Biking the Parenzana Trail

Slovenia Railbed Ride
November 02, 2017
Tour guide, Maurizio, met me at the Kopor cruise dock and we rode the narrow streets and alleys of the historic city centre, giving commentary in excellent English on the rich history of Slovenia from back before Roman rule, to the days of the great Venetian traders, through its days as part of Austria –Hungary, Italy, and Yugoslavia. We headed out of town on a series of busy bicycle lanes, stopping briefly at the tiny port of Izola, then following the route of a 1902 railbed - now a paved bikeway. We breezed along in the cool fresh air through fig and olive groves and a series of narrow tunnels to the medieval town of Piran, where we sipped wine and sampled olives at an outdoor café. We took a different route back to Koper, climbing past a popular spa to a ridge offering spectacular views of the Adriatic. We were back in Koper with time left before boarding to climb the 200 odd steps to the ancient bell tower. Spectacular day – one of the highlights of the cruise!
Reviewer: Rick Barnes
5 Stars