The rich heritage of salt-making in Piran
The Salt-Makers’ Festival held during the Feast of St. George is a unique ethnological and cultural event that celebrates the rich heritage of salt-making in Piran.
Every year in April, the people of Piran proudly revive the town’s rich history, the tradition of salt-making, and sustainable practices preserved to this day. It is suitable for all generations, from the youngest to adults, as visitors can participate in various workshops, learn about the ecology of the salt pans, and try using traditional salt-making tools.
The festival also includes expert lectures, a rich culinary offer based on local salt, and the opportunity to become a salt-maker for a day. The event combines fun, learning, and care for the environment.
Programme
Piran, Vegetable Square – Local celebration (organized by the Local Community of Piran)
08:30 Preparations for the celebration: clean-up campaign, arranging flower beds, cleaning wall cabinets, etc.
14:00 Istrian marenda (snack) cooking competition
15:00 Piran delicacies from pots and grill
15:30 Cultural programme with Piran associations
16:00 Mora cantada competition
17:00 Tombola piranese (Piran-style bingo), in cooperation with the Italian Community Giuseppe Tartini Piran
18:00 Tug of war competition
19:00 Announcement of the winner of the Istrian marenda cooking competition
19:00–22:00 Piran festivity with live music
Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum Piran
09:30 Children’s “salty workshops” and guided museum tour (reserved for schools)
Parish Church of St. George, Piran – free guided tours (in cooperation with the Parish of Piran)
11:00 reserved for schools
16:00 reserved for a group
Advance registration required at: ks.piran@siol.net
Tartini Square, Piran
9:00–18:00 Fair with stalls offering local delicacies, produce and souvenirs
10:00 Salt Workers’ Run for adults and children, and a family hike
10:00–10:15 Ceremonial parade from Vegetable Square to Tartini Square
10:30 Opening of the 22nd Salt Workers’ Festival (Feast of St. George) with cultural programme
11:30 Free guided tours of Piran (in Slovenian, Italian and English; meeting point in front of the Venetian House)
11:30–14:30 Calligraphy workshop in mud and salt with Loredana Zega
11:45 Announcement of results and awards ceremony for the Salt Workers’ Run
13:30–15:30 Performance by the band Ne me jugat
15:00 Dance duet The Last Salt Worker
15:30 Prize draw 1, 2, 3 – Let’s Run Through the Streets
15:45 Dance-acrobatic performance by Flip Piran Dance with the Wind
Square in front of Tartini Theatre
12:00–18:00 Culinary promenade featuring seafood, wines and drinks; music by DJ Merenge
Pier behind Tartini Theatre
13:30–15:00 Presentation and demonstration of a vintage diving suit
Bell Tower and Parish Church of St. George
16:00 Recital Grains of Salt and presentation of poetry collections by Jurij Marussig, accompanied by violinist Andrej Huterer
20:00 Annual concert of the Georgios Mixed Choir with guest Ljoba Jenče
Herman Pečarič Gallery
19:00–22:00 Intermedia programme Experience the Salt Crystal – images, sounds and tastes of salt
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park – Lera
7:00–19:00 Open to visitors
11:00, 13:00, 14:00 Free guided tours
Sečovlje Salina Nature Park – Fontanigge
9:00–17:00 Open to visitors
10:00–16:00 Salt-making Museum
11:30, 12:30, 15:30 Free guided tours
Strunjan Salina Nature Park
11:00 Free guided tour of the salt pans and Stjuža lagoon
Museums and Exhibitions
Piran Aquarium – 10:00–17:00
Piran Underwater Activities Museum – 10:00–17:00
Shell Museum Piran – 11:00–17:00
Tartini House – 10:00–18:00; at 16:30 kamishibai performance The Legend of St. George
Mediadom Pyrhani – 14:00–17:00; from 11:30–13:15 expert lectures on salt-making
Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum Piran – 9:00–17:00; at 15:00 lecture on Piran salt pans during the Austro-Hungarian period
Monfort Exhibition Space, Portorož – 10:00–17:00
Church of Our Lady of Health (Punta) – exhibition Stations of the Cross by Jurij Selan, 10:00–13:00 and 15:00–18:00
Workshops and Presentations (Tartini Square)
Throughout the day, various creative workshops for children and families, presentations of salt-making heritage, culinary workshops, maritime heritage demonstrations and activities for the youngest will take place.
Free Transport
Free circular shuttle buses will operate on the route Piran – Portorož – Lera – Fontanigge. Seating is limited.
Tartini Square
8:00–15:00 Stalls: fair of local delicacies and natural products
9:00 Performance by the Piran Wind Orchestra, conducted by Iztok Babnik
9:30 Performance by the Georgios Mixed Choir Piran and Giuseppe Tartini Mixed Choir Piran-Pirano
9:40 Procession with the statue of St. George, patron saint of the town and parish of Piran, to the Church of St. George, accompanied by members of the Piran Fire Brigade, the Piran Wind Orchestra, the bishop and confirmation candidates
Parish Church of St. George
10:00 Holy Mass
Pastoral Cultural Centre Georgios
11:10 Gathering with homemade delicacies prepared by Piran households and music by the Piran Wind Orchestra
12:30 Procession with the Salt Workers’ Family – La Famea dei salineri, accompanied by the Piran Wind Orchestra, to the pier
Fishing Pier (in front of Tartini Theatre)
12:30 Arrival of the vessel topo Stari maček, with which the Salt Workers’ Family will depart to the salt pans
13:15 Departure of the Salt Workers’ Family by boat to the salt pans, accompanied by the rowing group Voga Veneta Piran-Pirano
Tartini House
10:00–18:00
- Museum collection of the birthplace of composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini
- Presentation of cultural groups reviving Piran’s heritage: Salt Workers’ Family – La Famea dei Salineri, Al tempo di Tartini, and Voga Veneta Piran-Pirano
- Exhibition of a model and photographs of the barchin, a traditional salt-making vessel
- Exhibition of a restored table used for filling salt bags and photographs from the Maritime Heritage Festival in Sète (France), where representatives from Piran and Koper presented salt-making traditions and Tartini
16:00 Meeting point in front of Tartini House: guided tour of Piran’s most beautiful wells with Daniela Paliaga. In medieval Piran, until 1935 (when the Istrian water supply system was introduced), rainwater collected in wells was the only source of drinking water.
Mediadom Pyrhani
10:00–17:00, free entry
*All museums, the Aquarium, Dolphin Centre, lighthouse, Tartini House, Coastal Galleries Piran and the Parish Church of St. George with the bell tower are open according to the Sunday schedule.
Event
Piran
Saltmakers' Festival on St. George's Day
Fishermen’s Square in front of the Tartini Theatre, Piran
