Home FEATURED NEWS ŠTANJEL – MTLG Destination Update 2023

ŠTANJEL – MTLG Destination Update 2023

An entire town as an event venue

Jul 28, 2023

stanjel_slovenia — Photo Credit: Visit Štanjel

INTRO

Hosting an event in a destination steeped in cultural heritage is an unmatched experience. That is undoubtedly true when a city lives and breathes the Karst way of life and has established itself as a one-off event venue. The mediaeval town of Štanjel has become one of the pillars of Karst tourism in recent years. A painstakingly restored castle in the heart of Štanjel, dating to the 17th century, is one of the finest architectural feats in the region. It represents the heart of the outpost’s enticing story. The packed cobblestone town and its centrepiece, the Ferrari Garden, can seamlessly transform into an event venue.

The Komen Municipality has been thoroughly reinvigorating the town’s buildings. As a result, new locations have popped up, waiting to be discovered by event organisers. Among the latest revamps, the knight’s hall, complete with a wine shop, is set to open doors. Events can also take place in the Lojze Spacal Gallery, the boutique Fabiani Hall and the square tower in the royal courtyard. Numerous locations are yet to be uncovered and await event organisers, who can organise their next event amid exceptional cultural heritage that blends with the idyllic surrounding landscape. With its polished stone look and authentic charm, Štanjel is a miniature of the karst world.

NEED TO KNOW IN 2023

No event in Štanjel is complete without a stroll across the routes designed by renowned architect Max Fabiani. Having lived in Štanjel during the world wars, he left an unmistakable architectural stamp on the destination. All paths in the town lead to his magnum opus, the picture-postcard Ferrari Garden. Here, visitors can enjoy an outdoor banquet in sunny weather, with views of the Vipava Valley. Fabiani thoughtfully incorporated stone into his architecture, creating masterpieces that now host an array of events, from weddings and receptions to boutique events. The most picturesque part of the Ferrari Garden is the oval pool, adorned with a stone bridge, a tribute to Venice and its architecture. The stone dominating the area catches the eye, elevating utterly Instagrammable motifs. Wedding organisers, who fill most of the slots on the summer event calendar, cherish such details in particular. On days when there are no weddings, incentive organisers flock to the venue, too, hosting unforgettable reception parties with a view. In Štanjel, you will feel, experience and taste Karst at every step.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Karst region is where karst phenomena were first discovered and gave the name to the natural occurrences. The Karst region spans the area between the Gulf of Trieste, the plains of the Soča River, the Vipava Valley, Pivka and Brkini. For many, though, Štanjel is the informal centre of Karst. In the town’s immediate vicinity, a slew of karst phenomena gave name to similar occurrences across the world. The word karst itself is an old Illyrian-Veneto word for stone. The shape and form of the karst relief depend on the water, which shaped the landscape through the perpetual chemical dissolution of limestone through millennia. This process renders the region rugged, strewn with karst caves and sinkholes. Cave tourism is one of the region’s most recognisable, and one of the first tourist caves, Vilenica, is only 20 kilometres from Štanjel. In the heart of the so-called native Karst, numerous natural and cultural monuments wait for you to present them to your congress guests.

BEST INCENTIVE IDEA

Exploring the world of Lojze Spacal

Born in Trieste, Lojze Spacal is considered one of the preeminent painters and artists in post-war Slovenia and Italy and a globally established graphic artist. You can discover the painter’s world in a creative studio, taking you on a journey across Štanjel and into the world of surfaces, symbolism and structures. You will create your own relief print while your guide prepares an authentic local tasting of karst prosciutto and Teran wine.

BEST KEPT SECRETS

Karst gained prominence for more than just its nature. The karst prosciutto and Teran wine, the staples of the region’s cuisine, attract countless guests, especially when osmicas, local homesteads, invite guests to try wine and other agricultural products directly where they are produced. Here, event organisers can showcase to guests the zero-kilometre philosophy in practice. There is no shortage of exquisite cuisine and sustainable philosophy merging in the Karst region. For instance, the Kobjeglava Restaurant is the closest you can get to tasting the freshest prosciutto. Chef Simon Komel pampers the taste buds of guests. We deem the modern and urban karst cuisine exquisite, satisfying even the most demanding incentive groups. The local prosciutto is the king of the culinary offer and is aged for at least three years. Kobjeglava Reataurant also curates gastronomy on Štanjel Castle and cemented high-end cuisine as the norm for events at Ferrari Garden.

PERFECT GIFT

The idyllic Hotel St. Daniel is a stone’s throw away from Štanjel, offering unmatched views of Štanjel from its alluring garden smelling of herbs and lavender. Owned by Nina Abramič and Miran Prodnik, the hotel is ecologically oriented. For them, eco is not a fashionable label but a way of life. As a bio-resonance therapeutist, Nina imbued the hotel with the eco-philosophy, while Miran, an academic painter, ensured the hotel was perfectly embellished. Thus, a hotel with two rooms, three apartments and three suites, a restaurant, a gym and a holistic well-being centre was erected just outside Štanjel. The hotel embodies the boutique tourist offer, charting the future development of new tourist products in the Karst region. The hotel is also a unique gallery and reflects the owners’ sense of aesthetics, exuded across the rooms. Alongside an extensive wine menu, the hotel also boasts a water menu. The latter helped the hotel become a member of Bio Hotels, a group of establishments that meet the strictest sustainability criteria (only Trnulja Estate is part of the group in Slovenia).

OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Architect Max Fabiani left a permanent mark on Štanjel. The Fabiani family employed over a hundred locals in their heyday. They owned a stable, a wine house, orangery, a granary and even a one-storey school. Alas, most of the architect’s family heritage slowly decayed. The crumbling Villa Fabiani was noticed by architect Blanka Malgaj and her husband Andrej. With attention to detail, they reinvigorated the villa and turned it into a fabulous event venue. In Villa Fabiani, weddings, cultural and protocolary events take place, and a handful of luxurious rooms await guests. The Malgaj family is also revamping the old vineyards on the estate, and with the help of Štoka winners, they replanted the native Picolit wine sort. You can sense the spirit of the illustrious architect on the thematic Fabiani path, connecting Štanjel with his family homestead. The exclusive venue can only be rented according to prior arrangements. Event attendees will undoubtedly be grateful for seeing one of the most magical venues in Slovenia.

WHERE TO STAY?

Štanjel is waking from its sleep like Sleeping Beauty. The half-collapsed stone buildings, overgrown by shrubs, are transforming into carefully restored and protected apartment houses. More and more of them are now available for rent. Although event organisers cannot ensure all guests sleep under one roof, they can book rooms in various apartments overlooking the narrow cobbled streets, creating a one-off experience for them.

ŠTANJEL IN A FEW WORDS

Štanjel is among the oldest and most picturesque towns in all of Karst. Recently, the outpost has evolved into an idyllic venue for weddings. Yet, the potential of this fairytale destination is far greater. Not least, the ideal location can host boutique corporate events and incentive programmes. Štanjel needs to look no further than Goriška Brda, where they have traversed a similar route. For starters, the local stakeholders will have to strengthen the offer and present it in a simple and commercially acceptable way on the market. Štanjel is an uncut incentive diamond waiting to be discovered by international event organisers. Attendees will forever remember it for the authenticity and heartfelt approach of locals.