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Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and it is the economic, political and cultural center of the country. And th city offers many sights and activities to visitors. The center of Ljubljana is cozy and picturesque with narrow streets, elegant churches, beautiful architecture and fine museums.
The city castle is built on the top of Ljubljana, and for centuries it has been an important part of city life and history. The castle was a part of the defense of Ljubljana already from the 1100s, and it has been a residence palace as well. From the castle hill you can see all over the Slovenian capital and thereby get a good overview of the city.
The streets along the river in central Ljubljana are very nice to walk, and there is a ot to see here, not least from the baroque architecture. Fountains, the town hall, the cathedral and many shops are in this neighborhood, which is well located between the river and the castle. In the season, it is possible to enjoy local goods here; for example at the recurring wine festival.
The modern part of Ljubljana is on the opposite side of the river from the old town. The city plan contains large squares and streets in a grid plan. There are many landmark buildings in the modern neighborhoods. They date from both the decades around 1900 and the Yugoslav era. It is also here, you find the elegant Tivoli palace.
Saint Nicholas Cathedral is Ljubljana’s cathedral. It was built on a site where a smaller church had already been built in the 13th century. Both in 1361 and in 1469, the church burned down with reconstructions as a result.
Between 1701 and 1706, the architect Andrea Pozzo built the current baroque church with the twin towers. Inside, the Baroque is also clearly visible, and there are, among other things, paintings by Giulio Quaglio from the beginning of the 18th century. There are also works by e.g. Francesco Robba and the brothers Paolo and Giuseppe Groppelli. All in all, the interior of the cathedral is impressive in all its baroque elegance. The chapels stand like pearls on a string on both sides of the church space, and they are each small works of art, as is the pulpit.
Originally, an artificial dome was painted in the ceiling of the church, and in 1844 the dome itself was added. Gregor Maček is the architect and Matevž Langus decorated it. In addition to the dome, the rest of the church’s ceilings are also decorated with elegant frescoes. The main door of the cathedral from 1996 is also interesting, it shows the history of Christianity in Slovenia over 1250 years.
This building complex is known for the Trinity Church, which is among Ljubljana’s most characteristic Baroque structures. The church was built by Carlo Marinuzzi in the years 1718-1726. The style is strongly inspired by northern Italian architecture.
The original church tower was demolished and rebuilt after damage caused by an earthquake in 1895. The facade is special with the integrated columns and the large gable.
In front of the church you can see a pillar monument. It was first made of wood and erected in 1693 as gratitude that the plague was over. Later it was made in stone, and the original is now in the city museum, while the one in front of the Trinity Church is a copy.
Inside the church you can see the main altar, which was made in African marble by Francesco Robba from 1730 to 1740. Side altars and other works of art are also worth seeing on a visit here.
Ljubljana Castle is located on a ridge immediately above the city’s old town. It was here that Ljubljana’s development began with fortifications and castle walls. The castle was first mentioned in the 12th century. However, the place has been inhabited since at least the 12th century BC.
Over time, the castle has formed a significant part of Ljubljana’s defenses, and it has been a noble residence. In 1335, the castle became a Habsburg heritage, and it was the center of the province of Carniola.
The current outer buildings with walls and towers were built in the latter half of the 15th century under Frederick III, who later became the Holy Roman Emperor. The 1500s and 1600s in particular have left their mark on the castle’s interior. In the 19th century, the castle did not play the same role as before, and in addition to military installations, part of the complex was used as a prison.
In 1905, the city government bought the site with a plan for a city museum here, which was not immediately implemented. However, a restoration was started, and until the 1960s there were quite a few residences in the buildings. Today, a major renovation has been completed, and the castle complex stands as a beautiful monument to Ljubljana’s history.
You can take a funicular (Krek trg) to the castle. The height difference from the start of the tour to the castle is approximately 70 metres, and it takes a minute to drive up. The trip is an experience in itself.
The castle tower Razgledni Stolp in Ljubljana was destroyed by French troops in 1813, but rebuilt in 1848. It became part of the city’s fire emergency, and from here an observer kept an eye on the city. In 1982 it was raised by 1.2 metres, and today it serves as an observation tower for tourists.
