Pomorski muzej »Sergej Mašera« Piran

About the museum

Since its founding in 1954 the Pomorski muzej has been seated in the Gabrielli palace, which according to the museum is the finest neoclassical secular building in Piran. The palace was built in 1849–1851 by Lodovico Gabrielli and his wife Regina, from the Piran county family Rota. The distinctive triangular ground plan fits the site beside the inner Piran harbour. The southern wing ends with a small round salon, after which the palace was once called La Rotonda; the northern wing was never completed.

The museum collects, studies and presents the maritime heritage and the economic activities linked with the sea in the Slovenian coastal area. It has a maritime archaeology collection, an ethnological fishing collection, and a historical, ethnological and art-historical collection of seafaring from the Middle Ages to the end of the Second World War. On the ground floor of the palace, original wall paintings from the mid-19th century are being uncovered and restored.

The museum also has dislocated units: the Muzej solinarstva (Museum of Salt-Making) in the Sečovlje Salt Pans, the ethnological collection Tonina hiša, the Tartini memorial room in the birthplace of the violinist Giuseppe Tartini, and the exhibition space Monfort in the former salt warehouse in Portorož. The museum's sailing boat Galeb is moored in front of the museum.

Highlights

• Gabrielli palace from the mid-19th century with the round salon La Rotonda
• Archaeological collection Med morjem in kopnim (Between Sea and Land)
• International collection of marine painting Mare Nostrum
• Ship timbers and ex-voto paintings
• The museum's sailing boat Galeb in front of the museum entrance

Permanent exhibitions

• Med morjem in kopnim – The archaeological collection shows the oldest sea routes and the contacts between the inhabitants of the Slovenian coast and the neighbouring Adriatic shores, from prehistory to the Roman harbours and villas.
• Mare Nostrum – The international collection of marine painting brings together paintings created mainly in the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century.
• Polene & ex voto – The exhibition presents ship timbers, wooden figureheads and other maritime antiques from decommissioned ships.

Founded

1954

Operated by

Pomorski muzej »Sergej Mašera« Piran (javni zavod)

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for group escorts, unemployed persons, and members of the SMD, ICOM and PRESS associations. Prices apply to the Gabrielli palace; the dislocated units have their own admission fees and opening hours.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

There is a high step in front of the entrance; a portable ramp is available (bell at the entrance, or telephone +386 5 671 00 51). The exhibition rooms on three floors are accessible by lift and ramps; wheelchair users can move independently between the exhibitions, but on the ground floor they need staff assistance. On each floor there is a tactile orientation board and tactile objects, texts in Braille and touch screens in five languages; summaries of the exhibitions and a film in Slovenian Sign Language are available. Magnifying glasses are placed beside the objects.

Kids & families

A family ticket is available.

Getting there & parking

The museum stands in the centre of Piran on Cankarjevo nabrežje, just before Tartinijev trg. The 350 m distance is measured from the main bus station.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop at reception sells publications, CDs, souvenirs, replicas and sailor's shirts.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

Up to 50 guests.

The info centre in the former Monfort salt warehouse (Obala 8, Portorož) has a multipurpose hall on the first floor with 50 seats (50 m², internet, projector, sound system) for lectures, workshops, symposia and business meetings; access is by a platform lift.

Plan your visit