Sail Yacht in Koper

This harbour town in Slovenia, a country with only 47 kilometres of coastline, is situated just to the south of the Italian city of Trieste, also on the coast, and is the capital of the municipality of Koper, which in 2004, had 49,206 inhabitants.

This port on the Adriatic coast is the recreational centre of the Istra peninsula, at 15 km southwest of Trieste. It was governed by Venice during more than 500 years, and by Austria from 1815 to 1910, in which year the Italians occupied it. It formed part of the Free Territory of Trieste in 1945, and joined Yugoslavia in 1954, thus giving Slovenia a port. Since then a new quay has been constructed, and many factories have arisen (Cars, lorries and motorbikes). The old Venetian sector, which originally was an island, has solid fortifications, a cathedral, a gothic palace, and various bell towers. The tiny port of Piran, 9 kilometres to the west, with its narrow streets, arches and squares, has a copy of the bell tower of Saint Mark in Venice.

The most important Slovenian city on the Adriatic coast, it has industrial and commercial importance. Its Mediterranean style buildings date from the 14th century and its situation encouraged fluid international communication. Its culture and history are almost exclusively Italic, due to the extended Venetian influence. From the architectural point of view, the most valuable and spectacular works are the Pretorski Palace, dating from the 13th to the 15th century, and the Cathedral of Saint Nazaro from the 14th century. Both buildings are in Gothic Venetian style and are situated in the central and atmospheric Tito Square.

The coastline, protected from the cold winds of the interior, enjoys a Mediterranean climate.