Portorož (; ) is a Slovenian Adriatic seaside resort and spa settlement located in the
Municipality of Piran in southwestern
Slovenia
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
. Its modern development began in the late 19th century with the vogue for the first health resorts. In the early 20th century Portorož became one of the grandest seaside resorts in the
Adriatic
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
, along with
Opatija
Opatija (; ; ) is a List of cities and towns in Croatia, town and a municipality in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County in northwestern Croatia. The traditional seaside resort on the Kvarner Gulf is known for its Mediterranean climate and its historic bu ...
,
Lido
Lido may refer to:
Geography
* Lido (Belgrade), a river beach on the Danube in Belgrade, Serbia
* Venice Lido, an 11-kilometre-long barrier island in the Venetian Lagoon, Venice, Italy
* Ruislip Lido, a reservoir and artificial beach in Ruisl ...
and
Grado, then as part of the
Austrian Littoral
The Austrian Littoral (, , , , ) was a crown land (''Kronland'') of the Austrian Empire, established in 1849. It consisted of three regions: the Margraviate of Istria in the south, Gorizia and Gradisca in the north, and the Imperial Free City ...
. It is now one of Slovenia's major tourist areas. Located in the centre is the
Palace Hotel, once one of the most important resorts for the
Austro-Hungarian monarchy, and currently one of the finest hotels between
Venice
Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
and
Dubrovnik
Dubrovnik, historically known as Ragusa, is a city in southern Dalmatia, Croatia, by the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations in the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean, a Port, seaport and the centre of the Dubrovni ...
.
The settlement and its surrounding areas are served by
Portorož International Airport which is located in the nearby village of
Sečovlje.
Name
The Slovene name ''Portorož'' is borrowed from Italian ''Portorose'', literally 'port of roses', which was recorded in the 12th century as ''Porto di rose''. The name is derived from ''Santa Maria delle Rose'' 'St. Mary of the Roses', the patron saint of a former church in the settlement.
History
The history of the settlement is directly connected to that of the neighbouring town of
Piran
Piran (; ) is a town in southwestern Slovenia on the Gulf of Piran on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the three major towns of Slovenian Istria. A bilingual city, with population speaking both Slovene and Italian, Piran is known for its medieva ...
, with
Illyrian settlers already living there in the prehistoric era. They were followed by
Celtic
Celtic, Celtics or Keltic may refer to:
Language and ethnicity
*pertaining to Celts, a collection of Indo-European peoples in Europe and Anatolia
**Celts (modern)
*Celtic languages
**Proto-Celtic language
*Celtic music
*Celtic nations
Sports Foot ...
tribes, which were later conquered and annexed by the
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire ruled the Mediterranean and much of Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. The Roman people, Romans conquered most of this during the Roman Republic, Republic, and it was ruled by emperors following Octavian's assumption of ...
in 178 B.C. Archaeological finds suggest that in this period many farms and villas, also named ''villae rusticae'', were built in the area. A large development of the area followed only after the demise of the empire, with enlargement of the number of settlers seeking shelter from attacks by the
Barbarians.
In the 7th century, the area was a part of the
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire, also known as the Eastern Roman Empire, was the continuation of the Roman Empire centred on Constantinople during late antiquity and the Middle Ages. Having survived History of the Roman Empire, the events that caused the ...
. Due to increasing dissatisfaction with the feudal rule, as well as the rising power of the
Venetian Republic
The Republic of Venice, officially the Most Serene Republic of Venice and traditionally known as La Serenissima, was a sovereign state and Maritime republics, maritime republic with its capital in Venice. Founded, according to tradition, in 697 ...
, the settlement of Pirano signed a trade treaty with
Venice
Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
, which included a lesser degree of autonomy.
One of the first religious orders who came to this area was the
Benedictines
The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly Christian mysticism, contemplative Christian monasticism, monastic Religious order (Catholic), order of the Catholic Church for men and f ...
