day, you can see: the Italian and Austrian Alps as well as Trieste in the North; Croatia across the bay to the South; and on an extremely clear day, Venice, across the sea.

Driving into Piran, it looked like a movie set in the distance. These little towns are drop-dead beautiful...the sea...medieval buildings...clear blue sky...against a backdrop of rolling hills. And when we walked into the Piazza Tartini, I could have sworn we were in Venice. I want a villa in Tuscany, one in Mallorca and another in this area! Come on Illinois Lottery...

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