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Welcome to the "Magical World of Shells"
Magical world of shells is a unique museum of clams and snails from around the world.
It is located in Piran, on the corner of the famous Tartini Square.
It hosts as selection of over 2000 excellent specimen of shells.
However, other organisms coexist in the community with snails and mussels,
so we also pay big attention to them.
These organisms include crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, brittle stars, etc.
We also haven't forgotten about a few
million years old fossils of creatures,
which lived in the ancient seas.
What is the mission of the ''Magical world of shells''?
The mission of the ''Magical world of shells'' is to reveal
what is hidden in the depths of the seas
in the heart of old-growth forests
caves, places humans do not visit every day.
Because we aim to expose the full diversity of a large group of mussels and snails
the most common species, which most people are familiar with, are also on display.
Some species have already been exploited to the point that
we have to protect them from extinction.
In the ''Magical world of shells'', these species are specifically labelled
and their shocking stories presented, because we wish that in the future
there be less of these tragic stories, and that
nature will become more respected than it is today.
In general, the overall layout of the
exhibition is very nature-protection oriented.
Did you know that 20 percent
of land and freshwater snails and mussels species
in Europe are threatened with extinction?
For many people the molluscs are a much unknown group.
In "Magical world of shells", you can see how interesting they can be
and how varied their life is.
We are fulfilling our mission with the participation of
some of the most renowned experts in this scientific field.
In the modern and innovatively designed exhibition
you can see freshwater mussels, which attract fish,
on which their lives depend, in most unique ways.
Land snails, which no longer exist in wild nature,
as only a few species of these are bred in captivity.
sea snails which are constantly cleaning themselves with their mantle,
so their shells look as if they are constantly being polished,
and snails which kill their victims with one shot, including a man!
Bivalves, which build nests,
shells of snails, which are worn as jewellery
by chiefs of remote islands due to their rarity,
bivalves that can swim, etc.
These are just some of the interesting stories
that you will learn about and experience at the ''Magical World of Shells''.
Did you know that the largest mollusc in the world is a squid
with the scientific name Architeutis dux,
which can grow to an incredible 18 meters or 59 feet!
Its eye alone is the size of a basketball!
The exhibition is not designed only for viewing
its unique arrangement and design offer a first-hand experience.
Many have already experienced it, many still will.
The exhibition has already gained great reputation and recognisability
and every year it receives thousands of enthusiastic visitors.
This conservational museum of shells is supported by important and well known
Slovenian companies and institutions,
who want to contribute their share to preserve the natural heritage
and protect these fragile creatures, whose
existence is highly dependent on our behaviour
and out treatment of them and their habitats.
If you too care,
you can help us reach our goal in one way or another
we will be very glad to hear from you.
Each year, the Magical world of shells is repeatedly modified
and enriched with new and very rare specimen,
which can only be seen here and nowhere else.
Therefore, no matter how many times you will visit us,
you will always gain something new from the experience.
Special attention is also devoted to the annual thematic exhibition,
where visitors can see the world of pearls,
or snails and clams from Slovenian salt pans,
or even get to know how shells were used in Papua New Guinea
or even something else, much more unusual.
The museum, which was established by the well known Mediteranum Institute from Piran,
is an irreplaceable source of knowledge and insights,
not only for schools, but for families,
people who love the sea, biologist, experts , etc.
in short, as I like to put it,
is open to all from age of 5 to 99,
who and have at least one drop of sea in their veins.
This hidden world is so unusual, mystical, different, and sometimes quite simply magical.
''Magical world of shells'' ... I think it deserves such a name.
You can find out much more about us
and the unusual creatures on our website
www.svet-skoljk.si
and you can also find us on Facebook!
Something beautiful, educational and magical, so don't forget to bring your children!
The museum hosts exhibits that are new to most of us,
one is not normally familiar with the amazing stories that sea creatures can tell.
I think that pearls are the most beautiful!
They are gorgeous!
I wish I could take some of them home.
Each shell is a nature's masterpiece, as if it was made by a great artist.
Beautiful, marvellous!
I would recommend everyone to visit this wonderful world of shells in our Piran!