Koper is a lively seaside town in Slovenia. Koper - the main commercial port of Slovenia Koper Slovenia attractions
The sea coast of Slovenia is very small - only 30 km, but at the same time the country offers all the most attractive components sea holiday. The same can be said about picturesque Koper. For anyone who has already visited this sunny resort, the memories bring a joyful smile and a desire to return to this corner of the Adriatic.
A little history
Koper is not only the largest seaside town in Slovenia, but also the main sea port countries. In the old days, Koper was located on Goat Island. By 1825, the island was connected to the mainland, but still, paying tribute to tradition, the city is divided into mainland and island.
Mainland - modern city: The buildings 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 in architecture, cuisine, music. There are even two full-fledged languages here: Italian and Slovenian.
However, for my rich history The city has been part of many states: ancient greece and Rome, the Republic of Venice, Austria, the Free Territory of Trieste, Yugoslavia and finally Slovenia (since 1991).
How to get there
A new modern highway connects Koper with the Slovenian capital Ljubljana, and picturesque coastal roads with Istria (Croatia) and Trieste (Italy). It turns out that your holiday in Koper can be diversified with impressions from excursions not just to other cities, but also to other countries. The coastal cities of Slovenia are easily accessible by sea: boats connect Koper with Izola, Portorož, Piran and other cities. The city also has railroad station, but in this region of the country the train is not priority view transport.
Search for flights to Ljubljana (closest airport to Koper)
Weather in Koper
Koper Hotels
Unfortunately, Koper cannot boast of a large number of hotels, but those that exist are very well equipped and have every opportunity to make the stay of their guests pleasant and comfortable.
Entertainment and attractions in Koper
Architecture
The city has preserved many monuments from the period of the Venetian Republic, very original and interesting. The most famous building in Koper is the Praetorian Palace, built in 1464 in the Venetian Gothic style central square city - Titov Trg. Opposite the Praetorian Palace is the Loggia Palace, which houses art Gallery, having rich collection paintings from the 15th century, and modern, very favorite with tourists cafe.
The palaces of Armerigogna, Totto, Belgramoni-Tacco once belonged to representatives of noble Venetian families, and today they adorn city streets. Koper is proud and Cathedral Dormition 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, built in the 12th century.
Entertainment
One of the city's most attractive attractions is the zoo. It is not only an amusement park, but also a famous research center. The zoo is huge and contains a wide variety of animals, which is why many tourists choose Koper as their holiday destination.
The city is also interesting for lovers active rest: huge modern park water activities offers many attractions for every taste and age. Koper has long been a favorite among mountaineering lovers: in the surrounding area there are many steep cliffs on which you can hone your mountaineering skills, and at the same time admire the beauty Adriatic coast.
Events
Another factor that makes the city attractive not only for lovers beach holiday, are numerous festivals of choral singing. 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.
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Koper is located on the Adriatic coast, and its shores are washed by the waters of the Gulf of Piran. The city is located on the Istrian peninsula, in close proximity to the Italian border and has the status of the country's main port. It has a long history and has many unique architectural structures, and is also famous for its music and folklore festivals, which annually cause high audience excitement.
Peculiarities
According to old traditions, present-day Koper is usually divided into mainland and island. Modern buildings and high-rise buildings are concentrated on the mainland, while the buildings are quite dense and therefore create a certain feeling of cramping. The island part is covered in the romance of the Middle Ages and is represented by the best examples of architecture from the times of the Venetian Republic, which gives this part of the city a pronounced Italian flavor. Koper has a well-developed infrastructure and good transport links with neighboring countries and other regions of Slovenia, but at the same time the choice of hotels is very limited. However, the few hotels that the city has are distinguished by a high level of comfort, a wide range of amenities and excellent quality of service. Guests of Koper have the opportunity to have a lot of fun walking along the city promenade and enjoying the views of the Bay of Piran, tasting dishes in local restaurants sunbathing, exploring colorful sights or doing exciting boat trips along the Adriatic.
general information
The territory of the city is small and amounts to only a few tens of square meters. km, with a population of less than 24,000 people. Interestingly, more than 10% of the townspeople are Italians, and official language, in addition to Slovenian, Italian is also considered here. Local time lags behind Moscow by 1 hour in summer and 2 in winter. Time zone UTC+1 and UTC+2 in summer time of the year. Telephone code(+386) 05. Official website www.koper.si.
A brief excursion into history
Initially, on the site of modern Koper stood an ancient greek city Aegis, during the period of the Roman conquest, called Caprice. After the fall of the Roman Empire, for several centuries these lands were captured by the Franks, Lombards and numerous Slavic tribes. Only in 1278, after joining the Venetian Republic, the city entered an era of prosperity and soon became largest port Istria. In 1797, Koper became part of Austria, and between 1805 and 1813, it was occupied by Napoleonic troops, then returned to Austrian possession. Modern history The city was first marked by the entry into the united Kingdom of Serbs and Croats, which later transformed into Yugoslavia and exited it as part of independent Slovenia.