.
In the 12th century, the broader region already had four monasteries and even more churches. Among those, one of the oldest was the church of ''Our Lady of the Rosary'', which stood by the bay in the beginnings of the 13th century. Its name was ''Sancta Maria Roxe'' or ''S. Maria delle Rose'', and in 1251 the bay was named by it ''Portus sanctae Mariae de Rosa''.
One of the most important roles in the history of the settlement was the monastery of Saint Laurence, where the Benedictines healed rheumatic illnesses, ascites and other diseases with concentrated saltwater and saline mud. In 1210, the area was overtaken by the Patriarchy of Aquileia.
In the 13th century, Pirano entered a brief war from December 1282 to January 1283, in which it was defeated by the Venetian Republic.
During the second Venetian rule, it was, contrary to other towns on the
Istria
Istria ( ; Croatian language, Croatian and Slovene language, Slovene: ; Italian language, Italian and Venetian language, Venetian: ; ; Istro-Romanian language, Istro-Romanian: ; ; ) is the largest peninsula within the Adriatic Sea. Located at th ...
n peninsula, loyal to Venetian rule, and as such gained special privileges within the republic, which in turn caused the local economy to boom. In 1797, Venetian rule came to a close as the
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire, officially known as the Empire of Austria, was a Multinational state, multinational European Great Powers, great power from 1804 to 1867, created by proclamation out of the Habsburg monarchy, realms of the Habsburgs. Duri ...
took over the area for a brief period until 1806. From 1806 to 1813, the entire Istrian Peninsula became part of the
Illyrian Provinces
The Illyrian Provinces were an autonomous province of France during the First French Empire that existed under Napoleonic Rule from 1809 to 1814. The province encompassed large parts of modern Italy and Croatia, extending their reach further e ...
.
A period of economic growth followed during the second Austrian rule, with enlargement of trade and locally important salt pans in nearby
Lucija and
Sečovlje. In the aftermath of the
Great War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, the
Treaty of Rapallo determined the Istrian peninsula to be from that point on a part of the
Kingdom of Italy
The Kingdom of Italy (, ) was a unitary state that existed from 17 March 1861, when Victor Emmanuel II of Kingdom of Sardinia, Sardinia was proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy, proclaimed King of Italy, until 10 June 1946, when the monarchy wa ...
.
Under the royal and then fascist rule, the area found itself amidst economic decline and civil conflicts between the populace and the state. In
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
, the area had not seen much action, although the important industrial hub of Trieste suffered multiple bombings. In the aftermath of the war, the settlement found itself in the
United Nations
The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
-administered
Free Territory of Trieste. After the dissolution of the Trieste state it became a part of
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
.
Economy
The economy of Portorož is mainly based on tourism and the
gambling industry. The facilities include a marina, numerous sporting facilities and several casinos, along with many hotels and apartment complexes.
Tourism development
In the second half of the 19th century, the leaders of the
Pirano municipality and local doctors decided to stimulate tourism in the region, by offering health treatment by concentrated salt water and salina mud. From 1879 onward, Giovanni Lugnano was first to offer such salt treatments to various visitors.
In 1885, after several years of successful start of new spa salt treatments, constructions of new treatment complexes and private villas began, and, in 1890, the predecessor of the famous Hotel Palace was built.
In 1908, Orazio Pupini, a prominent Austrian doctor with a notable treatment history opened a sanatorium. He was also the main doctor of the Austrian Railways, and a member of the Austrian Doctors' Association. In 1902, the
Parenzana railway system was introduced which increased the popularity of the region, but was later dissolved because of decreased spa interests. In 1909, the era of construction of most private villas ended with opening of a much bigger building for accommodation standards at the time; the ''Palace Cur Hotel'', later known as the
Palace Hotel. At the initial opening ceremony, in 1910, the Palace Hotel was named "the most beautiful hotel on the
Adriatic
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
coast". The hotel was equipped with the most modern therapeutic accessories, and a casino was built for important wealthy guests.
