Slovenia by boat, the right idea for a summer to remember

A boating vacation along a coastline of “only” 50 kilometers? Absolutely yes, if what you have chosen is the coast of Slovenia.. And not only because we are talking about a beautiful stretch of sea, and full of coves not to be missed.

Slovenia by boat, that’s why

The real reason is another: in fact, in Slovenia, the beautiful Mediterranean is a “gateway” that introduces the yachtsman to a world of wilderness-Slovenia is nicknamed the “Green Country”-but also of ancient culture and food and wine to be discovered. From Koper to Portoroz, there are several but alluring Slovenian seaside resorts that one can choose as a base and then dive into discovering the rich hinterland.
All can be reached either by land from Italy-Trieste to Koper are just over 20 kilometers away-and then charter a boat from the competent local operators, or by sea in one’s own sailboat.

And after fun marine raids among the beautiful bays, not to be missed those of Debeli Rtic (or Punta Grossa) and Simonov Zaliv, in all locations along the coast there are reliable, modern and comfortable tourist marinas in which it is possible to leave the boat for a few days and in total safety and launch into the exploration of Slovenia. (info: www.slovenia.info)

History and culture of a country so “close” to Italy, in all senses, are a discovery not to be missed, not least because this real closeness will also soon materialize with an important European recognition. In fact, in 2025 Nova Gorica, Slovenia’s youngest city, and its Italian “twin” Gorizia will be named European Capital of Culture together. A unique combination of two intertwined cities that will be able to be better explored. And with them Slovenia, with its culture, ancient art and contemporary creativity. The one linked to the Capital of Culture in fact is a European Union initiative that was created to have uniqueness within selected destinations celebrated throughout the course of a year.

A special recognition, but it should not be forgotten how Nova Gorica is not the first city to bring this title to Slovenia: in fact, the title was awarded to Maribor back in 2012.

The dream of the two “twin” capitals

After docking in Koper, which is just an hour’s drive from Nova Gorica, or in another of the locations on the Slovenian coast, it is easy to arrange a truly perfect cultural excursion to “break up” a summer cruise vacation. In fact, both “Gorizias” as early as 2024 are offering visitors events, exhibitions, projects and events. A bicycle tunnel, a bridge over the Soča River, the new ECoC district, even one of the carriages of a car train have already been transformed to host a calendar full of events. Arriving in Nova Gorica from the sea, a first attraction not to be missed is the Kostanjevica Convent, named after the small hillock above the town center on which Count Matthias della Torre had it built to give to Carmelite monks in 1649.

In 1811, the monastery was then assigned to the Franciscans, who are still there today and are still in charge of safeguarding the valuable ancient paintings that decorate it. Also worth seeing inside the building is the Bourbon crypt, in which the last descendants of the French royal dynasty rest. But perhaps the greatest treasure housed by the clerics is the library of Stanislav Škrabeč, the best-known 19th-century Slovenian linguist-slavist who lived in Kostanjevica for over forty years.

Today it holds about 10 thousand volumes and 30 incunabula, the oldest of which dates back to the year 1476. Then descending into the heart of the city, on Trg Edvarda Kardelja Square, one discovers the Nova Gorica Civic Gallery, the main exhibition space for contemporary visual art. For art lovers, the exhibition is just a taste because walking around the city center you will also find several small private art galleries.

Then one cannot fail to make a stop at the Transalpine Square, opposite the train station: this is a space that Nova Gorica and Gorica created in 2004 on a joint initiative to commemorate Slovenia’s entry into the European Union. The heart of the square is now also embellished by the New Europe Mosaic: it reads the number of the boundary stone No. 57/15, which has now been moved to the side of the square but for many years represented the division between the two states. Finally, dominating the area is the Nova Gorica train station: built in the Secession style in 1906, this monumental building that was the Gorizia Nord train station is now the oldest building in the young Slovenian city.

Slovenia by boat, history passes through the hills and vineyards

Before heading back for the sea, having left Nova Gorica it is worth going a little further into the beauty of the Slovenian hinterland. Especially since they can be declined in food and wine. In this area between Nova Gorica and the Adriatic, in fact, a delightful landscape can be discovered: these are the fertile hills, orchards and, above all, the vineyards of the Brda and Vipava valleys. We are in the Slovenian Collio region, the where the Soča River springs from the Alps and where both the mountainous and rugged Karst and the azure Mediterranean Sea are within sight.

Stopping to explore these little-known places one finds oneself visiting areas devoted to both wine and good food, always surrounded by truly striking natural landscapes. Here then is the Vipava Valley, which, thanks to its rather narrow orography facing southwest, absorbs the beneficial influences of the sea, characterizing itself for centuries as a unique site from the point of view of wine and food production.

A wonderful corner of Slovenia that seems to have been created to foster vine life. And indeed, since the vine was first planted some two thousand years ago, it has never ceased to thrive: so much so that today, the Vipava Valley is a wine-growing area known throughout Europe as a privileged home of several varieties of wine, as many as eight of them indigenous. Special cultivars that translate into highly prized labels in the bottle, especially white ones. Dominating the scene is ribolla, a grape variety that also boasts the oldest growing tradition, while a special place is occupied by zelèn, the most famous native variety whose local producers are united in the Zelèn Consortium.

Reaching instead the nearby Brda Valley, the gastronomic journey passes by wineries, but also olive groves, orchards and beekeepers’ farms. Indeed, the kingdom of olive trees, cherries and bees as well, the Brda hills turn into a hiking and biking paradise with the arrival of warm weather.
A landscape with an uneven elevation, but always pleasant for hikers, offering 280 kilometers of well-maintained bicycle paths away from traffic-filled roads. Thus, to tour the green treasures of the Brda region, one can easily and inexpensively rent both e-bikes and e-scooters perfect for frolicking through the hills without making noise or polluting.

Among the most attractive villages to reach then are Šmartno, a tiny village of medieval origin that is now inhabited by a community of local and non-local artists, and Vipavski Križ, a walled village dominated by the presence of a castle of dating back to the 15th century.

When you have finished your raids and excursions in the Slovenian hinterland, you can return to the deck of your sailboat to enjoy another fun time cruising the Slovenian waves and coves. Not to be missed before heading home is a dip in the turquoise waters of the so-called Bay of the Moon, also known as the Bay of Santa Croce: this is a truly wild inlet surrounded by high cliffs and enclosed by a narrow pebble beach not far from Strunjan.