Ljubljana - Capital of Slovenia (Slovenija)

ORIGIN

In the third century BC a Celtic tribe - Taurisci - began to settle in the Ljubljana marshes, and since VI century AD the area currently occupied by Slovenia was incessantly disputed to the occupying Slavs.In 623 AD, Chief Franko Samo created the first independent Slovene state that, in the VIII century was absorbed into the Frankish empire, and in the X century fell under the control of the Holy Roman Empire.Slovenia was reorganized as the duchy of Carantania by the Holy Roman Emperor Otto I (912-973). With the exception of four years of government by Napoleon (1809-1813), Slovenia, together with Croatia became part of the Austrian Habsburg Empire, 1335-1918.

The ancient Emona - name given to the village after its conquest by the Roman Empire - began to be built in the year XV AD and today reminds us at every turn its history, of different origins, especially

Celtic. In the photo, the south wall of the ancient Roman city of Emona

The hardness of the building confirms the existence of the castle already by mid XII century, when it was the headquarters of the Austrian dukes of Carinthia. Currently, with no noble dynasties, and being

unnecessary its function in the peaceful Slovenian’ lands, Ljubljana Castle became important only as a symbol of the charm of the city as in fairy tales. Since 1905 belongs to the municipality.

The castle, that has been inhabited among others by Charles V (Slovenia belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire), was built in the XII century, but its origins date back to the old Emona.

The access to the Castle is provided either by special carts, by funicular or by the old-fashioned way: walking this path up.

Aerial view of the city of Ljubljana and its Castle

Castle - Bunker -This fortified chamber, deep in the castle's defenses, now exhibits intriguing art.

After the 1511 earthquake, Ljubljana was rebuilt in a Baroque style following the model of a Renaissance town

Franciscan Church of the Annunciation - Prešeren Square in Ljubljana represents the center of the capital, where are located some of the most characteristic and emblematic elements of the city.

Beautiful view of the Castle having as background the permanently icy peaks of Kamnik Alps.

Photo of the Parliament - The Republic of Slovenia, once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and that also composed the multinational state of the once Yugoslavia, after a short 10-day war got its

independence in 1991.

Ljubljana seems to be made, all of it, of charming corners. The Ljubljanica River divides the city center in 2. On the one side its old part and access to the Castle, on the

other the commercial and political part of the city.

Entrance to Old Town – The old town houses the Municipal Hall, most restaurants, shops, and galleries of ancient and contemporary art.

The original City Hall building was completed in 1584. The fountain nearby has been designed and built around 1747 by the sculptor Francesco Robba, inspired by the Fountain of the Four Rivers by

Bernini in Piazza Navona. As that one, also boasts the distinctive obelisk at its center.

Robba`s fountain (replica) - Fountain of the Three Rivers of Carniola.The sculpture represents the three region’s rivers: Lublianica, Sava e Krka.

Cathedral of St Nicholas, 1708, Baroque style. There are fine modern bronze doors added in 1996 to commemorate the visit by Pope John Paul II.

Interesting detail of a Cathedral’s gate, where the head of the figure in relief near the opening corresponds to a doorknob.

Slovenia is intensely marked by the richness of the ecclesiastical art.

Photo: Cathedral ceiling. It was the monks of the Catholic Church that kept the Slovenian language alive throughout the centuries of the northern implacable Germanization.

Prešeren Square - is the central square in Ljubljana. After the 1895 earthquake that destroyed the medieval houses, palaces on baroque bourgeois style were built in its place. Affected by the earthquake, the house Hauptmann (the tallest building) originally in baroque style was redecorated in Art Nouveau.

Built in 1873 the Hauptmann House – tower shaped – was one of the few buildings that survived the great earthquake without being seriously affected. In 1904, was renewed in Viennese Art Nouveau style,

decorated with colorful ceramic forming geometric drawings in contrasting colors.

Prešeren Square - arose in medieval Ljubljana. It began to gain its current appearance in the XVII century, when the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation was built.

Even under rain the Prešeren Square is beautiful. It was built on the site of a crossroads in front of the entrance to the medieval city of Ljubljana.

Ljubljana Central Pharmacy Palace (Drzavna Lekarna Palace) – on Prešeren Square, built in 1895 in Neo-Renaissance style.

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Situated beneath the Castle, Prešeren Square is located in the historic heart and its main access is by the famous Triple Bridge. At its center stands a tribute to the Slovenian poet France Prešeren,

The statue of the poet France Prešeren includes in its composition the poetry muse sitting on a higher pedestal. It was created in 1905 by Ivan Zajec.

