Koper, a very importan town

The town of Koper was built on an island which was linked to the mainland in the 19th century by embankments. By draining the swamp area between the island and the mainland, the town acquired an extensive plain which has developed into a commercial and industrial center.

In Roman times the town was called Kozji otok (Goats Island; Insula Caprea). In the middle Ages it was the first among the towns of Istria to receive self-administrative rights. From the 13th century onward it was under Venetian administration and was very influential town at the time. In this period five mayors sat on the throne of the Venetian doges. From 1879 onward the town was under Austrian rule.

The Mediterranean town was fortified with mighty walls. Of the 12 doors which led to the town, the main door is still preserved.Among the bourgeois houses and palaces there were also some monasteries. Modern urban development begun after World War II completely changed the image of the town.

Numerous buildings from the 15th to the 18 centuries are still preserved and today give the town a majestic appearance. Some of the more preserved buildings are: Preators Palace dating from the 15th century, a Gothic-Renaissance cathedral with a rich baroque interior from the 15th and 16 centuires, the Carpaccioca House, the Tocco palace which today housesthe Etnographic Museum and its archeological collection, the Garvivi Castle.

Today it is the only Slovene port with cargo terminals. On the slopes of Markovec, a high residential settlement named Semedela was developed. Southwest of Koper the road winds uphill into the land of Refošk wine (winegrowing district).

So we finished here. We hope you have learned something new and got an idea of a holiday near the Cost. See you there...

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