5 reasons to visit Padna (this weekend)

It's almost May and this means that the season at the coastal cities of Slovenia is about to begin. We have pointed out several times that the Slovenian Coast is worth visiting also in the pre-season. Feel inspired about the idyllic village of Padna, located in Piran's hinterland.

1. A charming Istrian village

Padna is an idyllic village in Piran's hinterland, built in as early as in 1885. Here peace and quiet await you, along with the beautiful views of neighbouring hills and the Bay of Piran. This traditional Istrian village is located in the hinterland of the renowned coastal town of Piran and offers breath-taking views of the surrounding hills and of the bay of Piran. Charming stone houses surrounding the church of St. Blaise with a 26-metre-high stone bell tower make the village look fairytale-like. Božidar Jakac, a renowned Slovenian painter, spent his childhood here. His gallery, exhibiting a collection of prints and illustrations, can be found in a renovated building, which once served as a local school.

2. Olive oil and Chard Festival

The Olive Oil and Chard Festival takes place 27 – 28 April and offers the best opportunity to visit Padna. At the time of the festival, locals open their backyards and offer homemade goods. Worth visiting is also the market offering autochthonic olive oils, healthy farm produce and traditional Istrian food. An add on this year, will be the cooking duel between MasterChef winners of two different seasons, who happen to be from the coast, as well as the competition on making the best chard dish. Use this opportunity to take a guided tour of Padna, head for a walk to the nearest village or hop on a bike and discover the rolling hills in the area.

3. Cycling and hiking trails with picturesque views

Padna is an ideal starting point for all hiking, cycling and nature lovers. A walk to the nearby village of Nova Vas is suitable for families, while those of you who fancy a bit of a more challenging hike, can go on a three-hour long Boškarin path around Padna. Cyclists are welcome to head to a trip towards Koštabona and Pomjan. For further inspiration, visit the Padna Local Info Point, where you can borrow e-bikes.

4. Olive oil – it does not get better than this

Padna is renowned for the production of olive oil. No wonder, it is surrounded by a number of olive groves, many of which boast really old, even over 300 years old, olive trees. Olive oil from the Slovenian Istria is recognised by its aroma and valued for its perfect composition of fatty acids. Top quality oils are being produced here, rivalling world's best olive oils, which is often proved by numerous international awards.Istrska belica is the most famous and most widely used, distinguished by distinctive freshness and a slight spicy flavour. It is also worth mentioning the autochthonic štorta, perfect for table olive spread in brine.

5. You will fall in love with chard

The residents of Padna will quickly tell you that chard is not something which causes you to go pale, or makes you faint. Chard translates into “bledež” in Slovenian. The word “bled” in bledežmean “to go pale”. Joking aside, the residents will also tell you how their ancestors built a stone bell tower in 1885, which now stands by the church of St. Blaise, the town's protector. The bell tower was built with the proceeds of chard sale throughout the year. Using this spinach-like vegetable, which contains a lot of potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, folic acid and vitamins B and C, the locals also nowadays prepare delicious dishes such as “mulce” (black pudding) with rice or cuttlefish and polenta. The dish will also be served at the festival.

Photos and materials provided by: Portorož Tourism Board

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