Koper (Italian: Kapodistria)- the largest Slovenian seaside city, the capital of the Slovenian Istria and the main seaport of the country. Like Venice, the old city core holds a number of interesting pieces of history. Once built on an island, in the 19th century it was connected to the ground by a dam and gradually completely merged with the continent. In Italian, the name of the city sounds like Kapodistria, 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 with the capital of the country, Ljubljana, as well as coastal roads with Italian Trieste and Croatian Istria. There is also a railway station in Koper, but compared to road and sea transport, the railway is very poorly used.

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

Koper Hotels quite cozy, and the administration of some even tries to create conditions close to home. It is comfortable to relax here with the family, as everything is provided for the convenience of children, for example, as an entertainment in one hotel, your child will be offered pony riding, and in another you can rent bicycles. If you are a fan of outdoor activities, you will have a great time in 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 the strange name Goat, 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 are tall and the buildings are cramped. The island part has a completely different look: cathedrals, old houses with tiled roofs, the architecture of which clearly shows the influence of Italian traditions. This is understandable: the Slavs settled here in the 8th century, a century later they established close ties with the Republic of Venice, and by the 13th century Koper was annexed to Venice. As it often happens, the Venetians, protecting Koper from external enemies, gradually became full owners of the city. Hence the Italian style of architecture, cuisine, music. There are even two full-fledged languages ​​here: Italian and Slovenian.

Sights in Koper

The city has preserved many monuments of the period of the Venetian Republic, very original and interesting. The most famous building in Koper is the Pretoria Palace, built in 1464 in the Venetian Gothic style, located on 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 Armerigonia, 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 most attractive sights of the city is the zoo. It is not only an amusement park, but also a fairly well-known research center. The zoo is huge, the variety of animals contained in it is very large, so many tourists who are interested in the animal world often choose Koper as their place of rest: there are many opportunities to observe the habits of various animals.

Koper is also interesting for outdoor enthusiasts: a huge modern water amusement park offers many attractions for every taste and age. Mountaineering enthusiasts have long chosen this city: in the vicinity of the city there are many sheer cliffs on which you can hone your climbing skills, and at the same time admire the beauties of the Adriatic coast.

Another factor that makes the city attractive not only for beach lovers is the numerous choir singing festivals that are systematically held in the city. One of the most famous, the Seaside Summer Festival, gathers every year many musical groups from Slovenia and other countries, as well as spectators who truly enjoy this bright holiday.

In one of the albums, I already said that on small section of the Adriatic coast, owned small Slovenia has four small town (okay - the city, I will not offend the locals). About two of them, Piran and Portoroz, I have already told everything I could.

Isola and Koper are next in line. Why did I decide to combine them in one album?. Each of the four towns has its own "zest". Piran is the most famous (the Gulf of Piran) and popular in tourist gradations, a medieval open-air museum city. Portorož is actually not a city, but a coastline built up with hotels, restaurants and other elements of recreation and entertainment infrastructure. Koper (in Italian Kapodistria - the main city of Istria) - 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, Isola is a small (about 10,000 people) town, within the boundaries of 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 stamp, I would say that Isola is Koper, but only smaller ... Both cities were originally located on the islands. Koper on Goat Island, which became a peninsula in 1825. And with Isola ..., just some kind of "simplified". The island did not have a name. "Isola" in Italian is an "island", which in the 19th century was also turned into a peninsula. In their historical development, the cities also went, as they say, "head to nose". Not having achieved 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. Now it is Slovenia. The cities have a lot in common. Driving along the coast, you will not immediately understand: where Koper ends and where Isola begins.

Therefore, in the album, I try to show the "unifying" moments, somewhat ignoring the differences and features inherent in these lovely towns.

