In the shelter of Saint George
Discover Piran’s rich sacred heritage – from the majestic Church of St. George with its iconic bell tower to the treasures preserved within its walls.
You will also learn about the defensive role of the town walls, the legends of Archangel Michael, and the valuable historical records that rank the church among the city’s most important cultural monuments.
Guardian of the city and the sea
The best panoramic views of Piran can be found at St. George’s Church and the Piran City Walls. A church stood at the highest point of the hill above the town as early as the 6th or 7th century, serving not only as a place of worship but also as part of the city’s defensive system due to its strategic vantage point over the bay.
The Piran city walls were built in phases. Initially, they enclosed just the town, then extended to the cape, and later reached up the hill toward the church, eventually encompassing the entire peninsula. Several sections of the walls and seven city gates, constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries, have been preserved, along with some accessible defensive towers.
The current St. George’s Church was built in the 14th century on the site of the original structure and took on its present Baroque appearance after renovations in the 17th century. Its 46-meter-high bell tower was modeled after the St. Mark’s Campanile in Venice. Since the Venetian tower collapsed in 1902 and was later reconstructed, Piran’s bell tower is actually older than its rebuilt original.
At the top of the bell tower stands a statue of Archangel Michael, regarded as a protector of sailors. According to legend, if the angel faces Trieste, the sea conditions will be favorable. But if he turns toward Piran, it’s best to stay onshore.
St. George’s cathedral
The church houses the largest oil painting on canvas in Slovenia, The Martyrdom of St. George, created by Giovanni Pagliarini in 1841. The church also contains Slovenia’s oldest wooden model of a church, dating back to the second half of the 16th century.
Additionally, St. George’s Cathedral preserves Slovenia’s oldest baptismal register, continuously recorded from the early 16th century to the present day. An often overlooked, yet fascinating artifact within the church is the oldest death register, dating back to 1506.