Climate
On weather Kopera is largely influenced by a Mediterranean climate. In winter it is relatively warm here and the average air temperature ranges from 0 to +4 degrees. At the same time, there is little precipitation and almost all of it occurs from November to March. In the summer, on clear and sunny days, the thermometer rises to +23 - +25. It is best to visit the city during this time period, which is the most pleasant both for relaxing at sea and for a rich excursion program.
How to get there
Transport
To travel along the coast by land, it is best to use buses or taxis. Car rental points are available for those interested.
Beaches
Koper has a good pebble beach, as well as several concrete platforms equipped with stairs. Of course, they are not suitable for families with children, but for those who like to swim, they are just right. Meanwhile, given the abundance of yacht moorings, it must be admitted that the water here is not very clear, so beach holidays here are not as popular as in other Slovenian resorts.
Attractions and entertainment
One of Koper's most notable architectural structures is the Praetorian Palace, built in the mid-15th century in a distinct Venetian Gothic style. Directly opposite, the Loggia Palace attracts attention, with its unique art gallery, where paintings by outstanding medieval masters are exhibited. Among other important historical sites, it is worth highlighting the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, with the tomb of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of the city, the exquisite palaces of noble Venetian families, Armerigonia, Totto and Belgramoni Tacco, as well as the famous Rotunda of the Ascension, built in the 12th century. In addition to excursions and walks along the city streets, guests of Koper can appreciate the variety of entertainment programs.
The main places of mass gathering intended for family vacation, serve as a local zoo, with an impressive territory and excellent park water entertainment, where there are attractions for every taste. There are many interesting things to do in the city's surroundings tourist routes for fans of mountaineering and connoisseurs natural beauty. The main event for the townspeople and guests of Koper is the Seaside Summer Festival, which is always extremely fun and interesting.
Kitchen
The city's restaurants, cafes and pizzerias offer a wide selection of all kinds of culinary creations to suit every taste, from widespread Slovenian soups to traditional Italian pasta. Considering that the city is a kind of symbiosis of the cultures of these two countries, local dishes also have characteristic national features. Balkan and Italian wines, which have a high reputation in Europe, are very popular.
Shopping
Shop shelves and souvenir shops display an impressive range of goods, from Italian shoes and clothing to exquisite jewelry and perfumes.
For most tourists visiting Koper for the first time, this city produces vivid impression with its unique charm and color. Despite its small territory, it has a mass interesting places and attractions, annually welcoming thousands of tourists from all over the world.
In one of the albums I already said that on small section of the Adriatic coast belonging to small the country of Slovenia has four small town (okay - town, I won’t offend local residents). I have already said everything I could about two of them, Piran and Portorož.
Next up are Izola and Koper. Why did I decide to combine them in one album? Each of the four towns has its own “zest”. Piran is the most famous (Piran Bay) and popular among tourists, a medieval city-museum under open air. Portorož is not actually a city, but coastline, built up with hotels, restaurants and other elements of recreation and entertainment infrastructure. Koper (Italian: Kapodistrias - main city Istria) is the largest of all - about 24,000 people. And yet, Koper is the main trading port of the country (sorry for the slight irony, in fairness it must be admitted - the only one). Finally, Izola is a small town (about 10,000 people), within which the largest marina in this region is located.
And if you forget about these “highlights”, then Koper and Izola have a lot in common. Using a well-known journalistic cliche, I would say that Izola is Koper, but smaller... Both cities were originally located on islands. Koper on Goat Island, which became a peninsula in 1825. And with Izola... it’s just some kind of “simplification”. The island didn’t even have a name. “Isola” in Italian is an “island”, which in the 19th century was also turned into a peninsula. historical development The cities also went, as they say, “neck and neck.” Having failed to achieve primacy in urban wars in the 13th century, they agreed to the patronage of the rich and strong Venetian Republic. Then these territories were under the rule of Napoleonic France, and were part of Austria-Hungary, and belonged to pre-war Italy, and were part of the SFRY. Nowadays it is Slovenia. The cities have a lot in common. Driving along the coast, you won’t immediately understand where Koper ends and where Izola begins.
Therefore, in the album I try to show “unifying” moments, somewhat ignoring the differences and features inherent in these lovely towns.
Of course, photographs with views of Izola and Koper are unlikely to create a sensation when solving the “Find ten differences” puzzle. Rather, the task should sound exactly the opposite: “Find something similar.” Here's proof of that. On the left is Izola, on the right is Koper. 
