Daniela Paliaga Janković: Pečarič Gallery, Many Stories |
Presentation of the gallery’s history |
Thursday, February 12, 2026, at 6 p.m., Herman Pečarič Gallery
The recently restored charming building overlooking Riva Cankar, home to the H. Pečarič Gallery, has raised, among other things, initial questions about its design and the actual date of its construction. The exploration opened a true Pandora’s box, revealing a sequence of surprises and diverse human destinies that intersected during a challenging period in the history of our town.
Erected on the site of a humble yet strategic warehouse from the second half of the 19th century, near the new large port, it was built as a modern and elegant residence, perfectly aligned with the taste of Art Nouveau in its finest tradition. Its exterior attracted many wealthy couples, ready to invest their earnings and savings in a home that was actually small but offered a sea view of the port and a unique location sheltered from the winds.
However, the Second World War and the Yugoslav socialist revolution were the two most tragic events marking its sad decline: the building was nationalized and relegated to minor activities, which led to material degradation and left its aesthetic charm unrecognizable.
The first step to restoring dignity to this graceful building dates back to the period between 1996 and 1999, when it reopened as the Pečarič Gallery, unfortunately sacrificing all of its original internal structures.
The new interventions of 2025, commissioned by the Municipality of Piran, highlight every detail of the floral style of its initial construction, revealing its original external expression and, after more than a century, the care for details and their beauty. It is a well-deserved tribute to a surprising yet emblematic history that deserves to be told and shared.
Daniela Paliaga Janković