evidence: The country of Slovenia has a unique style and attitude: it runs as efficiently as does Germany but has the laid-back attitude of Italy. Piran was actually part of Italy until the end of WWII, and it remains bi-lingual today. Though Piran gets busy at the height of summer, it is still the type of town where you can have chance encounters with locals. [...] Recreational activities abound, from biking the seaside promenade, to sailing in the gentle waters of the Gulf of Piran. Swimming and tanning are, of course, exceptionally popular. One of the best, indeed, one of the only sights in Piran is the Church of St. George, and it’s worth hiking to the top of the bell tower (1€) to catch a spectacular view of the town. Portions of Piran’s old city walls run through the hill behind it, which can also be toured, and just behind them is the local cemetery, which is typically filled with bedazzling flower displays.