Of course, photos with views of Isola and Koper are unlikely to make a splash when solving the Find Ten Differences puzzle. Rather, the task should sound exactly the opposite: "Find a similar one." Here is proof of that. On the left is Isola, on the right is Koper.
Here is the peninsula (isola - island, ital.), which in the 19th century turned out of an island without a name. And on it is the old part of the modern city of Isola. It is 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 expected, all roads lead to the temple. Do you remember how T. Abuladze's cult film "Repentance" ends, which blew up society at the beginning of perestroika? That's right - the question of an elderly woman: "Why do we need a road if it does not lead to the temple?" Isola. 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 of Isola. 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 a part of the central square Titov Trg. (I do not know if this name is connected with 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 specific by name.
And this is the most beautiful building of Isola - the palace of Besengi del Ulla (18th century). And this is the entrance to the patio of some palace in Koper. What exactly did not understand. But the feeling of herd and tourist solidarity (everyone, pushing each other, tried to capture this object) did not allow to pass by.
We return to Titov Trg. The main administrative building of the city is the Pretoria Palace (1464). For reference: "praetor" is a public position in ancient Rome.
Palace of the Loggia (15th century). Further - some fragments of the decoration of palaces built during the heyday of the Venetian Republic, under the comprehensive influence of which both Koper and Isola were for many years. Well, these narrow streets - the hallmark of Italy in general and Venice in particular - make the seaside cities of Slovenia "Italian".



Where are the pipes of Koper, and where are the Isola ... for seagulls it doesn’t matter. However, for tourists too.
And these shots are for the "truth of life". Either - there is no money, or - the hands do not reach, or - well, you need to maintain the image of the OLD CITY ... Park on the embankment of Izola.
Park on the waterfront of Koper.

The port is the pride of Koper.
Marina Isola. Modern Isola.
Today's Koper.

Where to live well in Slovenia. Koper.

June 1, 2015, 01:01, views: 6641

I decided to make a series of reports about where it is good to live on the Slovenian coast (it is also obala - Slovenian - coast). Fortunately, several years spent here have been enriched with certain information, but still I insist - everything said below is a subjective point of view.

So, Koper is the largest city on the Slovenian coast. Well, as the largest - about 25 thousand people. For us Russians, this is a village. But there is one "but" 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 are already in another city is commonplace. That is why European cities are not at all perceived as lonely Russian villages with several thousand people.

Let's get back to Koper. The city consists of two parts: the old city - the one that is located on a relative plain directly on the coast (there is also a port); and the new city (also called Semedela), located on fairly high mountains above the old city.

All tourism, of course, is concentrated in the old city, closer to the sea. Actually, there are all the main shopping and entertainment centers. By the way, it was in Koper that the largest shopping and entertainment centers were built, focused on the entire coast of Slovenia. In other cities, only shops.

• Do you need to go to the cinema? - You in Koper.
• Do you need to go bowling? - You in Koper.
• Do you need to buy clothes? - You in Koper.
• Do you need to buy a toy for your child? - You in Koper.
• Looking for a 24 hour pharmacy? - They said, in Koper.

In terms of relaxation, Koper is not the worst option for spending two weeks on the coast of Slovenia. But far from the best. The main tourist disadvantage of this city is the lack of a beach. No, there is a small “heel” (at least 100-150 meters long) adjacent to the port overlooking the same port, but is it really a beach?

In fairness, 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, the coastline is rarely cleaned of algae. So don't count too much.

The main tourist plus of Koper is that there is a bus and railway station. Therefore, if you do not risk renting a car or prefer a budget vacation, you can easily drive from Koper to Italy, Croatia, and the central part of Slovenia.

Now actually 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 are located in Koper. It's probably more of a plus.

There is a new school in Koper (both in terms of building and programs). It is located in the old city. There are, of course, other schools, but it is this school that is praised by both locals and compatriots. In addition to schools, there is also a technical college and several universities. Also, it is in this city that the most various children's sections and "circles" are most of all. Thus, in terms 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 promenade. If you are a fan of rollerblading, 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 railway and bus stations.

This is where Koper's virtues end.

Flaws

The disadvantages of Koper include, first of all, the issue of accommodation. The fact is that renting a house in the old city (or near it) is not only expensive (relative to other cities), but also a very difficult task.

It is not easy to find a normal apartment for a family of 3-4 people in the old town - there are not so many offers. Meanwhile, most of the proposals are a new city, that is, the one on the mountain. And this means that every time, just to take a walk, you will have to drive a car or wait for a bus, or walk for 20-30 minutes to the old city on foot. And you can’t take your child to school in the fresh air anymore - only by transport.

At first, this circumstance will not strain 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, shop, hospital and so on.