From the top there is a unique view of Ljubljana, and you can follow the course of the Ljubljanica river through the old town and around the castle mound. You can also clearly see mountains on the horizon.
The National Museum of Slovenia, established in 1821 as the Krainisch Ständisches Museum, has been housed on this site since the building’s construction in 1881-1885. The architect was Viljem Treo, and the style is Neo-Renaissance.
A few years after the opening, the Austrian emperor Franz II became the patron of the museum, which thereby grew in importance. It also changed its name on that occasion to be the Provincial Museum of Carniola. In 1944, the museum’s collection was split in two; The National Museum and the National Museum of Natural History, both located in the same building.
As a national museum, the collections show the area’s history in a distinguished way; among other things, the many different peoples who have been in the region over time. The museum consists of a number of thematic departments. At the National Museum of Natural History, the focus is on natural history and science. The history of Slovenia is told through this focus.
Tivoli Castle was built in the 17th century by Jesuit monks who wanted to use it as a resort for themselves and their students. Among other things, it acted as the bishop’s summer residence and was surrounded by greenery.
In the 19th century, the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I bought the castle, which he presented to Marshal Joseph Radetzky in 1852. Radetzky was behind the reconstruction in neoclassicism, which is still the expression of the castle. After changing owners, Ljubljana’s city council bought Tivoli Castle in the mid-1860s and furnished apartments here. Today it functions as an exhibition building.
Ljubljana offers many beautiful buildings from the beginning of the 20th century designed in Art Nouveau. Miklošičeva cesta street is the best place to see many examples of the style.
Grand Hotel Union/Grand Hotel Union (Miklošičeva cesta 1) is an exclusive hotel designed by Josip Vancaš and built 1903-1905. The hotel was designed in complete Art Nouveau style, and thus the interior is also in the same style. Folkets Lånebank/Stavba Ljudske ločetnice (Miklošičeva cesta 4) was built in 1907 by the architect Josip Vancaš. Cast iron balconies and statues are just a few elements in the facade decoration.
The Cooperative Commercial Bank/Stavba Zadružne gómbešnice banke (Miklošičeva cesta 8) was built in 1921 according to Ivan Vurnik’s drawings. The red color sets the building apart from the otherwise often bright buildings in the street. The use of glass in the interior decoration is a remarkable detail, and here as on the facade, the geometry is a clear inspiration for the decoration. The facade decorations were created by Vurnik’s wife Helena, who used Slovenian national costumes and landscapes as a starting point.
Bamberg Hus/Bambergova hiša (Miklošičeva cesta 16) was built in 1906-1907 by the printer and bookseller Otomar Bamberg. The mansion was designed by Maks Fabiani. The house is from the Art Nouveau period, but it has also drawn inspiration from the city’s patrician mansions from the late Baroque period. Parts of the facade decorations were done by the Austrian artist Hugo Franz Kirsch.
Krisper Hus/Krisperjeva hiša (Miklošičeva cesta 20) was completed in 1901. The builder was Valentin Krisper, who used the architect Maks Fabiani for the work. Stylized flowers make up the overall facade decoration, which also has a round corner balcony as a detail. The house was supposed to act as a model for other houses on Slovenski trg.
Slovenski trg was laid out after the earthquake of 1895. The government of Vienna and the city government of Ljubljana appointed the architect Maks Fabiani to design the new square. Fabiani planned uniform buildings in height and style, and most of the buildings are from the years 1900-1907. The square itself is covered by Miklošičev Park/Miklošičev Park, which was laid out by the Czech gardener Vaclav Hejnic.
Prešeren Square is the center of Ljubljana and named after the Slovenian national poet France Prešeren, of whom a statue was erected here in 1905. The square arose in its time, when several roads led to one of Ljubljana’s city gates, and the city’s pedestrian streets also today go out from here on both sides of the river Ljubljanica.
In the first centuries, Prešeren Square was named after the local Franciscan church and was called Maria Plads. The earthquake of 1895 destroyed the buildings around the square, and in the following decades the fine mansions were built.
