Piran

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Občina Piran Comune di Pirano
Area:	44,6 km²
Population	16.758
- males	8.109
- females	8.649
Mayor:	Tomaz Gantar
Average age:	39,28 let
Residential areas:	37,17 m²/person
- households:	6.390
- families:	4.815
Working active:	8.332
- unemployed:	1.195
Average monthly salary (avgust 2003):
- gross:	265.740 SIT
- net:	164.220 SIT
College/university students:	694
Source: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, census of 2002.

Saint Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall.

Piran (Italian Pirano) is a town and municipality in southwestern Slovenia on the Adriatic coast along the Piran Bay. The municipality has 16,758 (2002) inhabitants and covers a 46.6 km² area. The town has 4,576 (2002) inhabitants on an 1 km² area. The municipality is bilingual, both Slovenian and Italian are official languages. It borders on the south with Croatia, on the north (on the sea) with Italy and on the east with the municipalities of Izola and Koper. The highest peak is 289 m high (Baretovec pri Padni). The municipality's festival is on October 15, which celebrates the foundation of the first naval detachment Koper in the year 1944. The municipality boasts an international airport and a marina.

Piran is an old Mediterranean town situated at the tip of the Piran peninsula along the Piran Bay. The town resembles a large open-air museum, with medieval architecture and a rich cultural heritage. Narrow streets and compact houses give the town its special charm. Piran is the administrative centre of the local area and one of Slovenia's major tourist attractions.

Piran is the birthplace of composer and violinist Giuseppe Tartini (born April 8, 1692), who played an important role in shaping its cultural heritage. The town's main square, Tartinijev trg (Piazza Tartini), is named after him.

To mark the 200th anniversary of Tartini's birth, the people of Piran decided to erect a monument in his honour. Venetian artist Antonio dal Zotto was commissioned to create the larger-than-life bronze statue of the "maestro", which was eventually mounted on its pedestal in 1896. The statue dominates the square, overlooked by the Cathedral of St. George.

[edit] Twin towns

• Acqualagna, Italy (2003)
• Aquileia, Italy (1977)
• Bjugn, Norway (1985)
• Castel Goffredo, Italy (1993)
• Indianapolis, USA (2001)
• Ohrid, FYRoMacedonia (1981)
• Valletta, Malta (2002)
• Venice, Italy (2001)
• Vis, Croatia (1973)

[edit] External links

• Municipality of Piran
• Information Portal of Piran
• Multimedia Center of Piran
• Piran travel guide from Wikitravel

Slovenia | Slovenian regions
Urban municipalities: Celje | Koper | Kranj | Ljubljana | Maribor | Murska Sobota
Nova Gorica | Novo Mesto | Ptuj | Slovenj Gradec | Velenje

Coordinates: 45°32′N, 13°34′E