Slovenia reopens renovated Fiesa beach following 1 million euros upgrade
With just 47 kilometres of coastline, Slovenia has little room for sprawling seaside resorts, making every public beach a valuable asset. The latest investment is Fiesa, a small bay and beach just east of the medieval town of Piran, where a major renovation has added greenery, upgraded facilities and improved access while seeking to preserve one of the country's best-known natural bathing areas.
The renovated beach was officially reopened on 13 July after an overhaul costing close to a million euros. The investment forms part of a broader effort to refresh public beaches along Slovenia's Adriatic coast, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
Earlier this summer, nearby Portorož unveiled a renovated central beach featuring a new pebble section and improved access to the sea, as local authorities invest in modernising ageing coastal infrastructure.
Set between Piran and Strunjan, Fiesa is one of the Slovenian coast's more distinctive beaches. Unlike the larger resort beaches in Portorož, it is known for its quieter atmosphere, lawns and two freshwater lakes immediately behind the shoreline.
The lakes, former clay pits that have evolved into important habitats for birds and other wildlife, are protected natural features and are among the area's defining landmarks.
Municipal officials say the project was designed to improve public spaces without spoiling Fiesa's character.
"We did not want to turn Fiesa into something it is not. We did not want to build another concrete promenade or a park that only looks good on paper. We wanted Fiesa to remain Fiesa, just greener, tidier and more welcoming," Piran Mayor Andrej Korenika said at the opening ceremony.
The municipality says some 6,000 square metres of green space have been landscaped, 58 native trees planted and around 60 cubic metres of concrete removed. Eight invasive tree-of-heaven specimens were also cleared from the area.
The renovation included new pedestrian paths paved with local sandstone, a refurbished children's playground and beach volleyball court, upgraded sanitary facilities with step-free access, outdoor showers, drinking fountains and new water supply and irrigation systems.
Dedicated facilities for scuba divers have also been added, together with two observation platforms overlooking the lakes. The beach bar has been relocated to free up additional green space.
The works were confined to existing public areas and ageing infrastructure, with no construction taking place inside the protected natural zones surrounding the lakes. The shoreline, native vegetation and the area's recognisable landscape have been preserved while the use of additional greenery and natural materials reinforces its identity.
The project has nevertheless drawn criticism from a local civil initiative which argues that construction works disrupted natural processes and caused irreversible damage to the sensitive coastal ecosystem. Municipal officials reject the claims, insisting the renovation has made the area greener while respecting its protected status.
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