In addition to the Franciscan church, one of the striking buildings is the imposing Mayer Palace/Mayerjeva palača (Prešernov trg 5), which now houses the Central Pharmacy/Centralna Lakarna. The Urban building/Urbančeva hiša (Trubarjeva cesta 1) is one of Ljubljana’s most beautiful Art Nouveau houses. From the start, the city’s first department store, Centromerkur, was located here. The Hauptmann building/Hauptmannova hiša (Wolfova 2) dates from 1873, and in 1904 it got its current facade.
This bridge was built as three parallel bridges, hence the name De Tre Broer. It was built as a bridge in 1842 according to the design of the Italian Giovanni Picco, and the two side bridges were added in 1932. It was necessary to deal with the increasing traffic, which at the time made the bridge a bottleneck.
Today, the bridge and the area are reserved for pedestrians. Historically, since the 13th century, this place has acted as a crossing point on the way into Ljubljana’s old town, and in 1280 there was mention of a bridge at this place.
The Robba Fountain was created in the years 1743-1751 and is one of Ljubljana’s great baroque monuments. It is known as the Robba Spring, but officially it is called the Spring of the Three Rivers of Carniola/Vodnjak treh kranjskih rek.
The fountain symbolizes the three rivers of the Carniola region; Krka, Sava and Ljubljanica. Italian sculptor Francesco Robba was inspired by Bernini’s fountain in Rome’s Piazza Navona. The steps of the fountain represent the way up the mountains of Carniola. The fountain is a copy of the original, which in 2006 was moved to the National Gallery/Narodna Galerija in Ljubljana.
Mestna hiša is Ljubljana’s city hall, which was built in 1484 and rebuilt in Baroque style in 1718 by the architect Gregor Maček. From the original building, you can see, among other things, Herkules & Narcissus Springvand/Herkulov in Narcisov Vodnjak and the Gothic auditorium, where theater performances were held throughout the 1500s and 1600s.
Mestna hiša is also known as the Town Hall/Rotovž, and it stands on the square Mestni trg. The town hall’s facade is a striking feature of the streetscape, and the building’s beautiful courtyard with painted baroque arcades is also worth seeing. In front of the town hall, one should also note the Robbov vodnjak, which is a baroque fountain from 1751, which was produced by the Italian Francesco Robba.
The Congress Square in central Ljubljana was laid out for the holding of ceremonies during the Holy Alliance Congress in the city in 1821, hence the name of the square. Previously, there was a Capuchin monastery on the site. The monastery was dissolved at the end of the 18th century. After the congress, the square was planted with the central, green facility called Stjerneparken/Park Zvezda.
Several times the Congress Square has formed the framework for historical events. On October 29, 1918, Slovene, Croatian and Serbian independence from Austria-Hungary was proclaimed here, and in May 1945, Yugoslav head of state Josip Tito spoke from the university balcony to people in the square.
In Park Zvezda you can see, among other things, an anchor. It comes from the Italian passenger ship SS Rex, which sank off Koper in September 1944. The arrangement in the park symbolizes the victory over Italy and the unification of the Slovenian coastal region with the rest of Slovenia.
In the park you can also see a replica of a Roman statue that was found at the remains of Emona’s old city walls in 1836. It stands close to the elegant music pavilion of the 1830s. Around the square are several remarkable buildings, each of which is worth seeing.
Parallel to the Ljubljanica River lies the Old Town of Ljubljana. The heart is the three square streets and squares; Bytorvet/Mestni trg, Gammeltorv/Stari trg and Øvre Torv/Gornij trg.
The medieval town plan with crooked streets and narrow alleys remains intact in the cozy quarter. However, the houses are not from that time, as, among other things, earthquakes have been devastating several times and required reconstruction; for example in 1895.
On Gammeltorv you can see the building Stična Palæ/Stiški Dvorec (Stari trg 34), which was built in 1628-1630 as a residence for the abbots of the monastery in Stična, which is located southeast of Ljubljana. Outside Stari trg 34 you can see the Hercules Fountain/Herkulov Vodnjak. The original fountain was taken down at the end of the 18th century. The statue of Hercules is, however, a copy of the real one that stands in the city’s town hall.
Ljubljana’s city museum is housed in the Auersperg Palace/Turjaška Palača, which was built in 1642 and stands as one of the city’s most beautiful Renaissance palaces.
