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Slovenia, a country in southeastern Europe, is a former constituent republic of Yugoslavia. Largest city and capital is Ljubljana, the cultural, educational, economic, political, and administrative center of independent Slovenia since 1991.
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SLOVENIA 1 Ljubljana 1
Slovenia, a country in southeastern Europe, is bordered by Austria, Croatia, Hungary, and Italy. The former constituent republic of Yugoslavia is almost landlocked; it has only a short (46 km) coastline at the Adriatic Sea between Italy and Croatia With an area of 20,273 km² Slovenia landscape offers a small coastal strip in south west, and an alpine mountain region with the Julian Alps, a mountain range that stretch from northeastern Italy to Slovenia, within the Julian Alps lies the country's highest mountain the Triglav at 2,864 m. In the north there are the Karawanks, a mountain range of the Southern Limestone Alps on the border between Slovenia and Austria. Almost 63% of Slovenia is forested area. The country has a population of just over 2 million people. Largest city and capital is Ljubljana with about 280,000 residents (in 2016). Spoken languages are Slovenian (official; 91%) and Serbo-Croatian (4.5%). The major religion is Christianity (about 60%).
Ljubljana was first mentioned in the first half of the 12th century. It was under Habsburg rule from the Middle Ages until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918
Situated at the middle of a trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube region, it was the historical capital of Carniola, a Slovene-inhabited part of the Habsburg Monarchy
The symbol of the city is the Ljubljana Dragon. It is depicted on the top of the tower of Ljubljana Castle in the Ljubljana coat of arms and on the Ljubljanica-crossing Dragon Bridge. It symbolizes power, courage, and greatness
It is historically more believable that the dragon was adopted from Saint George, the patron of the Ljubljana Castle chapel built in the 15th century
Built in the middle of the 15th century, the castle of Ljubljana is today a popular tourist destination for locals and foreigners also. The funicular, running since Dec 2006 every 10 min or constantly if crowded, every day in compliance with the opening hours of the castle
Congress Square, monumental and urban central square Star (Zvezda) park stretches across the central part of the square
In front of the richly ornamented Ursuline Church stands the Holy Trinity Column
The Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity was built between 1718 and 1726 in the Baroque style
In 1927, a copy of the Holy Trinity Column supposedly created by Francesco Robba in 1722 was erected across the road from the Ursuline Church
The Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity Congress Square, monumental and urban central square
Congress Square Casino Building
Holy Trinity Casino Star (zvezda) park The University Slovenian Philharmonic Congress Square
Congress Square The Slovene Society building
Congress Square Most common meeting point in the Star park is statue of an anchor, the statue that symbolizes victory over Italians in the Second World War and which honors the unification of Slovenia with the coastal region of Primorje
Congress Square Free concerts take place at the square, especially in June, and range from choir performances to famed Slovenia pop stars and rock ’n’ roll tribute acts. Crowds also gather to celebrate national events such as Statehood Day on June 25. On this day in 1991 Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia
Congress Square The University of Ljubljana has, since its beginnings in 1919, had its main seat at the former provincial mansion, built in 1902
In front of the University the statue of Europe by France Kralj (1895 -1960)
The Slovenian Philharmonic Building Was constructed in 1891 on the foundations of the former Estate Theatre built in 1763
Slovenian Philharmonic building and the main building of the University
Congress Square Pr Skelet Disco Bar is a very quirky underground bar full of skeletons
Star Park. Zvezda Park is located in the center of Ljubljana next to the Congress Square
Slovenian Parliament The Ursuline Church Star (zvezda) park Congress Square Republic Square) with the Slovenian Parliament building is the political centre of Slovenia and the centre of modern Ljubljana. It was built in 1960 to a design by the architect Edvard Ravnikar on a site previously occupied by the vast gardens of the nearby Ursuline Monastery The University Slovenian Philharmonic
Slovenian Parliament The four-storey building is externally austere. A freestanding cube, the main façade faces Republic Square and is inlaid with Karst marble, with green Oplotnica granite below each window
Slovenian Parliament The only decorative element is the two storey main portal – four oak doors surrounded by statues by Zdenko Kalin (1911-1990) and Karel Putrih (1910–1959) which represent working people
Statues by Zdenko Kalin (1911-1990) and Karel Putrih (1910–1959)
The portal is supported on five pillars tiled with granite.The upper part of the portal is dominated by sculptures by Putrih. To the left, are three female figures, their arms raised to form the characteristic shape of Mt. Triglav. To the right, is a highly elaborate allegorical relief frieze depicting a female figure with a book lovingly bending down to a child, a mother playing with a child, and figures of workers performing various activities
The centre of the composition is occupied by two female figures: one bearing a lictorian fasces and the other holding scales – of justice and harmony. These are followed by: a woman with a weaver's shuttle, a man with a gear cog, and allegories of fruit growing, agriculture, forestry, shipbuilding, and fishing. The group ends with three male figures with arms raised in the same manner as the three female figures on the left
These allegories are not rigidly aligned one next to another, but fluidly interlinked, thus conjuring a cross-section of life, while emphasising all-encompassing human interdependence. All the figures on the portal are naked in the spirit of the old classical language of sculpture. They are full of energy and have something of a virile and rough-edged appearance, which is typical of Putrih’s style
The Opera House stands between the Slovenian Parliament building and the National Gallery
Top of the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre (built between 1890 and 1892 in the Neo-Renaissance style)
The façade of the Economical school, built 1933-34 after designs from architect Vladimir Šubic, has six allegorical statues, four at the main entrance at Prešernova cesta and two at the side entrance on Gregorčičeva ulica. Slovenian sculptor Boris Kalin (1905 – 1975)
Begonia Pendula Orange Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) by BojanKunaver (1938-), Slovenian sculptor
The city's architecture is a mix of styles. Despite the appearance of large buildings, especially at the city's edge, Ljubljana's historic center remains intact. Ljubljana's downtown got its outline in the Middle Ages. After the 1511 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style following Italian, particularly Venetian, models. After the quake in 1895, it was once again rebuilt, this time in the Vienna Secession style, which today is juxtaposed against the earlier Baroque style buildings that remain
Ljubljana has an elevation of 295 meters. The city center is located along the Ljubljanica River. Ljubljana Castle, which sits atop Castle Hill (Grajski grič) south of the city center, has an elevation of 366 meters. The highest point of the city located in the northern part of Ljubljana, called Grmada, reaches 676 meters