The thriving tourist community was halted by World War I, and a few years after the war (in which they came under
Italian rule) in 1928 they included a new electric therapy among their treatment programmes. In the interwar period the settlement was slowly regaining its former glory when World War II severely crippled it again. The crisis lasted until 1968 when renovations and new constructions under the new entity of
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
began to take place along the whole region. In this time they began to build the settlement's infrastructure with the casino doing the bulk of the investments in reconstructing the
sports airfield in nearby
Sečovlje and building the multi-purpose
auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens. Auditoriums can be found in entertainment venues, community halls, and t ...
in 1972.
In 1976, two hotel complexes were constructed in Bernardin; in the following year another was added in the same area.
In the same year they began transforming the
Lucija saltworks into a marina for smaller vessels.
Since the separation of
Slovenia
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...
from Yugoslavia, Portorož has become one of the most important tourist sites in the country.
Gambling
The first casino to be opened was in Villa San Lorenzo, on 27 July 1913, and was run by the ''Casino des Etrangers'' society. It only lasted a few months before being shut down.
The industry faded away in the northern Adriatic region, until 1963, when ''Zavod za pospeševanje turizma'', whose president was Anton Nino Spinelli, proposed a reopening of the casino. The next year the first casino in the
Socialist Republic of Slovenia
The Socialist Republic of Slovenia (, sh-Latn-Cyrl, separator=" / ", Socijalistička Republika Slovenija, Социјалистичка Република Словенија), commonly referred to as Socialist Slovenia or simply Slovenia, was one ...
, and the second within
Yugoslavia
, common_name = Yugoslavia
, life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation
, p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia
, flag_p ...
other than the one in
Opatija, Croatia.
In 1972, the company moved into the newly built and much larger Remisens Premium Hotel Metropol, where they employed around 450 people. Having a large budget surplus, they began investing in the settlement's infrastructure.
Today there are multiple casinos located in Portorož, such as the Casino Riviera, Grand Casino Portorož, and the Casino Bernardin, located in the Grand Hotel Emona complex, which includes the Hotel Villa Park.
Bernardin
Bernardin is a tourist complex located in the western part of Portorož. Its name derives from ''sveti Bernardin'' ("
Saint Bernardino"), as the church, now in ruins, was named. Before the construction of multiple complexes, the area was a shipyard for smaller vessels, later moved to the town of
Izola.
In 1971,
Emona
Emona (early ) or Aemona (short for ) was a Roman castrum, located in the area where the navigable Nauportus River came closest to Castle Hill,[Ljubljana
{{Infobox settlement
, name = Ljubljana
, official_name =
, settlement_type = Capital city
, image_skyline = {{multiple image
, border = infobox
, perrow = 1/2/2/1
, total_widt ...](_blank)
established
Hoteli Bernardin, and began working on building the complex. In 1976, the first two hotels, Bernardin and Vile Park were built, with
Grand hotel Emona following the next year.
The monastery associated with Saint Bernardino's Church, which was built in 1452, was closed in 1806. In 1830, the Austrian military converted the structure into a fortress to guard the Bay of Piran, after which the buildings started to deteriorate.
Geography
Location

Portorož belongs to the coastal municipality of
Piran
Piran (; ) is a town in southwestern Slovenia on the Gulf of Piran on the Adriatic Sea. It is one of the three major towns of Slovenian Istria. A bilingual city, with population speaking both Slovene and Italian, Piran is known for its medieva ...
, located in the southwest of the
Gulf of Trieste
The Gulf of Trieste(, , , ) is a shallow bay of the Adriatic Sea, in the extreme northern part of the Adriatic Sea. It is part of the Gulf of Venice and is shared by Italy, Slovenia and Croatia. It is closed to the south by the peninsula of Ist ...