At the museum, you can experience the city’s history from 6,500-year-old settlements to the present day. Here are various archaeological finds and accounts of personalities and events in Ljubljana’s history. You can also get to know the history of the museum building itself.
The Roman precursor to Ljubljana was called Emona, and there are still traces of the old city. As part of the Ljubljana City Museum/Mestni Muzej, you can visit the Jakopič Garden, which contains ruins from Emona such as the foundation of a house with mosaics and parts of the street and sewer system.
Immediately west of the garden, along the same street, you can see a piece of the city wall. The wall dates from Roman times and was restored by Jože Plečnik in the 20th century. If you would like to see more remains from Emona, you can visit the address Erjavčeva ulica 18 in the center of Ljubljana, where some items have also been excavated.
The pyramid, which can be seen by the city wall, is an addition that was added during Jože Plečnik’s work in the 1930s.
SNG Opera in balet is the name of Ljubljana’s and Slovenia’s national opera house, which was built in the Neo-Renaissance period in the years 1890-1892 after designs by Jan Vladimír Hráský and Anton Hruby. It opened as the provincial theater Deželno gledališče. On the elegantly decorated facade you can see, among other things, Alojz Gangl’s statues, which symbolize tragedy and comedy.
Slovenia’s opera history goes back to the staging of Giuseppe Clemente de Bonomi’s Il Tamerlano in 1732. At first, operas were staged in the beautiful building on Kongresni trg square, where the Slovenska filharmonija is today based. In 1918, the institution was expanded with its own orchestra and a ballet, which forms the basis for today’s opera and ballet in the city.
Republic Square was laid out from 1960 as Ljubljana’s modern square. It is surrounded by several significant public buildings. Previously, the area was a green oasis in the form of the monastery garden of the Ursuline monastery, which is located on the eastern side of the square.
The architect Edvard Ravnikar planned the two triangular high-rise buildings in the center of the square as a kind of modern city gate. It was precisely here that the northern wall of Roman Emona had gone.
To the west of the square, a monument to the Yugoslav revolution was erected in 1975. To the east is a shopping center that shields the 20th century architecture from the baroque buildings behind it.
Piran is a town picturesquely situated as one of Slovenia’s few coastal towns on the tip of a peninsula. The Piran Peninsula was settled in the 100s BC, when the area was part of the Roman Empire. Over time, the city has been mainly influenced by belonging to Venice and Austria.
Piran’s central square is called Tartinijev trg. It is named after the composer and musician Giuseppe Tartini, of whom a statue was erected in 1896. The square was originally a harbor basin outside the city walls. In the Middle Ages, the harbor streets were built up, and the bustle increased continuously. In 1894, the harbor basin was filled up, and the square became a reality.
From Tartinijev trg, the streets in the center start, and to the west you reach the tip of the peninsula. North of the square you can see Saint George’s Church/Cerkev svetega Jurija (Adamičeva ulica), whose tower is inspired by Venetian architecture. The church is beautifully located at the top of the town, and the richly decorated interior is also worth a trip.
The city of Koper is one of Slovenia’s few cities by the sea, and it is the country’s largest port. Immediately north of Koper is Italy, and over time the Italian influence has also been great and a very active and clear part of history. Today, Koper is officially bilingual, and here both Slovenian and Italian are spoken, in which case the city is called Capodistria.
In ancient Greece, Koper was called Aegida, and since then the well-located city has been subject to several kingdoms. For many centuries the city traded with Venice, and it also became the Venetian capital of Istria. In more recent times, Koper belonged to Italy after World War I, and after World War II it was part of the Free State of Trieste, which was divided between Italy and Yugoslavia in 1954.
Koper’s old town is worth seeing. The Loža/Loggia (Titov trg 1) is a distinguished Venetian mansion dating back to 1462. The Praetorian Palace/Pretorska palača (Titov trg 3) is the city’s town hall, a function that has been located here since 1254. The current mansion is in Gothic, Venetian style and begun in 1452.
In the central square you can also see the Assumption Church of St. Mary/Župnijska cerkev Marije Vnebovzete (Titov trg), whose history dates back to the 12th century. The church tower is a clear profile in the city’s skyline.
