Introducing The Praetorian Palace In Koper
The Praetorian Palace, or Pretorska Palaca as it is called in Slovene, is a Venetian Gothic palace in Koper, Slovenia’s largest coastal city. Built on the spot of an earlier town hall, it was built in the 15th and 16th centuries and dominates the southern side of the main Tito Square in the centre of the city.
The palace consists of a porch and two wings. The main façade facing north is very picturesque with several plaques, coats of arms, and busts in built-in niches. It is structured with a balcony and a stony stairs leading upwards to it, the gable is ended with mouchettes and stressed with the allegory statue of Justice. Today, it houses the local university, the Tourist Information Centre, a pharmacy, a wedding hall, as well as the town hall, and carries on its centuries-old role of housing the government of the city of Koper.
Most of the building was constructed by the end of the 15th century. An intricate staircase and a balustrade followed in the 16th century, giving the palace a mix of Venetian Gothic and Renaissance styles. Its Baroque elements were added during further 17th century renovations.
The palace immediately become a potent symbol of power for the Republic of Venice, which then ruled over Koper. It served as the seat of both the mayor, appointed by the Venetian Doge, and the Council of Nobles, who were entrusted to make decisions affecting their town. Coats-of-arms on the façade and an allegorical statue of Justice still indicate the political significance of the palace at a time when this part of Slovenia was Venetian territory. Throughout this period, the building was extremely well-maintained. It even underwent a substantial renovation in the 17th century, when it got its present appearance.
That all changed at the end of the 18th century, when Napoleon’s forces took over the town and ended Venetian rule. The building lost its political significance and, over the years, its condition deteriorated. It remained in this state until the 1990s, when the building underwent a decade long restoration which gave it back much of its former glory.
Praetorian Palace Review
For any visitor to Koper, the Praetorian Palace is a must see. It is located in the centre of the town on the main Tito Square and absolutely dominates the place. The palace contains an excellent tourist office, with plenty of brochures and booklets about the area around Koper and Slovenia. If you have time, take a guided tour of the building by inquiring at the tourist office. It’s a nice walk-through of the main rooms and allows you to learn about the history of both the palace and the history and geography of Koper and Slovenia in general. The tours are lead by a very knowledgeable and friendly guide and last approximately half an hour. Tickets are only a few euros and take place hourly on the hour. You start off in the old chemist shop, and pass through some interesting rooms still in use today, including the current mayors office, the government chambers and the wedding room. The building has been somewhat modernized, so the interior may be a bit disappointing, compared to the exterior, but it’s still beautiful, particularly the lovely beams and Venetian chandeliers. The room where the council meets is worth the visit alone. There are not many artefacts but there a number of pictures which the guide explains very well. Make sure that you take a look out of the window for great views of the town.
The building is really impressive from the outside, very attractive and eye catching. The white facade of the palace has a resemblance to a medieval castle and is beautifully decorated with flags and banners. It is certainly worthy of a number of photographs and it’s a popular photo subject for tourists visiting the center of Koper.
All in all, the palace is a wonderful gem to visit in the city! The guided tour costs €3,5 for adults, €3 for seniors and students, €2,5 for children between the ages of 7 and 18, and free for children under the age of 6. The palace is accessible for those with walking problems or in wheelchairs. They can enter through the side doors and there is an elevator inside. Not very interesting for kids.
Opening hours:
June, July, August, September: daily 9:00 – 20:00;
January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December: daily 9:00 – 17:00.
Timetable of guided tours:
June, July, August, September: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00, 18:00;
January, February, March, April, May, October, November, December: 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00;
Price: €3,5 for adults; €3 for seniors and students; €2,5 for children between the ages of 7 and 18; free for children under the age of 6.
Praetorian Palace Pictures
View our image gallery with high-resolution photos that prove you have to visit the Praetorian Palace in Koper!
Six photos below courtesy of I Feel Slovenia
The white Praetorian palace is one of the two main attractions in Koper. It is located on the south end of the Tito square and it has a Venetian Gothic and Renaissance style. The facade of the palace features many shields and coat of arms. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
The center of the crenellated portico features a statue of Justice. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
The palace forms part of the main square and is directly next to Koper Cathedral and the Bell Tower. (Image by Tadej Bernik)
The palace is a mixture of Venetian Gothic and Renaissance styles dating from the 15th century and the very symbol of the city of Koper. (Image by Jost Gantar)
Tito Square is considered to be the most beautifully preserved Venetian square in the area and is framed on side by the Praetorian Palace, a Venetian Gothic palace from the fifteenth century, and on the other by the Loggia Palace, the only Gothic town loggia in Slovenia. At the square, there is also the cathedral with the Bell Tower that offers a panoramic view from its top. (Image by Jost Gantar)
The richly decorated Tito Square in the festive season. (Image by Jaka Ivancic)
Two photos below by Erich Reisinger
The palace has a Venetian Gothic and Renaissance style and is easily recognizable by its crenellated facade and carvings of the Venetian winged lion of St. Mark.
A beautiful panoramic view over the town of Koper from the top of the bell tower.
