Izola stories

Izola stories

Every place has its landmarks. But Izola is shaped by its people, their stories and their connection to the town. From fishermen, olive growers and chefs to hidden corners, local initiatives and everyday moments – here you can discover Izola through the eyes of those who live it.

Discover the Stories of Izola

Origin of Izola's tastes

Whispers of Izola with Marina and Emilia Mårtensson

What happens when Swedish roots meet an Istrian family heritage? You get two remarkable artists, two very different musical paths and a shared connection to Izola. One is an award-winning jazz vocalist. The other has toured the world with Slovenian group Laibach. From the same musical beginnings, Emilia and Marina have built two distinctive international careers. Izola is where their paths continue to meet – through family history, music and a shared sense of belonging. Marina calls Emilia a generous mentor. Emilia calls Marina her rock-star sister. In the new episode of Whispers of Izola, t...

“Wine is the reflection of the love you give it.”

The young winemaker Tina builds a wine story that is not based only on vines, but on relationships – with the land, with people, and with Izola. Together with her husband Denis, she has created the brand Vina Markovič and runs the family estate, where wines are made with great dedication, precision, and respect for nature. What they do is not just viticulture, but a conscious choice – and a connection with a place that keeps calling them back. When choosing nature becomes a mission Tina Markovič (today Jurkovič) has been connected to viticulture since birth. She says it was “placed in...

Whispers of Izola: Teen Eyes

About the sea, friends, phones and growing up in a small town Just before the end of the school year, in the new episode of the Whispers of Izola podcast, we looked at our town through the eyes of teenagers. As adults, we like to describe Izola as a calm, safe and just-right-sized seaside town. But do young people growing up here experience it the same way? This time, we hosted three young people from Izola: Nika Dolinšek Košir, Ana Božeglav and Ian Kaše. Each of them comes from a completely different world, and that is exactly why together they offer an interesting, honest and at times su...

Whispers of Izola from 360 Karting

Global projects, local people – the story of 360 Karting How are karting tracks created—the kind you find all over the world? And what does a company look like when it develops such projects from a small coastal town in Slovenia? In the latest episode of the Whispers of Izola podcast, we visited 360 Karting, a company based in Izola that designs and develops karting tracks for international clients. They specialize in multi-level tracks and complex structures, built from the initial idea all the way to final execution—often for large international entertainment centers. So far, they have...

Green Cuisine at the Marina Hotel Restaurant

Set in an idyllic location in the heart of Izola, by the old mandrač (harbour), the restaurant of the Marina Hotel tells stories of the sea and of Istria. Awarded with the prestigious Gault&Millau and Michelin recommended labels, it has been focusing on green practices for over a decade under the guiding principle of KM Zero. Sustainability, tradition, localism and the trends to come are the topics we discussed with Chef Ivica Evačić - Ivek, who has been the mastermind behind this culinary legend for more than 20 years.

Where to collect the best memories of Izola?

Can seashells become souvenirs? THE LOCALS SAY: »Let life in the sea flow at its own pace.« We can pick up things that are washed ashore, but we mustn't disturb the seabed. We all know that pebbles and seashells are beautiful and we would love to look at them at home, but don't worry – we have some suggestions for finding a perfect souvenir to keep a piece of Izola with you every day of the year!