Trieste is the easternmost city in northern Italy, and its location on the trade routes between Latin, Germanic and Slavic merchants has given it a rich history. For example, the city belonged to the Habsburg monarchy for centuries from 1382 to 1918, and it was Austria-Hungary’s fourth largest city for a period.
In the beautiful center of Trieste you can see beautiful buildings and elegant squares with stunning Piazza Unità d’Italia as the most famous. Here are fine buildings on three sides, and in the side streets there are many other places of interest. For example, you should see the Grand Canal in the Borgo Teresiano neighborhood.
Of Slovenia’s many caves, Postojnska Jama is the most exciting and at the same time one of the most beautiful in Europe. The cave is a cave system located in the mountains southwest of Ljubljana. During a visit you can experience a large complex of stalactite caves; one more breathtaking than the other. In total, there are over 20 kilometers of caves, passages and caves in the system.
As a visitor, you ride a mini-train the first long stretches into the most beautiful caves, and here you walk around and see, among other things, the Kongressalen/Kongresna Dvorana and the Concert Hall/Koncertna Dvorana, which with its million-year-old stalactite formations of stalactites and stalagmites is a unique experience. The formations have all been formed from single drops from the ceiling, and it is a process that is still ongoing.
The so-called human fish also lives in the caves. It is a vertebrate that got its name from the light skin color and its fingers and toes. The human fish can be seen in an aquarium in the cave. At the exit you can also see the site’s underground river.
The caves in Postojna are the most marketed and commercial in Slovenia. There are also other caves in the area, and if you want to visit some caves in a more natural setting, you can visit Škocjanske jame (Matavun 12, Divača), which is located in the area between Rijeka, Trieste and Postojna. Here you can experience a number of stalactite caves that have been included in UNESCO’s list of world natural heritage. In the area outside the caves, there is also wonderful nature with cliffs and canyons.
Bled is a town located at the foot of the Slovenian Alps northwest of Ljubljana. It has approximately 5,000 inhabitants and, together with the surrounding area, is known for its fairytale nature, mild climate and hot springs.
Bled’s history goes back to 1004, when the German emperor Henry II gave the area to the bishop of Brixen. At that time there was probably only one tower built on the castle mound. Throughout the Middle Ages, the castle mound was reinforced several times with fortifications.
Bled Borg/Blejski Grad is dramatically located on a rocky outcrop and raised 100 meters above Bled’s beautiful and idyllic lake, Blejsko Jezero, which is the town’s natural landmark. The entire castle area is an interesting exhibition area for Bled’s history, and not least the nature is an experience here; enjoy, for example, the view from the castle’s terrace.
The lake below the castle was created as a meltwater lake for glaciers. It is 2.1×1.4 km with a depth of up to 30 metres. At the north-eastern end of the lake there are hot springs which can be used in the hotels. At the western end of the lake is Slovenia’s only island, Blejski Otok, where Mariæ Himmelfart Valfartskirke/Cerkev Marijinega vnebovzetja is located. Boats leave here frequently, e.g. the city’s special Pletna boats.
Maribor is a city in northeastern Slovenia. It is the country’s second largest city, and it has been referred to since the 12th century as Castrum Marchburch. Maribor became a market town and gained city status in 1264. The town flourished as a trading town and became part of the Habsburg Empire. The 17th-18th centuries were marked by numerous fires and epidemics, while the city was rebuilt each time, and the industrialization of the 19th century helped to bring about new development.
The center of the city is the square Glavni trg, where there are cafes, coziness and several attractions. This is where the city’s town hall from the 16th century is located, and in front of the town hall you can see Maribor’s plague column. A column was erected in 1681 in gratitude for the end of the plague epidemic of the time, and the current column is a replacement from the 18th century.
Zagreb is Croatia’s capital, and it is a beautifully located city at ridges along the river Sava. You find great walks here as well as a varied range of sights, cultural activities, monuments, museums and lovely parks.
Gornji Grad is the name of the upper, old town of Zagreb. It is located above the modern city, named Donji Grad. In Gornji Grad, among other things, you can see several old churches, museums, crooked streets and Croatia’s government buildings. You find them in two different neighborhoods that were once two independent cities.
