Sečovlje

Sečovlje (pronounced [sɛˈtʃoːu̯ljɛ]; Italian: Sicciole) is a settlement in the Municipality of Piran in the Littoral region of Slovenia.

Sečovlje
Sicciole
Sečovlje is located in Slovenia
Sečovlje
Sečovlje
Location in Slovenia
Coordinates: 45°28′31.81″N 13°37′0.72″E
Country Slovenia
Traditional regionSlovenian Littoral
Statistical regionCoastal–Karst
MunicipalityPiran
Area
 • Total5.41 km2 (2.09 sq mi)
Elevation
2.4 m (7.9 ft)
Population
 (2002)
 • Total584
[1]

Name

The modern Slovene name Sečovlje is an artificial creation dating from after 1945.[2] It was coined from the Italian name of the settlement, Sicciole, influenced by the name of the neighbouring village of Seča. The origin of the Italian name of the village, Sicciole, is uncertain.[2]

Overview

Sečovlje is the last Slovenian settlement before the Slovenia–Croatia border on the highway south from Portorož.[3] Its main source of income is tourism at Sečovlje Saltpans Natural Park. The section of the Parenzana railway path that ran through Sečovlje is now a recreational path for tourists. Nearby is the Portorož Airport, which offers panoramic flights over Slovenian Istria.

The Sečovlje international border crossing is one of the main crossings from Slovenia into Croatian Istria.

History
postcard of Sečovlje (1903)

Archaeological finds and text sources point to a settlement in the area of Sečovlje that dates back to the Roman times, the nearby salt pans in the 12th century. Modernisation of the salt pans occurred in the 14th century, and salt production drastically increased in the times of Austria-Hungary, when the mines expanded to an area of 508 hectares and were from the 24 April (St George) to 24 August (St Bartholomew) the source of income for about 500 families.[4]

Economy

Solinair has its head office in Sečovlje,[5] on the property of Portorož Airport.[6][7]

Churches
Saint Onuphrius's Church

The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint Martin.

There is a second church in the hamlet of Krog in the hills west of the village centre.[8] A Benedictine monastery was established at the site in 1432, and the church is dedicated to Saint Onuphrius. The monastery was active until 1957, when the monks were expelled and the property was nationalised.[9] The church and monastery were then allowed to fall into decay.

References
  1. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia
  2. Snoj, Marko (2009). Etimološki slovar slovenskih zemljepisnih imen. Ljubljana: Modrijan. p. 369.
  3. Piran municipal site
  4. "Sečovlje". Portoroz.si. Sečovlje Tourist Society. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  5. "Contact Archived 2012-01-29 at the Wayback Machine." Solinair. Retrieved on 17 February 2012. "ADDRESS: SOLINAIR d.o.o. Secovlje Secovlje 19 SI-6333 Secovlje SLOVENIA "
  6. Home page. Solinair. 25 May 2002. Retrieved on 19 February 2012. "Letalsko podjetje Aerodrom Portorož 6333 Sečovlje"
  7. Home page. Solinair. Retrieved on 19 February 2012. "Solinair d.o.o. Sečovlje, Sečovlje 19, 6333 Sečovlje, Letališče Portorož, Slovenija,"
  8. "Sečovlje - Zaselek Krog". Register kulturne dediščine. Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Culture. Retrieved January 3, 2019.
  9. Kladnik, Darinka (1994). Sto slovenskih krajev. Ljubljana: Prešernova družba.
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