(at the northernmost point of the
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea () is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkans, Balkan Peninsula. The Adriatic is the northernmost arm of the Mediterranean Sea, extending from the Strait of Otranto (where it connects to the Ionian Se ...
) between the boundaries of
Italy
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...
to the north and
Croatia
Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...
to the south. Part of Portorož are the streets
Fiesa and
Pacug. In the southern part near the salt pans there are some old salt warehouses, on the hill of Crocebianca (Beli Križ), there is a viewpoint over the Portorož bay and the
Radio Capodistria antenna.
Climate
Portorož has
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
''Cfa'') with cool winters and warm summers. Winters are cool with a January average of while summers are warm with a July high of and a low of . Due to its coastal location, temperatures below or above are rare. The average annual precipitation is
which is fairly distributed throughout the year, though September and October see a peak in precipitation levels. Portorož averages 2,423 hours of sunshine per year.
Arts
Portorož hosts the annual
Festival of Slovenian Film (''Festival slovenskega filma''), with ''Vesna'' awards being awarded for the best achievements in Slovenian cinematography.
Since 1961, Portorož has also hosted a contemporary art biennale, the International Forma Viva Sculpture Workshop. The works are on display in a sculpture park above the village of
Seča.
The settlement is also home to
The Rolling Stones Museum, one of the most unique ones of its type in the world.
[Wall Street Journal]
Fan Hoping to See Rolling Stones In Slovenia Gets No Satisfaction
9 December 2012
Sports
Portorož was a home of the
Banka Koper Slovenia Open
The Slovenia Open was a women's tennis tournament held in Portorož, Slovenia, originally from 2005 until 2010, and returned to the tour in 2021 and 2022. The Women's Tennis Association, WTA Tour event was a WTA International tournaments, WTA Inte ...
tennis tournament of
WTA Tour
The WTA Tour (also known as the Hologic WTA Tour for sponsorship reasons) is a worldwide top-tier tennis tour for women and organized by the Women's Tennis Association. The second-tier tour is the WTA 125 series, and third-tier is the ITF Wome ...
from 2005 to 2010. Since 2013 the
Tilia Slovenia Open, a men's
ATP Challenger
The ATP Challenger Tour (known until the end of 2008 as the ATP Challenger Series) is a series of international men's professional tennis tournaments. It was founded in 1976 as a replacement for the ILTF Satellite Circuit (founded in 1971) as ...
tournament, takes place every summer on the same courts of the ŠRC Marina.
In 1958, the Portorož international chess tournament was won by
Mikhail Tal
Mikhail Tal (9 November 1936 – 28 June 1992) was a Soviet and Latvian chess player and the eighth World Chess Champion. He is considered a creative genius and is widely regarded as Comparison of top chess players throughout history, one ...
;
Bobby Fischer
Robert James Fischer (March 9, 1943January 17, 2008) was an American Grandmaster (chess), chess grandmaster and the eleventh World Chess Championship, World Chess Champion. A chess prodigy, he won his first of a record eight US Chess Champi ...
finished sixth, and was awarded the title of grandmaster at the (then) record age of 15. Tal went on subsequently to win the candidates tournament and the world title of 1960.
Portorož was host to the
International Physics Olympiad in 1985 and the European Universities Debating Championships in 2001.
In 2008, the new
Euro-Mediterranean University of Slovenia
EMUNI University was established on 9 June 2008 in Portorož, Slovenia, with the objective of becoming an international, post-graduate, higher-education and research institution, fully integrated in the Euro-Mediterranean Area. It was co-founded by ...
was inaugurated
in collaboration with universities of the EU, the Middle East, and North Africa.
In 2023, Portorož will host the
European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad.
References
External links
*
Portorož on GeopediaOfficial homepage
{{DEFAULTSORT:Portoroz
Populated places in the Municipality of Piran
Populated coastal places in Slovenia
Slovenian Riviera
Spa towns in Slovenia