Get to know three of the most beautiful
circular walking paths by the sea. Some 28 kilometres of picturesque walking
paths allow hikers to get to know the hidden gems of Portorož, Piran, Seča and
Strunjan.
Portorož
& Piran offer many hidden gems and one of the best ways to discover them
are long walks by the sea. Discover three circular walking paths
and breathe in plenty of healthy sea air. The paths
run through picturesque and varied landscapes that offer breathtaking views of
timeless salt pans, the highest flysch cliff in in the eastern part of the
Adriatic, the photogenic Moon Bay and other unique scenery that Portorož &
Piran are very proud of. The paths run through wood trails,
medieval Piran, Strunjan Nature Park, along the former narrow-gauge railway
line Parenzana, by the Fiesa lakes and the imposing sculptures of Forma Viva. The
starting point for all three waking paths is in Portorož, and hikers can then
choose to go in the direction of Piran, Strunjan or Seča. Each
circular path can be walked in two to three hours and is therefore especially
suitable for families with children and for recreation enthusiasts.
1. Piran walking path (9 km/2 h 30
min)
The path that encircles the town shows
Piran from a new perspective. The walk starts in the gardens of Portrož from where you climb to White
Cross. Soon, you'll see
all the way to Trieste and in clear weather the view stretches to the Alps. A short descent will bring you to the two Fiesa meres and then the path
continues under the cliff, right alongside the sea. The view of the familiar outline of St George’s Church marks your
arrival in Piran and the path runs towards narrow cobbled streets. You’ll
circumvent the romantic lighthouse on Punta and return to Portorož along the
well-known sea promenade. Don’t miss the ruins of St Bernardin’s church along the way!
2. Strunjan walking path (12 km/3 h)
The Strunjan walking path begins with the
mysterious Valeta tunnel through which a hundred years ago the narrow-gauge
railway line Parenzana ran. Soon, you'll find yourself amidst the Strunjan Nature Park; climb to the
edge of the highest cliff in the eastern part of the Adriatic, where the view
of Moon Bay will take your breath away. From there, the path runs along the edge of the cliff, through charming
Mediterranean woods and back towards the Strunjan saltpans. At the moment, the path through the saltpans is closed due to
maintenance works; therefore, it is advised to choose an alternative path along
the edge of the saltpans. From here, too, you'll manage to get a good view of the saltpans and the
church of St George in Piran. If you have time, treat yourself with a refreshing dip in the sea before
you continue the walk past Pacug to Fiesa and return to lively Portorož.
3. Seča walking path (7 km/2 h)
Sea, salt pans and tranquillity—if you want to
withdraw to a completely different world, then the Seča walking path is the
right choice. From the centre of Portorož, you'll climb to the
slightly more remote Senčna path that brings you to Lucija. There, in the shade of
trees, the trail ascends toward the green Seča peninsula. You’ll walk through olive
groves and enjoy wonderful views of Sečovlje salina, one of few places where
salt is still harvested in the traditional way that dates back centuries. Soon, you’ll be greeted by
the unique stone sculptures of the Forma Viva Park from where you can see
Portorož from a different vantage point. Some stairs will bring you
to old wooden boats in the small shipyard (called “škver”) in Seča. You can vary your walk by
visiting the open air gym, cactus garden or Piran sea bass fish farm. The path will than take
you past the campsite in Lucija and bring you back to Portorož.
All the walking paths
are safe and visibly marked. For help with
orientation there are nine overview boards, along with smaller orientation
boards along the way and marks on the ground. A map of the walking paths is available in the tourist
information centres in Portorož and Piran and on www.portoroz.si.
Fotos: Jaka Ivančič, Branko Furlanič.