The History
During the 33 years that the Parenzana was in operation, it contributed to the economic development of Istria. This railway line was used not only for passenger transport, but also for the transport of wine and olive oil from the Buje and Motovun area, as well as for the transport of Istrian stone, coal and salt from Piran and Sečovlje.
Although it only ran for a little over three decades, this small railway left an indelible mark on the entire area. Along the route you can still find typical border and milestone markers, which, in addition to the typical abbreviation TPC (Trieste-Parenzo-Canfanaro), also indicate the distance from Trieste, indicating that the plan was to extend the line from Poreč to an important connection point in Kanfanar to Pula.
For the centenary of the line’s opening, the idea was born to renovate this unique railway, which connected people and nations at the beginning of the 20th century. In 2002, the Istria County and the Administrative Department for Tourism and the Association for the Renovation of the Poreč-Koper-Trieste Railway laid the foundations for the future Parenzana – Path of Health and Friendship project.
