Today’s port of call was the Slovenian coastal gem of Piran, first on the itinerary outside of Croatia. From the coast, we boarded the motor coaches for a scenic drive through Slovenia’s Karst region to the country’s capital, Ljubljana. Our walking tour took us to The Triple Bridge and Dragon Bridge, both landmarks of this vibrant European town. We admired beautiful Vienna Secession buildings on one bank, project led by Jože Plečnik, a prominent architect of modern Ljubljana. On the other bank of the Ljubljanica River, the town’s main artery, we viewed the Old Town’s late Renaissance palaces. After enjoying lunch featuring local delicacies at a national restaurant, we divided into two groups and went to different locations.
The smaller group went straight back to Piran, where we learned about this town’s historic details as we traversed through its narrow streets. The Maritime Museum offered a great insight into the rich sea-oriented life of locals, from antiquity through centuries-long Venetian rule. The larger group went to Predjama Castle, a 15th century architectural marvel. The castle houses an impressive collection of artifacts that narrate the history of its former owners and provides amazing photo opportunities.
