Tourism is made up of stories – moments, memories, and experiences – and what better way to tell them than through posters that, for decades, have invited visitors to Portorož?
On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, and in collaboration with Avditorij Portorož, we are organizing a special exhibition of vintage tourism posters. The exhibition features a selection of 30 carefully curated pieces that illustrate the development of Portorož as a destination and its most significant events through time.The exhibition is available for viewing in the Gallery Turistica Hall.
Exhibition Curator: Mag. Tomi Brezovec
About the Exhibition and its Curator
Posters have long been an essential medium for communication and promotion, accompanying us since the invention of print. Initially, they appeared as simple text-based announcements, informing the public about political matters and events. In the 19th century, the invention of lithography enabled the printing of color posters, leading to their widespread use in advertising products, services, and events. With the development of photography and modern printing techniques in the 20th century, posters became even more visually appealing, further cementing their role in the tourism industry.
In Portorož, posters have played a significant role in promoting and shaping the town’s development. The earliest examples, created in the early 20th century shortly after the opening of the Palace Hotel, were colorful lithographic masterpieces printed in very limited quantities. As photography and printing technology advanced alongside the rise of mass tourism, posters could be produced in larger numbers, increasing the effectiveness of the town’s communication with visitors.
Even today, posters remain a vital communication tool – still used to promote tourism destinations and events despite the digital age.
The exhibition Posters Tell Stories offers a glimpse into a selection of Portorož posters from the archival collection of Mag. Tomi Brezovec, a tourism researcher and lecturer at the Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, as well as from the archives of Avditorij Portorož, the town’s central cultural, congress, and promotional public institution. The exhibition presents 30 posters that reveal the stories behind the century-long development of Portorož. These include general promotional posters, which invited visitors with iconic images of the seaside destination, as well as event posters that reflect the pulse and identity of Portorož through the decades.
The exhibition will be on display in the Gallery Turistica Hall (ground floor) until 23 September 2025.
We kindly invite you to explore the visual history of tourism in Portorož.