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According to a tradition, Ljubljana was founded by the mythological hero Jason, who had fled with the Argonauts in Greek mythology. Jason accompanied him across the Black Sea and up the Danube and Ljubljanica rivers to escape King Aetes with robbery from him. At Ljubljana, they stopped to disassociate their ship with the intention of migrating to the Adriatic to collect it again and then sail back towards Greece. However, there was a monster that Jason had to overcome, and it is the dragon that is one of Ljubljana’s symbols today.
However, in the territory of the Slovenian capital, the Romans were the first to leave traces. About 50 BC they founded Iulia Aemona, or simply Emona, immediately southeast of today’s Ljubljana. Emona was a typical Roman city with forums, trade and garrisons. It eventually came to have about 5,000 inhabitants.
Emona flourished, got city walls, aqueducts and other public facilities. However, the city went back together with the demise of the West Roman Empire, and in 452 the female king Attila wiped out all of Emona.
At the end of the 500s, and thus some 150 years later, the first slaves came to what later became Ljubljana. They built on the secure bastion, which is naturally shielded from the lower land along the Ljubljanica River.
Gradually, however, the city grew below the castle on the banks of the river; the part that today is known as the old part of the city. Both the surrounding settlements and the region around the city gradually became subordinate to the rulers of the castle, and Ljubljana eventually became an actual medieval town.
From the 8th century, however, some centuries came with changing rulers. First, Ljubljana was subject to Frankish rule, and in the same centuries came several Hungarian attacks. By about 1000, the Hungarians had been defeated, and the Ljubljana region came into the hands of various German noble families.
In 1144, the city of Laibach is first mentioned, and two years later Luwigana, the first Slovenian name that eventually became Ljubljana. In the 13th century, the city grew further from the castle mound and the houses on the river. New neighborhoods emerged, and the city extended along both banks of the Ljubanica River with bridges as a connection and city gates as entrances. In 1220, Laibach obtained marketplace rights and privileges, which meant, among other things, that the city minted coins and that the many craftsmen organized themselves in low.
The city also became the capital of the Carniola region. In 1335, Carniola and thereby Ljubljana entered the Habsburgs, which became the land of the country virtually uninterrupted until World War I.
The Habsburgs immediately gave Ljubljana many privileges and rights, which created great progress for the city. Trade flourished and cultural life was rapidly evolving. People from all over Europe moved to. Among other things, the Jewish Quarter was formed at this time. Many artists in painting and sculpture formed schools here.
Also in ecclesiastical terms our city’s importance. Against the background of population growth and increasing religious influence, St. Nicholas Church was elevated to a cathedral in 1461.
Ljubljana was hit by an earthquake in 1511 and it destroyed large parts of the city. The town’s wooden houses were subsequently replaced by brick houses, and the style was typically Renaissance. New fortress walls were also built to protect themselves from a Turkish siege.
In the 16th century, the Reformation came to Slovenia and Ljubljana, which, as in Roman times, numbered more than 5,000 inhabitants. Ljubljana had become Protestant, and here the first library was opened and the first book in Slovenian printed. The city became Catholic again when the ruling Habsburgs deployed Jesuit monks in 1597.
Ljubljana’s strong cultural tradition continued into the 17th century, where artists were invited from all over Europe. Over the years, the city was almost recreated from the Renaissance to the Baroque era. This work can be seen in many places today; eg with the works of the Italian Francesco Robba.
In 1809, French troops occupied Ljubljana, and the city became the new capital of a new Illyrian province. France actively supported a major development of the city. The first college was established and it later developed into the University of Slovenia. France also made Slovenian one of the main languages of the Illyrian province, and thus Slovenian entered the schools’ teaching. The French rule lasted until 1813, after which Ljubljana again belonged to the Habsburgs from Austria.
Throughout the 19th century Ljubljana developed tremendously in line with Europe’s industrialization. New hospitals, railways and educational institutions were established and the city grew sharply in acreage. Ljubljana was further strengthened as the national center of the Slovenes when in 1882 the city became its first Slovenian mayor.
In 1895, an earthquake struck again the city, where most of the buildings were destroyed or damaged. Austrian and Czech architects rebuilt Ljubljana, and they linked the existing Baroque with the Art Nouveau style of the time.
