Zgornje Škofije: Vineyards and Cultural Heritage

Zgornje Škofije is a settlement made up of three hamlets, extending along the southwestern slope of Tinjan. The hamlets are surrounded by vineyards and olive groves; together with the old village centers and religious buildings, they shape a small-scale cultural landscape. As a result, the settlement is spread across several small areas where the rural surroundings, established buildings, and historical points of reference come together.

Between Tinjan and the old village centers

The three old village centers lie below Tinjanska cesta. The southwestern slope is considered somewhat sunnier and protected from the bora wind. From Slatine, there is a sweeping view of Trieste, Koper, and the Šavrin Hills. The location combines views of the individual centers with a horizon extending far beyond the immediate settlement area. Both the hillside location and the road and old centers are therefore relevant for understanding the settlement. The southwestern slope is thus both a landscape area and a settlement area.

Church of Christ the King

The Church of Christ the King in Zgornje Škofije was built between 1931 and 1935. It is a single-nave church with a rectangular presbytery. A bell tower stands against its eastern wall; its belfry has four semicircular openings. The building thus combines a single-nave layout, a rectangular presbytery, and a belfry with semicircular openings. The construction period falls within the first half of the 20th century.

Churches and historical traces

A village chapel in Zgornje Škofije complements this picture with a rectangular floor plan, a gabled roof, and a semicircular entrance. Near Šanse, stone walls bear the designation “limes.” Šanse is considered the site of an earlier Roman fortification or observation post. Alongside the Church of Christ the King, the chapel broadens the view of religious architecture; the walls near Šanse point to a different kind of historical trace. For those interested in culture, ecclesiastical architectural forms and Roman-associated history thus stand side by side as distinct topics within the settlement area.

Paths through the rural surroundings

The paths also give the landscape a concrete structure. A short turnoff from Tinjanska cesta leads to the hamlet of Rombi. From the fountain in Druga Škofija, a path continues to the fields of Mandrija and Termun. One path starts at the road and leads to a hamlet; the other begins at a fountain and leads into the fields. Those who enjoy walking can choose between the hamlet of Rombi and the fields of Mandrija and Termun as different destinations.

Wine landscape with a regional context

A wine road runs through the Zgornje Škofije area and continues to Elerje and through the Milje Hills. Its route extends the area’s connection with wine beyond the immediate settlement area. When planning a wine route, Zgornje Škofije, Elerje, and the Milje Hills can be considered sections of this wine road.

Places in the surrounding area

Ankaran, Koper, Krkavče, Babiči, Šmarje, Rižana, Koštabona, Tinjan

Back to the higher-level travel overview: Koper.