THE IZOLA LEGEND

The festival, which the people of Izola celebrated as their local holiday for as many as 448 years, from 1380 to 1828, when it was abolished by the local authorities, commemorates the events of 23 October 1380, when a Genoese fleet sailed towards Izola.

According to the legend, the helpless townspeople sought refuge in prayer in the church. A white dove flew from the church over the Genoese fleet, which was unable to see the coast because of a miraculous cloud of fog with which St Maurus had covered Izola. Convinced that the dove was flying close to the shore, the fleet followed it, but the dove led the ships far out to the open sea.

The dove then returned to the church and dropped an olive branch from its beak as a symbol of peace and safety. From that time on, the people of Izola chose a dove with an olive branch in its beak as the town’s coat of arms.

In memory of the legend, various games were organised among the towns that belonged to the Serenissima – the Republic of Venice, with particular emphasis on rowing regattas, with the aim of maintaining and strengthening friendship among the towns of the northern Adriatic.

Join us for the CELEBRATION OF THE IZOLA LEGEND on Sunday, 18 October 2026, from 11:00 onwards at Lonka Square.

A rich programme awaits you, with stalls, live music, activities for children and entertainment throughout the day.