This is the peninsula (izola - island, Italian), which in the 19th century was created from an island without a name. And on it is the old part of the modern city of Izola. It’s unlikely that anyone will be able to remove a pile driver in such a compact form. 
Yes, yes, this is part of the largest marina in this region. 
Entrance to the old part of Koper. He, old Koper, is still more impressive than old Izola. Here is the square with a fountain at the entrance. 
No, this is not a crossroads with the traditional mockery of the heroes: “You will go to the right...” This is the beginning of the streets in old Izola. As it should be, all roads lead to the temple. Do you remember how T. Abuladze’s cult film “Rest” ends, which blew up society at the beginning of perestroika? That's right - with the question of an elderly woman: “Why do we need a road if it doesn’t lead to the temple?” 
Izola. Church of St. Mauro (XVI century). 
Differences in the size of the occupied territories of Koper and Izola naturally affect the “size” of their main attractions. The Church of St. Mauro occupies almost the entire main square Izola. By the way, “square” in Slovenian sounds surprisingly melodious - “Trg”. So, the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady (XV century) in Koper, despite its impressive size, is located only on part of the central square of Titov Trg. (I don’t know if this name is related to the name of Joseph Broz Tito). 
The temple houses the tomb of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of the city. 
There are many other religious buildings in the towns. I can’t be more specific by names. 
And this is the most beautiful building Izoly - Besengui del Ugli Palace (18th century). 
And this is the entrance to the patio of some palace in Koper. I didn’t understand which one exactly. But the feeling of herd and tourist solidarity (everyone, pushing each other, tried to capture this object) did not allow us to pass by. 
We return to Titov Trg. The main administrative building of the city is the Praetorian Palace (1464). For reference: “praetor” is a government position in Ancient Rome. 
Loggia Palace (15th century). Next are some fragments of the decoration of palaces built during the heyday of the Venetian Republic, under the comprehensive influence of which both Koper and Izola were for many years. 
Well, these narrow streets - business card Italy in general and Venice in particular - do seaside towns Slovenia "Italian". 
Where are the Koper pipes and where are the Izola pipes... it doesn’t matter for seagulls. However, for tourists too. 
And these shots are for the “truth of life”. Either there is no money, or there is no money, or, well, we need to maintain the image of the OLD city... 
Park on the Izola embankment. 
Park on the Koper waterfront. 
The port is the pride of Koper. 
Marina Izola. 
Modern Izola. 
Today's Koper. 
Koper is a city in southwestern Slovenia located on the country's 47-kilometer (29-mile) coastline, in Istria, approximately five kilometers from the Italian border.
It is the largest and most economically developed city on the Slovenian coast. The only commercial port in the country is located in Koper, sea gate Slovenia, Luka Koper. In addition to cargo ships from all over the world, the port welcomes many cruise ships. Tourism is the second most important source of income for the municipality.
The city of Koper is officially bilingual, with both Slovenian and Italian being the official languages.
Koper Beaches.
There are two beaches in Koper, both municipal and free. The first is the city beach. It is located between two marinas, very close to the port. The second, Žusterna, is located 4 km to the east, on the opposite shore of Semedela Bay.
Corera city beach.
The city beach of Corera is located in the old town, small, only 100 m, well equipped. There are all the necessary beach amenities, parking, cafe, lifeguard. The recreation area has gravel and concrete slabs. Further on, there is a small park where you can sit on the grass in the shade of trees, but during rush hour, as a rule, everything is busy here. There are rocks and stones in the water.
The water is clean, but the proximity of the port and yacht anchorages does not add transparency.
Žusterna Beach.
Beach - concrete slabs and steps to get into the water, the bottom is rocky. There is a children's playground, cafe, parking, toilet, shower. You can go diving, swimming and fishing.
The beach owes its name to the nearby area of the city. Immediately on the shore there is a water park hotel Zusterna (Žusterna) 3* with swimming pools and slides.
Sights of Koper.
The main attraction of Koper is Old city, it is located on the seashore, near the marina and occupies a triangle of approximately 600 by 800 m. Medieval buildings, red tiled roofs, narrow streets, from all this you can get lost in time.
Some of the most interesting buildings old Koper.
Praetorian Palace.
Praetorian Palace of the 15th century. It was built from two old houses from the 13th century, which were connected by a loggia, in the Venetian Gothic style. The palace is located on the city square. Today it houses the tourism office.
Assumption Cathedral.
The Assumption Cathedral was built in the second half of the 12th century and has one of the oldest bells in Slovenia (1333), made by Master Jacob in Venice. WITH upper terrace there is a beautiful view of the Gulf of Trieste. In the middle of it hangs a painting of the Sacred Conversation painted by Vittore Carpaccio in 1516. This is one of the best Renaissance paintings in Slovenia.
