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You are in the beating heart of Ljubljana, where the city comes alive every morning: at its Central Point of Sale. It extends between Vodnikov Square and Pogačarjev Square and runs along the river under long arcades designed in the 1930s by Jože Plečnik.
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On your left, you will notice this modern bridge that spans the Ljubljanica: it is the Butchers Bridge. Its name, you understand, comes simply from the fact that the Point of Sale meat stalls were once nearby.
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You may have noticed that you are now taking one of the most colourful and lively streets in Ljubljana. It is sometimes called “Slovenia’s most diverse street” because it brings together businesses run by communities from all over the world, offering a mosaic of cuisines and cultures.
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Arriving at the square, a building immediately catches the eye with its elegant facade and its entrance topped by a glass and metal canopy, typical of Art Nouveau: the Emporium Gallery, also called Urbanc House.
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Preseren Square
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Prešeren Square is one of the city’s main meeting places, and is completely pedestrian. Let’s take a quick look at what’s around you.
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Ljubljana
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It would have been a shame to miss Miklošičeva Street, one of the most beautiful windows of early 20th century architecture in Ljubljana. After the great earthquake of 1895, the city was rebuilt with ambition, and here you will soon realize it.
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Neboticnik Skyscraper
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You are at the foot of the Nebotičnik, literally “the skyscraper”. Inaugurated in 1933, it was the tallest building in Yugoslavia and one of the tallest in Europe.
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Dragon Bridge (Zmajski Most)
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You are in front of one of the most emblematic places in Ljubljana: the Dragon Bridge. With its four threatening copper creatures, it has become the unmissable image of the city. Yet before him there was here a simple wooden bridge, known as the Butchers Bridge.
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You are in front of the Ljubljana Opera, also called the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre. With its white facade decorated with columns and allegorical statues, it is one of the most elegant monuments of the capital. Built at the end of the 19th century by Czech architects, in a neo-Renaissance style, it was first called the Provincial Theatre.
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Ljubljana
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The large glass building you see behind this row of flags is the Slovenian Parliament, the heart of the country’s political life. You may not know this, but Slovenia is a young country. After centuries of Habsburg and then Yugoslav rule, it proclaimed its independence in 1991, following a largely favourable referendum and the Ten Day War.
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This is a façade that is not trivial with its wavy lines. It is the church of the Ursulines of the Holy Trinity built at the beginning of the 18th century, shortly after the arrival of the nuns in Ljubljana. The order, dedicated to the education of young girls, has marked the cultural and spiritual life of the city, and this vast monastic complex is the most visible witness of this.
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Congress Square (Kongresni trg)
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You are in Congress Square, one of the largest in Ljubljana. It was named after a major diplomatic gathering held there in 1821: the Congress of the Holy Alliance.
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In front of you stands the “university palace”, located on the site of the former residence of provincial power. It was here that in 1821 was held the famous congress of the Holy Alliance, which gave its name to the place.
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Shoemaker's Bridge (Cevljarski Most)
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If there’s anything you never tire of in Ljubljana, it’s its bridges! The one you discover now is the Cobbler's Bridge. It was designed by architect Jože Plečnik in the 1930s as part of his major project to develop the banks of the Ljubljanica.
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Ivan Hribar Statue
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Before heading down to the docks to enjoy a stroll along the waterfront, get to know Ivan Hribar, perhaps the most iconic mayor of Ljubljana. He ruled the city from 1896 to 1910, just after the terrible earthquake. It is to him that we owe much of the modern face of the capital.
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Ljubljana
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You see here a strange sculpture that seems straight out of an observatory: a large metal armillary sphere. It pays tribute to a slightly forgotten but fascinating scholar from Ljubljana, Augustin Ferdinand Hallerstein.
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Ljubljana
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It is hard to imagine Ljubljana without its river. The Ljubljanica crosses the historic centre like a backbone, but its path is much more mysterious than it seems.
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Here you are on Stari trg, literally the “Old Street”. It is one of the oldest arteries in Ljubljana, attested as a shopping street since the 13th century. Imagine the back and forth of the medieval merchants, the shouts of the vendors and the stalls that lined up here: it was already the beating heart of the city.
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Ljubljana
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You have noticed that the city is full of terraces and inviting restaurants. Slovenian gastronomy is a true mix of Alpine, Mediterranean and Balkan influences, making it a varied and comforting cuisine.
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Ljubljana
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Beneath your feet stretches an unusual work: a bronze ribbon inlaid in the pavement, populated by hundreds of faces. Some smile, others grimace, still others seem to scream in silence.
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Here you are in the heart of old Ljubljana. In front of you stands the City Inn, recognizable for its elegant baroque façade and small loggia. The original building dates back to the 15th century, but was transformed in the early 18th century by master builder Gregor Maček, who was inspired by the Venetian style.
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Triple Bridge (Tromostovje)
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If there is one place that embodies Ljubljana, it is this. You're at the crossroads between two cities. On the one hand the old medieval Ljubljana with its narrow streets, and on the other the modern part built after the great earthquake of 1895. And to connect these two worlds, the famous Triple Bridge.
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Cathedral of St. Nicholas
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Here you are in front of St. Nicholas Cathedral, recognizable between a thousand with its large green dome and its two twin towers. It is the religious heart of Ljubljana, and also one of its easiest visual landmarks to identify from the docks of the Ljubljanica. The history of this place is eventful.
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You are here in front of the entrance of the funicular to Ljubljana Castle. An idea that was already circulating at the Belle Époque, but it was not until the 21st century that it was realized. In just one minute, it drops you off at the top of the hill, effortlessly and with a beautiful view already during the ascent.
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Ljubljana Castle
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Whether you’re on top of the hill or guessing it at the top, let’s talk a bit about the Ljubljana Castle you’ve been admiring since you arrived. This silhouette has dominated the city for nearly nine centuries, and many more before you have looked up to it.
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Ljubljana Castle Puppet Theatre
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Just a word about the beautiful building you discover to the left of the funicular. This is the Lutkovno gledališče, the real house of Slovenian puppetry. Founded in 1948 in the building of the former Milan theatre Klemenčič, the “father” of Slovenian puppetry, it has been carrying on a living tradition for more than 70 years.
