Cultural Tours and Excursions in Italy

A town of ancient origins on the coast of the Istrian peninsula, 25 km from Italy, Piran was voluntarily absorbed into the Venetian empire in 1283 when Croatian pirates were continually threatening the Dalmatian coast. Many Venetian artists visited and worked in Piran, including the famed Piranese violinist Giuseppe Tartini (born in Piran) and the Venetian master painter Tintoretto, one of whose paintings can be seen in the local museum. Piran's quaint, medieval town today boasts of its 14th century Venetian church of St. George and its 15th century town walls with crenellated towers nearly all intact. Although subsequently part of Austria, Italy, Yugoslavia, and since 1991 the independent Republic of Slovenia, the town still retains all of its Venetian charm. It is one of the best preserved historical towns anywhere on the Adriatic Sea and it is in fact entirely protected as a cultural monument.

The ancient town of Porec, Croatia, also on the Dalmatian coast not far from the Italian border, is known most of all for its highly celebrated 6th century Basilica of Bishop Euphranius, which is adorned with mosaics from the great Age of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian. The historic church-complex was recently declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations. We begin the day with breakfast in Piran, followed by a guided tour of the medieval town walls, the church, and the Old Town. We then break for an optional short swim in the incredibly blue waters of the Dalmatian coast followed by a catered, seaside picnic lunch. Traveling on to Porec, we tour the Old Town, stopping for a snack and drink, and complete the day with a guided tour of the celebrated basilica complex.

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