Simonov Zaliv and the Roman Port of Haliaetum

A small protected bay about 2 km west of the old town, with the only proper sandy beach in Izola and the partly submerged remains of the Roman port of Haliaetum just offshore. The archaeological remains include foundations of villas, warehouses and bath complexes; some are visible underwater on a snorkel and an interpretation panel on the shore explains what you are looking at.

The beach itself is a thin strip of fine pebbles and shaded grass, popular with local families in summer; there is a small camp ground and several cafes. A pleasant short walk from town along the coast road.

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A story
Haliaetum was an important Roman port from the first century BCE, exporting Istrian wine and olive oil to the rest of the empire. The harbour silted up in the early Middle Ages and the town was abandoned; underwater archaeology since the 1980s has located the original quays, warehouses, and a remarkably intact set of Roman thermal baths now visible from a glass-bottomed boat in summer.

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