Eastern and Central Europe (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

(Ben Green) #1

Street-by-Street: Ljubljana


Old Town


Located between the medieval castle and the


leafy banks of the Ljubljanica river, Ljubljana’s
Old Town contains one of the best-preserved
ensembles of Baroque buildings in South Eastern
Europe. Arcaded 18th-century houses, domed
churches and fountain-studded piazzas add to its
elegant character. Narrow cobbled alleys such as
Stari trg and Mestni trg, lined these days with
swanky cafés and upmarket shops, provide a
vibrant introduction to the Slovene capital.


420 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE


For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp446–7 and pp448–9


KEY


Suggested route


The Triple Bridge (Tromostovje)
was designed for pedestrians by
Jože Plečnik in 1932 as part of the
reno vation of the riverbank area.

. Market
Ljubljana’s lively outdoor market is
known for its fresh herbs and dried
mushrooms alongside every kind of
local produce 3


St Nicholas’s Cathedral
The cathedral’s bronze doors,
decorated with scenes from
the history of Christianity in
Slovenia, were created in 1996
to commemorate the visit of Pope
John Paul II to Ljubljana 2


Franciscan Church
of the Annunciation
Ljubljana’s most
attractive Baroque
church, with a single
nave and two rows
of lateral chapels,
con tains a splendid
18th-cen tury altar
by Italian sculptor
Francesco Robba,
richly adorned with
spiral columns
and figurines.


The Prešeren Statue, one of
Ljubljana’s best-known
landmarks, honours
Romantic poet and national
icon France Prešeren.

The Market
Colonnade, an
elon gated pavil ion
built by architect
Jože Plečnik in 1939,
houses food shops
and a fish market.

A
D
A
M


  • L
    U
    N
    D
    RO
    V
    O
    N
    A
    BR

    JE


VO
D
NI
KO
V
SQ
UA
RE

Statue of
Valentin
Vodnik
Free download pdf