Many Slovene people, including educated persons, escaped to Yugoslavia during fascist rule.

The settlement lies on top of the Karst Plateau, where the cliffs descend to the sea.

Its elevation is 143 m. Around the village there are four rises named Ojstri vrh, Gradec, Mount Babiza (Monte Babiza, Slovene: Babica, 197 m), and Mount Berciza (Monte Berciza, Slovene: Brščice, 219 m).

Aurisina is the birthplace of the Slovenian poet Igo Gruden and the marine biologist Miroslav Zei.

The Galician linguist Florian Biesik spent the last decade of his life in the village.