In addition, you can see the sights. Koper Regional Museum, the 12th-century Carmine Rotunda Church, the Cathedral of St. Nazarius with a 14th-century tower - in total there are more than 10 churches, monasteries and cathedrals. Up to thirty buildings in the old city bear the proud title of palace.
Other sights of Koper.
Zoo.
Located in a forested, protected area. Animals here live almost freely. The park has a children's playground and a cafe.
Marina Koper.
A small marina with 75 berths for yachts up to 18.0 meters, located near the medieval city center and is the northernmost harbor on the Slovenian coast. Near the marina there is a nice cozy restaurant where you can have a delicious dinner, drink a glass of local tart wine, admiring the swaying forest of masts against the sunset.
Koper stores.
Because Koper is not only tourist town, but also large industrial centre There are many souvenir shops and gourmet food shops here side by side with large chain supermarkets such as Mercator, Spar or Lidl. Moreover, if the former are mainly located in the old city and on the coast, then supermarkets are more or less evenly distributed throughout the city.
There are also large ones in Koper shopping centers, not inferior in size and assortment to Italian stores. For example, the multi-storey Interspar. This is one of the largest stores in the city. Everything is for sale here. From large household appliances and designer clothes to all kinds of kitchen items.
A little history.
Koper began as an ancient settlement built on an island in the southeastern part of the Bay of Koper in the northern Adriatic. IN Ancient Greece the city was known as Aegis (city of the Goat). It later became known by its Latin names Capris (Greek Copros), Caprea, Capre or Caprista, from which the modern Slovenian name was derived.
In 568, the inhabitants of nearby Trieste fled to Koper due to the invasion of Germanic tribes. In honor of Byzantine Emperor Justinian II the city was renamed Justinopolis. Justinopolis was later under Lobbard and Frankish rule and was briefly occupied by the Avars in the 8th century.
Since the 8th century, and perhaps even since the 6th century, Koper has been the seat of a diocese. One of the bishops of Koper was the Lutheran reformer Pier Paolo Vergerio. In 1828 it was united into the diocese of Trieste. After the First World War, Koper was under Italian rule, and from 1954 until 1991, when Slovenia gained independence, it was part of Yugoslavia.
Climate.
Koper has a humid subtropical climate with a lot of rainfall, even in the driest month. average temperature in Koper is 14.4 °C (57.9 °F). The average annual precipitation is 1,056 millimeters (42 in).
How to get to Koper.
Koper is a fairly large city for Slovenia, it is connected bus routes and railway connections not only with the cities of the country, but also with foreign centers.
Buses depart from Koper to Ljubljana, Portoroz, Trieste, Zagreb. There are still passing flights connecting northern Italy with Croatia. The bus covers the distance of 106 km to Ljubljana in one and a half to two hours, the ticket will cost you about 5 – 15 euros. Number of 7 – 8 flights of different companies. There is also a train to the capital. It leaves 4 – 5 p.m. per day, travel time is 2.20 – 2.30 hours and costs approx. 10 – 20 euros. Well, the most expensive option is a taxi costs about 120 EUR.
Portorož, Izola, Piran Koper and Trieste are connected by local lines of the Arriva company, whose buses run along the coast with a frequency of 0.5 - 2.5 hours from morning to evening. The price depends on the distance. Approximately (euro): Portorož – 2.70, Izola – 1.80, Piran – 2.70 and Trieste – 3.10.
To get to Koper by plane, you can use the airports of Trieste (65 km), Ljubljana (127 km), Pula (100 km). And from there you can get to Koper by taking a bus, taxi or renting a car.
The railway station and bus station are located nearby, in the south-eastern part of the city, a 15-minute walk from the historical center.
Koper on the map.
Koper on the map of Slovenia is located in the very north of a small, only 47 km section of the coast of this Balkan country, on the shores of Koper Bay, just 13 km from the border with Italy and 17 with Croatia.
In the northern part of the city, at the mouth of a small river, there is the trading port of Luka Koper, to the south there is a pier for cruise ships, and even to the south the old city, surrounded from the east and south by residential areas. Between the southern quarters of Markovets, Semedela, Zusterna and the old center, Semedela Bay, with its beach and marina piers, extends deep into the land.
Read more: resorts in Slovenia:
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. On Italian The name of the city sounds like Kapodistrias, which means “the main city of 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. There is also a railway station in Koper, but compared to road and sea transport Railway very little used.
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 are a lover of active recreation, you will 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 is the Praetorian Palace, 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 cafe, much loved by tourists.
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.
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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.
