Ljubljana
The area of present-day Ljubljana has been inhabited since the prehistoric era. During Roman times it was the location of a city called Emona. Evidence of Roman times can be found all over the city in the form of ruins and Roman artefacts in the city's various museums. The first time Ljubljana was mentioned in historical sources was in the 12th century. The region around Ljubljana was under Habsburg rule from the Middle Ages until 1918, when it became part of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. In 1991 it became the capital of an independent Slovenia.
Ljubljana is Slovenia's largest city by far, although is has the feel of a provincial town rather than a nation's industrious capital. Although Ljubljana was controlled by imperial Austria for large periods in its history, it has a vibrant Slavic atmosphere, rather than an Austrian one. There are always many students in the city, who attend Ljubljana University and keep the city young.
Ljubljana boasts numerous historic buildings, some of which date from Roman times. Central Ljubljana's outline was formed during the Middle Ages, but an earthquake in 1511 destroyed many buildings. They were mostly rebuilt in the Baroque style.
In the 15th century the Habsburgs took control of the area. During that time many of the city's pale-colored churches and mansions were built. These constructions earned the city its nickname of 'White Ljubljana'. Between 1809 and 1814 Ljubljana was the capital of Napoleon's short-lived 'Illyrian Provinces'.
An earthquake in 1895, once again destroyed numerous buildings, but the city was rebuilt, mostly in the Vienna Secession style.
Most of Ljubljana's sights a concentrated around the Ljubljana River.
- Ljubljana's central square is Prešernov Trg (Prešeren Square). There are several interesting buildings in the square.
- The Baroque Frančiškanska Cerkev (Franciscan Church of the Annunciation) was built between 1646 and 1660 on the location of an earlier Gothic church. Most of the original frescos were damaged by the earthquake of 1895 and they were painted over with new ones. The church is located on the Prešeren Square.
- The Pharmacy at the square is housed in a beautiful historic building.
- A statue of Slovene national poet France Prešeren with a muse stands at the eastern side of the square.
- Urbanc House.
- Town Square is the location of Town Hall and the replica of the Robba Fountain.
- The Mestna Hiša (Town Hall) is also known as Magistrat. The original Gothic building was built in 1484, but it was remodeled in Baroque style between 1717 and 1719. Town Hall is loacted in Town Square.
- A replica of the Baroque Robba Fountain is located in the middle of Town Square. The original fountain was constructed in 1751. It was moved into the National Gallery in 2006. The fountain features an obelisk, while at its foot are 3 white marble figures that symbolise the 3 main rivers of Carniola.
- Kongresni Trg (Congress Square) dates from 1821.
- Kazina Palace is a casino at the northwestern corner of Congress Square.
- Philharmonic Hall is located in Congress Square.
- The Univerza v Ljubljani (University of Ljubljana) Palace.
- The Baroque Uršulinska Cerkev sv. Trojice Ursuline Church of the Holy Trinity) is located at the western side of Congress Square. It was built between 1718 and 1726.
- Trg Republike (Republic Square) is the largest square in Ljubljana.
- Cankarjev Dom (Cankar Hall) is a convention, congress and culture center. It opened in 1982 and it is located at the southern side of the square.
- The Stavba Državnega Zbora (National Assembly Building) stands at the northern side of Republic Square. It opened in 1959.
- A statue of Napoleon was erected there in 1929.
- The Roman Catholic Cerkev Marijinega Obiskanja (Visitation of Mary Church) was built in 1746, at the location of an earlier 16th-century church, which was razed in 1740. It was remodeled in Neoclassical style in 1814. The church is located on Rožnik Hill.
- Grand Hotel Union.
- Ljubljanska Stolnica (Ljubljana Cathedral) is also known as Stolnica sv. Nikolaja (St. Nicholas' Cathedral). It was built at the start of the 18th century and its green dome was added in 1841. The church features beautiful frescos, 2 towers and the green dome. It is located at Ciril-Metodov trg (Cyril and Methodius Square), which got its name from Saints Cyril and Methodius.
