I am going to Slovenia this summer with friends.
We are renting a house for a week by the Adriatic Sea in Istria.

I don't know much about the place. Has anyone been before?

It is supposed to be a very nice place and with not many tourists compared to Croatia for example.

Thanks

Hi Dave,

Here is some more information on the Slovene Coast, which is where Istria is located. I hope this helps!

The Slovene coast measures 46.6 kilometres and is covered with lost of vegetation. There is a natural reserve with a rich supply of marl and sandstone and the unique Strunjan cliff which ascends 80 metres above the sea and is the highest wall on the Adriatic coast. Here you can also find the Sečovlje saltworks, which were first found in the 13th century. Their extremely abundant natural and historical heritage gave them teh status of a regional park and are also a rich sanctuary of plant and animal worlds. They play a very important role in the world of ornithology as they offer ideal conditions for birds due to the warm climate and an abundance of food in the saltwork pools. There are also about 200 bird species that have been seen at the saltworks and they provide a natural habitat for about 80 bird species which nest there.

In this area you can find the towns of Piran, Izola and Koper which attract visitors with their medieval image. Koper with its historical core represents one of the most picturesque sections of the northern part of the Istrian Peninsula. Water sports are very important here, and there are many regattas in the Bay of Koper and the town has also built a small marina. It also organises the Summer Festival of Primorska. The surroundings of the town and the countryside are picturesque: the steep rock walls by Črni Kal and Osp provide an great place for relaxing or for free climbing and the countryside is able to boast many culinary and wine delights.

Izola is a coastal town with a large fishing tradition. Most of the tourism here is concentrated on the eastern side, at the bay Simonov zaliv, where there is a seaside resort. Here you will find swimming facilities, hotels and restaurants. On the western edge of the town is the marina of Izola.


The old seaport of Piran is situated at the end of the Piran peninsula; it was surrounded by walls in the Middle Ages (200 metres of the city walls are still preserved). The whole town is protected as a cultural and historical monument and it has preserved its medieval layout with narrow streets and compact houses, which rise in steps from the coastal lowland into the hills and give the whole area a typical Mediterranean look. Today it is an administrative and supply centre and also an important coastal tourist resort with hotels, restaurants and holiday houses, the Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum and an aquarium, cultural institutions and events.

Portorož, is a tourist town which is able to boast the longest tourist tradition in Slovenia and offers comfortable hotels and modern swimming pools, restaurants and events. It is also a popular conference centre, with various conference and meeting facilities that can accommodate up to 1500 visitors. Portorož also boasts a casino, an airport and a marina. It is a town visited by tourists from all over Europe and other countries as well. It is an internationally known holiday centre and climatic health seaside resort.

In the Šavrinska Hills in the hinterland of Portorož is situated a number of old Istrian settlements (Padna, Krkavče, Koštabona, Pomjan, Gažon), and not far from the coast there is the picturesque village Hrastovlje with its Church of the Holy Trinity which is adorned by late gothic narrative frescoes. Due to these Hrastovlje is considered as a real treasure of medieval frescoe arts in Slovenia.

Thanks for the information Kate.
The infomation on Portoroz is very useful as this is where our rented house is located