The Habsburg Empire fell in 1918 with World War I, and Ljubljana now became the Slovenian capital and part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The city at that time had 80,000 inhabitants.
After World War II, when the city was occupied by Italians first, then by Germans, Ljubljana became part of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia, with Slovenia and not least Ljubljana being the most prosperous in the entire republic.
In 1990, the country’s people voted independently, and in 2004 Slovenia became a member of the European Union. After independence, Ljubljana has flourished as a Slovenian capital, and today the city is beautifully renovated to the delight of visitors and locals.
Ljubljana, Slovenia[/caption]
Overview of Ljubljana
Ljubljana is the capital of Slovenia and it is the economic, political and cultural center of the country. And th city offers many sights and activities to visitors. The center of Ljubljana is cozy and picturesque with narrow streets, elegant churches, beautiful architecture and fine museums.
The city castle is built on the top of Ljubljana, and for centuries it has been an important part of city life and history. The castle was a part of the defense of Ljubljana already from the 1100s, and it has been a residence palace as well. From the castle hill you can see all over the Slovenian capital and thereby get a good overview of the city.
About the Whitehorse travel guide
Contents: Tours in the city + tours in the surrounding area
Published: Released soon
Author: Stig Albeck
Publisher: Vamados.com
Language: English
About the travel guide
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Prešeren Square is the center of Ljubljana and named after the Slovenian national poet France Prešeren, of whom a statue was erected here in 1905. The square arose in its time, when several roads led to one of Ljubljana’s city gates, and the city’s pedestrian streets also today go out from here on both sides of the river Ljubljanica.
In the first centuries, Prešeren Square was named after the local Franciscan church and was called Maria Plads. The earthquake of 1895 destroyed the buildings around the square, and in the following decades the fine mansions were built.
In addition to the Franciscan church, one of the striking buildings is the imposing Mayer Palace/Mayerjeva palača (Prešernov trg 5), which now houses the Central Pharmacy/Centralna Lakarna. The Urban building/Urbančeva hiša (Trubarjeva cesta 1) is one of Ljubljana’s most beautiful Art Nouveau houses. From the start, the city’s first department store, Centromerkur, was located here. The Hauptmann building/Hauptmannova hiša (Wolfova 2) dates from 1873, and in 1904 it got its current facade.
This bridge was built as three parallel bridges, hence the name De Tre Broer. It was built as a bridge in 1842 according to the design of the Italian Giovanni Picco, and the two side bridges were added in 1932. It was necessary to deal with the increasing traffic, which at the time made the bridge a bottleneck.
Today, the bridge and the area are reserved for pedestrians. Historically, since the 13th century, this place has acted as a crossing point on the way into Ljubljana’s old town, and in 1280 there was mention of a bridge at this place.
The Robba Fountain was created in the years 1743-1751 and is one of Ljubljana’s great baroque monuments. It is known as the Robba Spring, but officially it is called the Spring of the Three Rivers of Carniola/Vodnjak treh kranjskih rek.
The fountain symbolizes the three rivers of the Carniola region; Krka, Sava and Ljubljanica. Italian sculptor Francesco Robba was inspired by Bernini’s fountain in Rome’s Piazza Navona. The steps of the fountain represent the way up the mountains of Carniola. The fountain is a copy of the original, which in 2006 was moved to the National Gallery/Narodna Galerija in Ljubljana.
Mestna hiša is Ljubljana’s city hall, which was built in 1484 and rebuilt in Baroque style in 1718 by the architect Gregor Maček. From the original building, you can see, among other things, Herkules & Narcissus Springvand/Herkulov in Narcisov Vodnjak and the Gothic auditorium, where theater performances were held throughout the 1500s and 1600s.
Mestna hiša is also known as the Town Hall/Rotovž, and it stands on the square Mestni trg. The town hall’s facade is a striking feature of the streetscape, and the building’s beautiful courtyard with painted baroque arcades is also worth seeing. In front of the town hall, one should also note the Robbov vodnjak, which is a baroque fountain from 1751, which was produced by the Italian Francesco Robba.
