Coastal paths

From Izola to the Salt Pans of Sečovlje

Picturesque coastal towns, steep cliffs, and the salt of the sea
Izola, the old fishing town, and Piran, the most beautiful coastal town and former pirate nest, are the cornerstones of the first part of our hike. The landmark of Izola is the parish church of St. Mauro with its campanile towering over the small fisherman's houses of the old town. The small town was originally built on an island, which today is connected to the mainland and extends into the Bay of Koper as a peninsula. While Izola is still relatively quiet and cozy, tourism is booming in the more famous Piran. Venetian buildings, narrow, winding alleys, and numerous fish restaurants right by the sea ensure a constant stream of visitors. We approach this picturesque place from its most beautiful side, namely from the sea, and thus arrive directly in the old town and to the cathedral of St. Jurij built on a hill; from there we have the best view over the interlocking tiled roofs of the historic town center. The landmark of Piran is the small church of St. Clement, which dominates the outermost tip of the peninsula with its round tower. Piran owed its wealth mainly to the trade in salt, which was extracted in the salt fields of Sečovlje. Today, the Lera and Fontanigge salt pans are under nature protection; over 200 bird species live in the Krajinski park Sečovljske soline, many of which also breed here. Among them, the elegant, snow-white egret stands out. The salt pans of Sečovlje still produce high-quality salt today, but only in small quantities. The salt gardens, still managed in the old tradition, are definitely worth a visit. Our path runs along the sea between the famous coastal towns, where we can always take a cool swim, and high above Cape Ronek, a nature reserve of karst flysch rock whose cliffs drop steeply by 80 m to the sea.