1st May Square was originally called Stari trg (The Old Square) or Piazza Vecchia, as it once was the main square and many of Piran’s main streets lead towards it. 

In the middle of the square there is a stone reservoir for rain water which was built after a severe drought in the 18th century. The gutters of nearby houses were connected to the reservoir. The water seeped through the stone which cleaned it and was then gathered in a large fountain. It was pumped up with a manual water pump which remains preserved to this day. Two statues adorn the entrance to the square, Justice and Law.

In 2025, May 1st Square became a new Treasure of European Film Culture.
The European Film Academy declared the iconic May 1st Square in Piran as one of the 11 new Treasures of European Film Culture!
This picturesque square – the heart of Piran – has served as the backdrop for more than 50 legendary films shot in and around the town. Its charm has now been officially recognized as a place of symbolic and historical significance for European cinema.