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, they determine medieval history city relations with the Venetian Republic. By 932, among all the cities of Istria, Koper becomes 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 other coastal cities, an oligarchic system of government developed: with an outwardly republican form, power belonged 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 contributes to the strengthening of Koper's status as central city 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). Genoese troops plunder the city and take away jewelry and sacred relics, including the relics of St. Nazarius - the heaviest punishment for the 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 from the Venetian period. One of these monuments is the Praetorian Palace, built in 1464 in the Venetian Gothic style. The palace is located in the central square of the city - Titov Square (Titov trg), and opposite it stands the Loggia Palace, which today houses an 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 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.
Where is it good to live in Slovenia? Koper.
June 1, 2015, 01:01, views: 6641
I decided to make a series of reports about where it’s good to live on the Slovenian coast (aka obala – Slovenian – coast). Fortunately, the several years spent here have enriched me with certain information, but I still insist that everything said below is a subjective point of view.
So, Koper - The largest city Slovenian coast. Well, as the largest – about 25 thousand people. For us Russians, this is a village. But there is one “but” here, characteristic of almost all of Europe. The fact is that there are a lot of cities and they are located quite densely. The situation when, having crossed the street, you find yourself in another city is commonplace. This is why European cities are not at all perceived as lonely Russian villages with several thousand people.
Let's go back to Koper. The city consists of two parts: Old city– the one that is located on a relative plain directly on the shore (there is also a port); And new town(also called Semedela), located on quite high mountains over the old town.
All tourism, of course, is concentrated in the old town, closer to the sea. Actually, all the main trading and entertainment centers. By the way, it was in Koper that the largest shopping and entertainment centers were built, oriented along the entire coast of Slovenia. In other cities there are only shops.
- Do you need to go to the cinema? - To Koper.
- Do you need to go bowling? - To Koper.
- Do you need to buy clothes? - To Koper.
- Do you need to buy a toy for your child? - To Koper.
- Looking for a 24-hour pharmacy? - They said, to Koper.
In terms of recreation, Koper is not the best worst option spend a two-week vacation on the Slovenian coast. But far from the best. The main tourist drawback of this city is the lack of a beach. No, there is a small “heel” (about 100 - 150 meters long) adjacent to the port with a view of the same port, but is this a beach?
To be fair, it should be noted that there are no beaches in Slovenia. There is access to the sea for swimming, but it cannot be called beaches. The bottom is bad, there is no sand, from algae coastline Cleaned quite rarely. So, don't count too much.
The main tourist advantage of Koper is that there is a bus and railway stations. Therefore, if you do not risk renting a car or prefer budget holiday, from Koper you can easily travel to Italy, Croatia, and the central part of Slovenia.
Now about life in Koper. Not just about two weeks, but about whether it is convenient to live in the city for several years.
Advantages
As already mentioned, all the largest entertainment and shopping centers located in Koper. This is probably more of a plus.
There is a new (both in terms of building and in terms of programs) school in Koper. It is located in the old town. There are, of course, other schools, but this particular school is praised by both locals and compatriots. In addition to schools, there is a technical college and several universities. Also, it is in this city that there are the most various children's sections and “circles”. Thus, from the point of view of the development of children's and youth infrastructure, Koper is the absolute leader on the entire Slovenian coast.
high school
From the point of view of walking in the evening, Koper is quite a suitable town. There are several beautiful squares. The old part of the city is well maintained and clean. Countless coffee shops, restaurants and bars. And, of course, a pleasant embankment. If you are a fan of roller skating, the embankment will certainly please you. Moreover, it smoothly flows into a pedestrian and bicycle road (connecting Koper with another coastal city - Izola) and gives you another 10 kilometers of comfortable walking.
The last advantage of the city, which has already been mentioned, is the train and bus stations.
This is where Koper's merits end.
Flaws
The disadvantages of Koper include, first of all, the issue of accommodation. The fact is that renting housing in the old city (or near it) is not only expensive (relative to other cities), but also a very difficult matter.
Finding a normal apartment for a family of 3-4 people in the old city is not easy - there are not so many offers. Meanwhile, most of the proposals are for a new city, that is, the one on the mountain. This means that every time you just want to take a walk, you will have to drive a car or wait for a bus, or walk 20–30 minutes to the old town. And you can no longer take your child to school in the fresh air - only by transport.
At first, this circumstance will not bother you much. But six months will pass, and you will simply get tired of it and will leave the house less and less. Unless on business: school, store, hospital, and so on.
Conclusion. In my personal rating of “suitability of cities on the Slovenian coast for long-term living,” Koper ranks a confident second place. And I put the main reason for its “silver” rather than “gold” - its size. It is too big for you to forget about a car or a bus for a whole week.
All photos are taken from Google Maps (Google Streets).
The main seaport of Slovenia is old City 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— 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. They also enter the port cruise ships Costa Favolosa and Costa Сoncordia, from here route sea transport departs to Trieste and Venice.
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 attend music events, with the Primorsky Summer Festival being especially popular.