The Tito square as well as the Praetorian Palace are the most popular tourist attractions in Koper. Image by TICKoper / CC BY-SA 4.0
The white Praetorian Palace with its external staircase, two towers, a serrated finish and crests on the facade represents the most important building in Koper. At the corner of the side facade there is a chiseled plaque with a niche opening, a well-known Venetian ‘bocca del leone’, where anonymous messages for the mayor were left in the days of Venetian rule. Image by TICKoper / CC BY-SA 4.0
A beautiful view of the Tito square with the Praetorian Palace in the background from the Loggia Palace, which has a lovely coffeehouse in an old Venetian Gothic building. Image by TICKoper / CC BY-SA 4.0
Praetorian Palace in Koper on the map
Address: Titov Trg 3, 6000 Koper, Slovenia
Latitude and Longitude Coordinates: 45.547930, 13.729500
GPS coordinates: 45° 32′ 52.548” N 13° 43′ 46.2” E
Region: Littoral
Koper or Capodistria as it is called in Italian shows two faces to the world: one is a modern, loud and busy industrial part of the city with the only commercial port in Slovenia. The other is the charming small Old Town with the lovely square of Titov Trg and late medieval and early Renaissance buildings, such as the Praetorian Palace, the Loggia Palace and the Cathedral of the Assumption built in Venetian styles. |
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Overall Rating: The main attraction in the seaside town of Koper is its well-preserved medieval city center called the Old Town. Five centuries of Venetian rule are almost impossible to ignore here, especially while strolling along the narrow streets past impressive old buildings and former palaces. |
Overall Rating: This quite sizeable town square is the first place you should head when exploring Koper. It dates back to the Venetian era and is home to several of the town's main attractions. |
Overall Rating: For any visitor to Koper, the Praetorian Palace is a must see. It is located in the centre of the town on the main Tito Square and absolutely dominates the place. |
Overall Rating: Koper's cathedral is located right in the historic city centre on the main Tito square and dates back to the second half of the 12th century when Koper acquired its own diocese. |
Overall Rating: Set on the eastern side of the Tito square in the centre of old Koper is the 54-metre-high Bell Tower. If the weather is good, amazing panoramic views of the entire Koper area and beyond can be had by climbing 204 steps to reach the viewing platform at 43 meters. |
Overall Rating: With its impressive Gothic-style lancet arches, the 15th-century Loggia building stands on the northern side of the historic Tito Square in the heart of old Koper. Its ground-floor arcade is now a café. A side door leads to the first-floor Loza gallery. |
Overall Rating: The rustic village of Hrastovlje, located in the hills above the coast, only a short 20-minute drive from Slovenia's largest coastal town Koper, is home to one of the country's most outstanding medieval treasures, the Church of the Holy Trinity. The church building itself is quite impressive, looking like a small, ancient fort, but what attracts most visitors to this little church is the famous Dance of Death fresco on the south wall. |
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Overall Rating: Skocjanski Zatok Nature Reserve is an oasis of unspoiled nature on the outskirts of Koper, Slovenia's largest coastal town. It is one of the most beautiful protected areas in the country and permanent or temporary home to several hundred animal species, including 300 species of butterflies, 300 species of beetles, 38 species of dragonflies, amphibians, reptiles, and almost 250 species of birds which can be observed from newly built bird hides and an observation tower. |
| The accommodation options in Koper can be divided into six main categories: hotels, guesthouses, B&Bs, apartments, farm stays and hostels. |
Koper is the largest town on the Slovenian coast and the sixth-largest city in Slovenia. There are currently 5 hotels in the city, but the overall quality of the hotels is not that great, and at the moment there's only one hotel in Koper that we can really recommend. Find out which one and why! |
Guest houses are a traditional form of accommodation in Slovenia for holiday makers and other travellers. They are a great choice for a place to stay as they are comfortable and wallet-friendly with owners who take an interest in their guests. There are more than 10 guest houses available in the Koper area, find out which are the ones that we recommend the most. |
Opting for a bed and breakfast over other types of lodging is a great way to personalize your stay and get to know the locals. Bed and breakfasts feel like you are literally staying in someone’s house, because often you are. The advantage of a B&B is that the breakfasts are often home cooked meals that are prepared with love and attention. These meals are included in your room rate and are a great way to start your day. Find out which B&Bs in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
With all the comforts of home, apartments are a great choice for lodging during your trip to Koper. They are often more affordable and can be very comfortable places to stay. But be careful, the rates and quality vary seriously, so always do a good research before you book an apartment! |
Hostels in Koper are the go-to option for travellers and backpackers who plan to spend very little of their time in their room and most of their time exploring Koper and the Slovenian coast. They’re also a great way to meet other travellers. Unlike a hotel, hostels are more communal in nature and that includes sharing a room with strangers, although often you can get a private room if you want to pay a little more. Find out which hostels in Koper we recommend the most, and why! |
In recent years, farm stays are growing among a number of travelers looking to reconnect with fresh air, local and organic foods, and a more simple and authentic lifestyle on vacation. Farm stays are a form of accommodation on a working farm. Actual accommodations can vary from a room in a farm house, to a cabin or a guest cottage. Typical rates are similar to a bed and breakfast, and like a bed and breakfast, some offer delicious home cooked meals. Some farm stays also allow guests to participate in the daily activities on the farm if they choose. |