‘Mini Venice’ European town with colourful houses, cobbled streets and bargain hotels

THERE'S a tiny town in Europe that's been likened to Venice for several years thanks to its cobbled streets and colourful houses.

Located on the Adriatic Coast, the Slovenian town of Piran has been nicknamed "Little Venice" by both travel experts and holidaymakers.

According to the local news website, Slovenia Convention, the town is often referred to as the secret miniature Venice.

Because the Slovenian town was under Venetian rule for 500 years, its building and architecture resembled the Italian hotspot.

Piran's old town has been described as a gem of Venetian Gothic architecture, and it is considered to be one of the best-preserved historical towns in the Mediterranean.

Located on the Adriatic coast, Piran is a resort town in Slovenia that's close to the Italian border.

The town is known for its medieval architecture, colourful square, and busy harbour.

In the heart of the old town lies Tartini Square, an elegant Italian-style square, which is home to the town hall - the only building in the square that has its original 15th century facade.

There are other nods to Piran's historical routes, including the town's stone walls, which were built in the 7th century.

While the gates have been reconstructed over the years, two elaborate gates and seven fortified towers remain.

The northern part of the wall is open to visitors, with entry tickets costing €2 (£1.72) per person.

Holidaymakers can walk along the ancient walls and take in views of the Italian coast in the north.

A few of the towers along the wall can also be climbed.

For the best views of the coastal town, holidaymakers should head to Zvonik Campanile Bell Tower.

The 45-metre tower is a replica of the well-known St Mark's Campanile in Venice.

There's no lift, so to reach the top of the tower, visitors will need to climb 146 steps.

Entry tickets into the tower cost €1 (£0.86), and visitors can also book guided tours of the tower.

In addition to the historical attractions, the coastal town is also home to two beaches.

Fornače Beach is a pebble beach that's just a 10-minute walk from Tartini Square.

There's also Salinera Beach, which is located between Piran and Strunjan Nature Reserve.

Salinera Beach is a long beach that's home to a wooden jetty and several cafes, restaurants and bars.

At an hour's drive away, Trieste Airport in Italy is the closest airport to Piran.

Ryanair operates direct flights from London Stansted to Trieste, with fares starting from £18 for a one-way ticket.

Accommodation in the Piran is cheap too, with rooms at B&Bs for just £25.

Sun Online Travel have found an overnight stay at PiranArt Boutique Hotel & More, which is just 100 yards from the beach, for £35 per night per person, based on two people sharing a room.

Several other towns and cities in Italy have been compared to Venice in recent years, including Treviso.

Set in northeastern Italy, Treviso is known for its historic palaces, pretty canals, and proximity to the Veneto Prosecco region.

Because of these similarities, the small Italian city has been compared to Venice for many years.

And there's one English city that tourists can’t stop comparing to Venice.