- Ljubljanski Grad (Ljubljana Castle) was constructed in the 12th century and features Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance architectural elements. A Viewing Tower was added in 1848. It is located on the summit of Castle Hill and it dominates the city center. You can get there from Ljubljana's city center by a funicular railway. The castle is a popular location for weddings and cultural events.
- The National Gallery is the location of the original Robba Fountain from 1751. The fountains originally stood in Town Square, but it was relocated into the museum in 2006.
- Post Office.
- Presidential Palace.
- Trnovo Church.
- The 13-storey Nebotičnik translates as 'skyscraper'. The building is 70.35 m (231 ft) high and it features an observation deck at the top floor, as well as a café. At the time of its completion in 1933, it was the tallest building in Europe.
- The Municipal Museum exhibits loads of Roman artefacts, as well as a scale model of Emona. The Municipal Museum is on the southwestern side of the Ljubljana River.
- The Museum of Modern Art is located diagonally opposite the National Museum. Every other summer the International Biennial of Graphic Arts is held there.
- The National Museum, which is northwest of the Municipal Museum, has exhibits on Slovenia's prehistory, natural history and ethnography. The museum's masterpiece is a Celtic situla, a kind of pail or urn, from the 6th century BC.
There are numerous bridges in Ljubljana that cross the Ljubljanica River. They include:
- The Zmajski Most (Dragon Bridge) opened in 1901.
- The Mesarski Most (Butchers' Bridge) is a footbridge that opened in 2010.
- The Tromostovje (Triple Bridge) consists of 3 interconnected bridges that connect the historical center town with the central Prešeren Square. The bridge originally dates from the 13th century, but in 1930, it was redesigned and expanded.
- The Ribja brv (Fish Footbridge).
- The Šuštarski Most (Cobblers' Bridge)dates from the 13th century. It was rebuilt many times over its history and the current version dates from 1931.
- The Hradeckega Most (Hradecky Bridge) was constructed in 1867. It is the only extant cast-iron bridge in Slovenia.
- The Trnovski Most (Trnovo Bridge) crosses the Gradaščica River. It dates from 1932.
- The Ljubljanski Botanični Vrt (Ljubljana Botanical Garden) was started in 1810. Nowadays, it is home to more than 4,500 plant species, a third of which is endemic to Slevenia. The Garden measures 2.4 ha (5.9 acres) and it is located at the junction of the Gruber Canal and the Ljubljanica River, south of Ljubljana's Old Town.
- The Mestni Park Tivoli (Tivoli Park) is the largest park in Ljubljana. It is located in the northwest of the city and it is a nice and quiet place. Inside the park is a recreational center, where you can play tennis, bowl, swim and roller-skate. There are trees, flowers, statues and fountains in the park. The National Museum of Contemporary History and Tivoli Castle are located adjacent to the park. Tivoli Park was laid out in 1813 and it was renovated between 1921 and 1939.
There are many hotels, cafés and restaurants in Ljubljana. The city is located along the trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube region, north of Slovenia's largest marsh and more or less in the center of the country.
; "Image 1 - Ljubljana ©Simon Hermans [201kB]")
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; "Image 3 - Building in Ljubljana ©David Fartek [167kB]")
; "Image 4 - Ljubljana ©Nejc Soklič [175kB]")
; "Image 5 - Street in Ljubljana ©Aleksandr Filippov [82kB]")
; "Image 6 - Dragon bridge ©Frank Eiffert [101kB]")
; "Image 7 - River Boat ©Aimen Denche [128kB]")
; "Image 8 - Ljubljana ©Jared Lisack [129kB]")
; "Image 9 - Ljubljana ©Eugene Kuznetsov [167kB]")
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; "Image 11 - Triple Bridge ©Hasmik Ghazaryan Olson [164kB]")
; "Image 12 - Ljubljana Castle ©Detait [197kB]")
; "Image 13 - Triple Bridge ©Eugene Kuznetsov [182kB]")
; "Image 14 - Ljubljana Cathedral ©Bram van Geerenstein [151kB]")
; "Image 15 - Ljubljana ©Eugene Kuznetsov [176kB]")
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; "Image 17 - Church ©Bram van Geerenstein [170kB]")
; "Image 18 - Save River ©Frank Eiffert [202kB]")
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