Before the 19th century, there was a small harbour for fishing boats in the place of today's Tartini Square, which was later filled with sand by the Venetians to create a spacious market square around which they built all the important municipal institutions. The square was named after the famous Piran resident, violin virtuoso, and composer Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770). In 1896, a monument was erected in his memory, the work of the Venetian sculptor Antonio Dal Zotto, with the pedestal crafted by the Trieste stonemason Antonio Tamburlini.
Why does the square have an elliptical shape? Between 1912 and 1953, an electric tram connected the city with Portorož and Lucija, so the square also served as a terminus during this period.
The square's current appearance was shaped by the architect Boris Podrecca.