Conclusion. In my personal ranking of “suitability of cities on the Slovenian coast for long-term residence”, Koper takes a solid second place. And the main reason for his “silver” and not “gold” I put is his size. It is too big to forget about a car or a bus for a whole week.

All photos are taken from Google Maps (Google Streets).

Slovenia is a unique country in terms of its geographical position. Skiing down from the Alpine peaks, you actually immediately find yourself on the beaches of the Adriatic coast. There are not so many cities on the Slovenian coast, and the main one among them is Koper (sl. Koper, it. Kapodistria). Despite the city's population of only about 25,000, Koper is the largest Slovenian city and port on the coast of the Gulf of Piran.

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

Koper Island

The “mainland” part is a 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 be frozen here. Old houses under red tiled roofs in the Italian style, small narrow streets overlooking the sea - all this is reminiscent of the centuries-old history of Koper, which dates back to ancient Greece.

Lapidarium in Koper

HISTORY OF KOPRA

In those days the city was called Aegida (Goat City). Later, at the mention of Koper, names such as Capris (Greek Copros), Caprea, Capre and Caprista pop up. The chronicles mention that in 568 AD, the Roman citizens of the neighboring city Tergeste(Trieste), because of 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 is not much Italian in this (now) Italian city!

Old city center

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

This alliance brings Koper great benefits. The city experienced a real economic take-off during the time of the Crusades, when the demand for its agricultural products increased sharply: oil, wine, fish and salt. Maritime trade also brings great profits. In the XI-XII centuries in Koper, as in other coastal cities, an oligarchic system of government was formed: with an outwardly republican form, power belongs to several families of noble patricians.

Palace of the Loggia. Venetian architecture Kopra

Due to its rapid economic growth, Koper grows stronger, and eventually decides on a conflict with Venice. In 1145, the union of the three cities of Istria - Pula, Koper and Izola, challenges the Venetian Republic. The result is disastrous: the defeated cities are forced to swear an "oath of loyalty" (facere fidelitatem) to the Doge of Venice. After this conflict, the authorities of Koper began to behave extremely cautiously: 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 receives from Venice the right to monopoly salt mining on the entire coast of Istria, for a period of 29 years. Salt mining was of paramount importance in those days, and this contributes to strengthening the status of Koper as the central city of the Istrian coast. The development of salt for many centuries brought great economic benefits to the city and was stopped only in 1911.

In 1380, Koper is severely attacked by the Genoese (Medieval Genoa). The troops of Genoa plunder the city and take away with them jewels 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 perishes during the terrible plague that rages in Europe in 1553-1554.

Having existed until the end of the 18th century, the Venetian Republic perished under the onslaught of Napoleon's army. In 1797, French troops enter Koper, and the city becomes first part of the Italian kingdom, and then part of the Illyrian provinces (1809-1813). After the fall of the Napoleonic Empire, Koper falls under the rule of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, in whose possession it remains 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 in 1954 the Free Territory of Trieste officially ceases to exist, Koper becomes part of Yugoslavia, already part of the federal Republic of Slovenia. By this time, most of the Italians who lived in the city leave the city, moving to Italy.

WHAT TO SEE IN COPRA

Koper is a city of ancient history and the latest tourist infrastructure. Walking along the old, medieval streets of its island part, you immediately pay attention to the huge 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 Jakob.

In Koper, many very original and interesting monuments of the Venetian period have been preserved. 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 flaunts the Loggia Palace, which today houses an art gallery with a rich collection of paintings from the 15th century.

Here, near the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Mother of God, built in the XV century. It houses the main city shrine - the tomb of St. Nazarius, the patron saint of the city, whose relics in 1380 were taken out of the city by the Genoese troops.

Built in the 17th century, the 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.

Palace of Belgramoni-Tacco

Koper is also interesting for outdoor enthusiasts. 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 sheer cliffs, long chosen by mountaineers, as well as a small airfield offering fantastic panoramic flights over the Adriatic coast to everyone.

View of Koper from above

Koper hosts numerous choir festivals. One of the most famous is the seaside summer festival, which every year brings together musical groups from Slovenia and other countries. It attracts spectators from all over the world who get real pleasure from the bright spectacle and from the city of Koper itself.