Slovenia’s capital Ljubljana has been officially handed the status of European Green Capital by the outgoing city Bristol. Ljubljana is the first Slovenian city to be named as European Green Capital since the award was launched in 2008. The initiative rewards cities that are making efforts to improve the urban environment and create healthier and more sustainable living areas.

Speaking at the handover ceremony in Brussels Commissioner Vella said: “I congratulate Ljubljana for becoming greener, healthier and more sustainable.” Slovenia’s capital received the recognition for raising environmental awareness amongst its citizens, for its sustainability strategy, its implementation of a range of urban green measures and its developing transportation network.

Cities that have previously held the title are Stockholm in 2010, Hamburg in 2011, Vitoria-Gasteiz in 2012, Nantes in 2013, Copenhagen in 2014 and Bristol in 2015. Ljubljana will pass the title to Essen in 2017.

The electric train Urban encircles Ljubljana’s Old Town every two hours, four times a day. (photo: Andrej Tarfila, Slovenia.info)

Slovenia made it to a new foreign list: the Japanese tourist board has revealed which it thinks are the prettiest towns in Europe – and there is one Slovenian town among them. Piran, Slovenia’s loveliest coastal town, made the list of 30 most beautiful European towns and villages.

The picturesque medieval walled town with Venetian architecture, which sits on the Adriatic coast is now being promoted as a must-visit destination for Japanese tourists, after being picked as one of 30 recommended small destinations by 300 Japanese travel agents. The agents were presented with the challenge to pick the 30 best by the Japanese Association of Travel Agents (JATA), which wants to promote travel to attractive little places in Europe. “Piran, a small town at the Adriatic coast built in the Venetian style, is a fishing port with wonderful squares, churches, a maze of narrow streets and exquisite fish restaurants at the seashore,” the JATA association substantiated their decision.

Officials and locals in Piran were thrilled to hear that they had made the cut and have begun to prepare for the arrival of coach parties of Japanese tourists, who they hope will sightsee, eat and drink in the town, bringing in trade for local businesses.

Besides Piran, Rovinj (Croatia), Kotor (Montenegro), Ohrid (Macedonia), Kilkenny (Ireland), Setenil de las Bodegas (Spain), Vlkolinec (Slovakia), Saint-Cirq-Lapopie and Riquewihr (France), Sint-Martens-Latem (Belgium), Zalipie (Poland), Marianske-Lazne (the Czech Republic), Quedlinburg and Bernkastel-Kues (Germany), Golyazi (Turkey), Reine (Norway), Civita di Bagnoregio and Procida (Italy), Conwy (Wales), Lech (Austria), Hindeloopen (the Netherlands), Lefkara (Cyprus), Soglio (Switzerland), Visby (Sweden), Sopron (Hungary), Koprivščica (Bulgaria), Porvoo (Finland), Berat (Albania), Monsanto (Portugal) and Gura Humorului (Romania) are also included in the list.

Piran (photo: Piotr Skrzypiec)

The restaurant, the boutique hotel and the wine shop Gredic in the Goriska Brda wine region of Slovenia made the list of world’s most luxurious winery getaways. The list of the 11 elite destinations for wine lovers was compiled by the world traveller and journalist Eric Rosen for the U.S. television channel Bravo. Eric placed Gredic next to the much more famous winery getaways like Viña Vik in Chile’s Cachapoal Valley, The Louise in Australia’s Barossa Valley, Bardessono in California’s Napa Valley and Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco in the heart of Tuscany, Italy.

Gredic in Goriska Brda (photo: Luka Esenko)