Getting into small town Koper in Slovenia – a person simply loses touch with reality! This is the Slovenian Riviera, which is so similar to sunny Italy. Narrow streets, cozy courtyards, lots of sun and excellent air. Previously, this amazing settlement was located on an island called Koziy. But then they built a dam, and this small island simply merged with the continent. But even today it has remained “independent” and amazes with its originality and excellent climate, which allows you to restore your health. Located in the town largest port Slovenia, ships with cargo from all over the world come here.
Kaleidoscope of history
Koper is a kind of symbiosis of Slavic and Latin culture. Thanks to Italy's close proximity, the country's traditions and heritage are highly valued. Venetian pointed towers, southern cuisine, small courtyards with plastered walls - everything emphasizes the Italian flavor. In Koper they speak two languages – Italian and Slovenian, they have “equal rights” and even there is a representative of the Italian minority in parliament.
Until the 19th century, the city of Kapodistrias (as the Italians called it) was an island. Then they erected many architectural monuments– Tito Square with the Praetor's Palace and Loggia. Today it is so pleasant to sit here with a cup of aromatic coffee, enjoying the views of the city and the architecture of old castles.
Only in Koper you will see two completely different cities. The mainland part of the settlement consists of tall modern houses, cramped streets, numerous hotels and expensive apartments. The island part has tiled roofs of low buildings, ancient cathedrals and temples, and a pronounced Italian flavor.
Koper Climate
Surprisingly, the Slovenian resort is located on only 30 km of coastal zone, but this did not stop it from turning it into the real pride of the country. Sandy golden beaches, clear waters of the Adriatic Sea and an excellent maritime climate. Koper rarely experiences gusty winds or heavy precipitation. From early spring, sunny, warm days dominate here, and comfortable conditions for relaxation last until late autumn. And even in winter it is very pleasant here to enjoy the healing air, walk along the coast and drink the unique mineral waters that the fertile land gives.
The legacy of ancestors
Koper is not only a famous health resort where people come to enjoy unique mineral springs. This is a real cultural center of the country, where everything breathes history. If you want to witness Italian pomp, you need to see the Praetorian Castle, it was built in 1464 (Venetian Gothic). Opposite it is an art gallery with a rich collection of paintings from the 15th century and modern paintings.
The amazingly beautiful palaces of Armerigonya, Totto, Belgramoni-Tacco have become a real treasure of the city. Are proud local residents and pompous temple buildings. Cathedral Dormition of the Mother of God (erected in the 15th century), the main shrine of the townspeople, the tomb of St. Nazarius, is also kept here. There is a legend that protects the city from enemies and all kinds of natural disasters.
The oldest place in the city, the Rotunda of the Ascension, is definitely worth seeing. It was built in the 12th century. Little tourists will appreciate the local zoo. This is not just a place for entertainment and contemplation of rare animals - a research center operates here.
But for lovers of active recreation, Koper will be a real discovery. The huge amusement park (water) amazes with many attractions. There are even swimming pools with artificial waves and specialized ponds for the youngest tourists. Mountaineering lovers will appreciate the resort with its steep cliffs that hang over the Adriatic coast.
Go ahead for impressions
If all the wellness procedures have been completed, and you are tired of the relaxing bliss of the beaches? Welcome to numerous singing festivals. This is a real extravaganza of music of various styles; musicians from all over Slovenia and other countries come here. A grandiose performance awaits you, especially since festivals are held regularly. The most famous of them is the Primorsky Summer Festival.
Healing and recuperating in Koper
Slovenia is, first of all, a climate favorable to humans. And natural treasures in the form of thermal and mineral waters allow you to quickly get rid of many chronic diseases. Koper is famous for the fact that it has a Pannonian, alpine maritime climate - such a tandem is rare and it is precisely this that has such a positive effect on the human body. The air is saturated with minerals, salt water relieves respiratory diseases and dermatological pathologies. Another pearl of Slovenia is healing mud. These are inorganic or organic peloids that saturate the skin with beneficial chemical compounds.
They also deserve special attention. The water in them is recognized as healing; it is ideal for daily use; it replenishes the body with minerals and rare acids. Therefore, people suffering from gastrointestinal disorders come to Koper to enjoy this water, which has no analogues in the world. Also here, healing peat and fango are used to treat some diseases. These substances have a positive effect on the skin - they tighten it and slow down the aging process.
If you find yourself in Koper, be sure to visit thermal springs. These waters can activate the body’s internal reserves, and you will forget about viral infections for a long time.
Hotels in Koper
There are not many apartments in this city, but those that exist are comfortable and convenient for those who come to improve their health. Apartment & Suites Veneziana is an excellent Italian-style hotel, it boasts excellent infrastructure, delicious cuisine and picturesque views from the windows of the rooms. Hotel Vodisek– affordable accommodation, good service, there are many cafes and restaurants on the territory, their own gyms and saunas. Studio Morsal An excellent place for a calm, measured holiday, it is conveniently located, you can quickly get to any part of the city and to the beach.
A trip to Koper is not easy pleasant stay on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. Only here you can enjoy the gifts of nature that will help you become healthy and strong. If you have small children, such an exciting trip will be a luxurious gift. The baby will improve his health while arriving in a mild, warm climate, and will receive a lot of impressions from this amazing peninsula.