The Congress Square in central Ljubljana was laid out for the holding of ceremonies during the Holy Alliance Congress in the city in 1821, hence the name of the square. Previously, there was a Capuchin monastery on the site. The monastery was dissolved at the end of the 18th century. After the congress, the square was planted with the central, green facility called Stjerneparken/Park Zvezda.
Several times the Congress Square has formed the framework for historical events. On October 29, 1918, Slovene, Croatian and Serbian independence from Austria-Hungary was proclaimed here, and in May 1945, Yugoslav head of state Josip Tito spoke from the university balcony to people in the square.
In Park Zvezda you can see, among other things, an anchor. It comes from the Italian passenger ship SS Rex, which sank off Koper in September 1944. The arrangement in the park symbolizes the victory over Italy and the unification of the Slovenian coastal region with the rest of Slovenia.
In the park you can also see a replica of a Roman statue that was found at the remains of Emona’s old city walls in 1836. It stands close to the elegant music pavilion of the 1830s. Around the square are several remarkable buildings, each of which is worth seeing.
Parallel to the Ljubljanica River lies the Old Town of Ljubljana. The heart is the three square streets and squares; Bytorvet/Mestni trg, Gammeltorv/Stari trg and Øvre Torv/Gornij trg.
The medieval town plan with crooked streets and narrow alleys remains intact in the cozy quarter. However, the houses are not from that time, as, among other things, earthquakes have been devastating several times and required reconstruction; for example in 1895.
On Gammeltorv you can see the building Stična Palæ/Stiški Dvorec (Stari trg 34), which was built in 1628-1630 as a residence for the abbots of the monastery in Stična, which is located southeast of Ljubljana. Outside Stari trg 34 you can see the Hercules Fountain/Herkulov Vodnjak. The original fountain was taken down at the end of the 18th century. The statue of Hercules is, however, a copy of the real one that stands in the city’s town hall.
Ljubljana’s city museum is housed in the Auersperg Palace/Turjaška Palača, which was built in 1642 and stands as one of the city’s most beautiful Renaissance palaces.
At the museum, you can experience the city’s history from 6,500-year-old settlements to the present day. Here are various archaeological finds and accounts of personalities and events in Ljubljana’s history. You can also get to know the history of the museum building itself.
The Roman precursor to Ljubljana was called Emona, and there are still traces of the old city. As part of the Ljubljana City Museum/Mestni Muzej, you can visit the Jakopič Garden, which contains ruins from Emona such as the foundation of a house with mosaics and parts of the street and sewer system.
Immediately west of the garden, along the same street, you can see a piece of the city wall. The wall dates from Roman times and was restored by Jože Plečnik in the 20th century. If you would like to see more remains from Emona, you can visit the address Erjavčeva ulica 18 in the center of Ljubljana, where some items have also been excavated.
The pyramid, which can be seen by the city wall, is an addition that was added during Jože Plečnik’s work in the 1930s.
SNG Opera in balet is the name of Ljubljana’s and Slovenia’s national opera house, which was built in the Neo-Renaissance period in the years 1890-1892 after designs by Jan Vladimír Hráský and Anton Hruby. It opened as the provincial theater Deželno gledališče. On the elegantly decorated facade you can see, among other things, Alojz Gangl’s statues, which symbolize tragedy and comedy.
Slovenia’s opera history goes back to the staging of Giuseppe Clemente de Bonomi’s Il Tamerlano in 1732. At first, operas were staged in the beautiful building on Kongresni trg square, where the Slovenska filharmonija is today based. In 1918, the institution was expanded with its own orchestra and a ballet, which forms the basis for today’s opera and ballet in the city.
Republic Square was laid out from 1960 as Ljubljana’s modern square. It is surrounded by several significant public buildings. Previously, the area was a green oasis in the form of the monastery garden of the Ursuline monastery, which is located on the eastern side of the square.
The architect Edvard Ravnikar planned the two triangular high-rise buildings in the center of the square as a kind of modern city gate. It was precisely here that the northern wall of Roman Emona had gone.
To the west of the square, a monument to the Yugoslav revolution was erected in 1975. To the east is a shopping center that shields the 20th century architecture from the baroque buildings behind it.
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