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Square · Piran, Obalno-kraška
Tartini Square
The oval square in the center of Piran, open to the sea, with the statue of composer Giuseppe Tartini, the red Venetian house and the town hall. It was an internal harbour reclaimed in the 19th century.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Tartini Square
Tartini Square (Tartinijev trg) is the center of Piran. Until the 19th century it held the mandrač, a small internal harbour where fishing boats sheltered. It was filled in at the end of that century, and the square took the oval shape that follows the former quay, open on one side to the sea.
In the middle stands the bronze statue of Giuseppe Tartini, a violinist and composer born in Piran in 1692, made by the Venetian sculptor Antonio Dal Zotto and placed on its pedestal in 1896. Tartini’s birth house is on the square and houses a small exhibition.
Around the square you can see the town hall, the courthouse and the Venetian House (Benečanka), a red 15th-century Gothic mansion with an inscription in Venetian dialect on the façade. From the top of the square, narrow streets rise toward the Church of St. George, whose bell tower appears above the rooftops.
The square is closed to cars and serves as a gathering place, with cafés, summer concerts and Piran’s harbour beside it. From there to the tip of the peninsula, the Punta, with its lighthouse and the Church of St. Clement, is only a few minutes’ walk.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
About 30 minutes for the square and surroundings; longer if you include Tartini’s house.
Best time
Late afternoon, when the sun sets over the sea toward the Punta and the square fills with people. Early morning is quiet and good for photos.
How to get there
From the Fornače parking, at Piran’s entrance, shuttle buses run close to the square; on foot it’s about 15 minutes along the waterfront. Buses from Koper and Portorož stop by the harbour.
Tip
Climb the bell tower of the Church of St. George to see the oval shape of the square from above.
Official website
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Tartini Square
Who was Tartini?
Giuseppe Tartini, a violinist and composer born in Piran in 1692. His statue stands in the middle of the square.
Why is Tartini Square oval?
Because it follows the outline of Piran’s former inner harbor, which was filled in at the end of the 19th century.
Can you drive into Piran?
Not in the old streets. Parking is in the Fornače garage, and from there a shuttle minibus takes you near the square.