The prestige that the capital of Slovenia has always given to Literature and the Arts, right after its separation from Yugoslavia in 1991, Ljubljana gained a reputation of having the most cultured and educated people of the Balkans.

The square is presided over by the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation in Baroque style, and distinguished by its reddish colored façade. At his side sits the monument to the poet.

Under the evening’s spell, the Triple Bridge and the Prešeren Square.

The Ljubljanica River with its bridges in varied styles and framed by picturesque banks of the old city is one of the most notable landmarks of Ljubljana.

Dragon Bridge – originally named Jubilee Bridge of the Emperor Franz Josef I, got its new name due to the presence of the four dragons adorning its edges.

Built in the beginning of the 20th century, the Dragon Bridge is noted for its Art Nouveau style. As time has gone by the dragons came to be considered the symbol of the city.

The first music school was established in the Ljubljana Dome in 1807, but only in 1939 the Academy of Music was created. Since 1953 it became an independent institution with the

name of Ljubljana Conservatory of Music and Ballet.

In the most modern part of Ljubljana, the “skyscraper“ Nebotičnik, built in 1933, at the time the tallest building in Slovenia

Dressing, singing and dancing the folklore of their land of birth, children not only get to know Slovenian traditions to pass it on to future generations, as they acquire structural values.

A country that does not encourage consumerism, that does not value people by economic classes, that encourages its youth to know on site the history of the land they where born and live in,

encouraging early patriotism, does not have to fear for the future.

Prešernova – is the oldest and the largest Slovene museum, founded in 1821. The oldest rarity exposed dates from the Stone Age.

Its main building was originally the seat of the Carniolan Parliament. The University of Ljubljana is the first and the largest university in Slovenia and one of the largest in Europe.

Plecniks National Bibliothek IV – The National and University Library is one of the most important educational and cultural institutions of Slovenia.

Academia Philharmonicorum - was founded in 1701, when presented baroque oratorios and some other musical pieces. Only in 1948 became the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, having in its

rich history the early career beginnings of Gustav Mahler as Conductor.

The neo-Renaissance building of the present Ljubljana Opera House was built between 1890 and 1892. The two niches on the façade are adorned with allegorical statues of Tragedy and Comedy, by Alojz Gangl.

Close to the Prešeren Square, the first Ljubljana’s hotel - Hotel Union, 1905 - was built under the most modern standards of that time, and its façade in Art Nouveau.

Urbanc House – 1903 – First major magazine of Ljubljana, at Prešeren square, has a kind of marquee, typical of Parisian or Viennese Art Nouveau. Its façade is influenced by the Vienna Secession

style, and its interior is closer to Paris Art Nouveau.

The fair (open air market) in Vodnikov Square contribute just as much to Ljubljana's laid-back, easy air, as the endless cafés along the river.

Plecnik Colonnade – Market – This is Ljubljana’s economic center since Roman times. In the outer courtyard, a bronze sculpture of Slovenian sculptor Jakov Brdar Metzger.

National Gallery - important permanent collections include works by some of the best and most renowned Slovenian painters (Jama, Grohe, Jakopic, Ažbe). Since September 2008 you can also here

admire the restored original Robba's Fountain..

Irresistible meeting point that overlooks the splendid and time-trapped old town along the river

Ljubljana at evening, against the background of the striking frame of the Julian Alps - the mountain range that is the symbolic heart of Slovenia.

In this year of 2011, in which Slovenia celebrates 20 years of the conquest of its independence, the joy in the celebration is on all of its sons, including those young Slovene

still living their infancy.

And celebrating those 20 years of the Country’s independence, the cast of Slovenian musical ensemble Perpetuum Jazzile sings with great joy Vse najboljše to their homeland – Slovenia!

And celebrating those 20 years of the Country’s independence, the cast of Slovenian musical ensemble Perpetuum Jazzile sings with great joy Vse najboljše to their homeland – Slovenia!

Images: All drawn from the Net with credits to their respective authors

Music: - "Zrejlo je žito" Slovenian folk song, by composer Rok Golob. LIVE performance by: Sabina Cvilak, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, Opera & APZ Tone Tomsic choir, Uros Lajovic, Rok Golob, Domen Vajevec, Ales Marjetic, Roman Ratej ”Vse najbolje Slovenija” - with Perpetuum Jazzile

Creation, research, compilation and formatting:

Delza Dias Ferreira delzadfer@gmail.com

Colaboration and English Version: Flavio M.de Freitas Guimarães

http://culturesandartinenglish.blogspot.com

São Paulo, X - 2011