Parenzana Trail Biking Experience from Koper

Meeting Point

Parenzana

We will take a bike ride on the Parenzana trail, also known as the route of health and friendship. It runs along the former Istrian narrow gauge railway which at one time connected 33 Istrian towns from Italy (Trieste) to Croatia (Poreč). Over the past decades the route has become the symbol of friendship since it represents a connection between Slovene, Italian and Croatian municipalities. Today it is intended for recreational activities and offers an excellent opportunity to learn about historical facts and places in a more dynamic way. The entire route had 8 tunnels, which are still preserved. During our biking trip we will ride through two of them, both of which are situated in the Slovene part of the Istrian peninsula. The first tunnel connects Izola with Strunjan, whereas the second one is situated between Strunjan and Portorož. Furthermore, we will visit old town centres and cycle along the seashore, through vineyards, olive plantations, tunnels and valleys. Our biking trip will start in the port town of Koper. We will then cycle along the seashore towards the fishing town of Izola, where our tourist guide will talk about the culture and history of the area. After a short stop, we will visit a salt evaporation pond, situated right above the first tunnel, and our guide will explain us the importance of salt for the region. After passing through the tunnel, we will reach the final point of our trip, where we will refresh ourselves with tasting of excellent traditional wine and food.