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Slovenia cities
Ljubljana lies in a basin between the Karst and the alpine regions at 298 metres above sea level. We like to say it is sufficiently large to contain everything that a capital should have, and small enough to preserve the individuality of its inhabitants. It is a city with a soul, featured by the Baroque Old Town which is nestled at the foot of Castle Hill, the Art Nouveau mansions as well as some of the masterpieces of the world renowned architect Jože Plečnik.
If one is to believe the legend, then the founder of Ljubljana was the Greek prince Jason, together with his companions, the Argonauts. According to the legend, Jason and the Argonauts, while fleeing from King Aites, from whom they had stolen the golden fleece, sailed from the Black Sea up the Danube, from the Danube into the Sava, and from the Sava into the Ljubljanica.
Maribor is, as the capital of Štajerska, the second largest city in the country. At the same time Maribor is pleasantly small and set in the wonderful natural surroundings of Pohorje on the one side and wine growing hills on the other, with the river Drava wending its way through it. With its diversity and quality offers, surrender to the best that can be offered in one of Slovenia's key tourist destinations!
The rich wine tradition of the oldest vine in the world, the throb of the city with its thriving cultural history, the location between wine growing hills and green Pohorje and the diverse possibilities for exploring, recreation, relaxation, entertainment and meetings will convince you that Maribor has a heart and soul and that the inhabitants of Maribor are excellent hosts.
Where the Voglajna joins the Savinja River as it turns abruptly south toward the Sava, we find Celje, the third largest city in Slovenia. Its cultural legacy testifies to rich and turbulent centuries. Originally "Keleia", a Celtic settlement where Noricum coins were minted, in the period of Emperor Claudius it developed as "Celeia" into the most important Roman borough and a most important economic and military center. Celje became the capital of a principality when the Counts of Celje were elevated to the status of princes in 1436. Allied with the German Emperor Sigismund of Luxembourg, they struggled ever more bitterly ther Hapsburgs for political supremacy in Central Europe. When Count Ulrik II was assassinated in Belgrade by his Hugarian rivals in 1456..
Situated at a latitude of 45o 32,5' North and at longitude 13 o 45,5' East, with a characteristic Mediterranean climate partly influenced by the continental interior. This is Koper with its mild winters and warm and dry summers. Is there anything more pleasant than standing on the seaside, embraced by a soft north-west breeze, admiring the scarlet sky on a day when the scirocco blows or watching the sea in its wild dance of waves stirred by the northern wild? Carved grey Istrian limestone, eight squares situated at the outer edge of the town covered with a carpet of white stone, eleven other squares, remnants of an ancient city wall, narrow intertwining streets leading to the main square, boasting the largest cathedral in Slovenia - all this narrates the story of the past and of the present moment. Step by step the facades of the buildings and their interiors reveal the millennial history of Koper, once Iustinopolis, Capris, evoke the era of the Venetian Republic, the golden age of the Gothic and Renaissance - up to the present moment.
Sea, wind, salt, Mediterranean aromas, palm trees, roses and evergreens, relaxation, fun and friendliness are the words that best describe Portorož, a coastal town at the heart of Europe. The interplay of different cultures and music, natural setting, gastronomic delights, and chequered history make for an atmosphere that makes us put our daily worries aside and just relax. Leisurely strolls by the sea, refreshing jogging on the beach, swimming in pools and the sea, beauty and health care programmes at thermal spas, sports and recreation revitalise the body and soul. Portorož is closely connected to nearby Piran, a small medieval town whose fame and fortune come from one of the largest saltpans in this part of the world. Today mostly abandoned, the saltpans now provide shelter to numerous bird species to nest or stop during southbound migration.
Piran is a very special, precious city. It is the best preserved cultural monument of Slovenian Istria and the closest neighbour of Portorož, the luxurious city of flowers. Each time one looks at Piran from a distance or from the air, one is overcome by feeling of surprise. Loved by the eyes of the people and by the eye of the camera, its image is known all over the world. When you visit Piran, you should take a closer look at its architecture, influenced by the Venetian Republic, which left its mark on most Istrian towns. Throughout time, Piran maintained the clustered medieval structure narrow winding streets, houses huddled close together, rising in cascades, the contact with the sea, numerous squares and churches. Tartini Square is the gem found in the very centre of Piran. It was named after the famous violinist and composer Giuseppe Tartini, who made the town world-famous. His statue is located in the centre of the square.
This town is most famous for its winter sports but is the heart of the valley in summer too. Traditional mountain homelines and athletic dynamism are united here. It offers many sport events and plenty of enetrainment for all who enjoy sport, parties and fun. True romantics will find a peacful retreat, whilst more curious, inquisitive minds will be overwhelmed by the variety of folklore.
Murska Sobota is the regional centre of Pomurje, the northeast part of Slovenija. The history of the town called Sobota by the local people is very interesting: this region was under the cover of several countries and only in 1919 was it joined to the central country of Slovenia. The visitors can learn a lot about the development of the town and the whole region through its of history while viewing the permanent collection of the Murska Sobota Regional Museum (Pokrajinski muzej)
The garment industry, metallurgy and the agricultural industry were prevalent in the region and town in the past, and today trends move more and more towards the processing industry, construction, commerce and services.
Novo mesto, also called the metropolis of Dolenjska, was founded in the year 1365, when the Austrian Archduke Rudolf IV granted city rights to the town at the bend of the Krka River. Officially called Rudolsfwerd, it grew as Novo Mesto and soon became an administration, cultural, religious and business center of Dolenjska. Novo Mesto is situated in the midst of the hilly landscape of Dolenjska, embraced by the Krka River. Abundance of nature, tradition and culture can be a real experience for every visitor of Novo Mesto. The Krka Valley, located just above Novo mesto, is in the opinion of many the most beautiful river valley in Slovenia with tender banks, picturesque rapids and natural dams which emphasize its nature. Special attractions include numerous mills and castles which..
Slovenia has only one island but its uniqueness makes it more attractive than many an archipelago. Sheltered by picturesque mountains, the island reigns in the middle of an Alpine lake. Its charm has made it a symbol for centuries of a town to which guests from all over the world love to return. This town, which has already existed for a thousand years, is BLED. On the island in the middle of the lake, the ancient Slavs worshipped Živa, goddess of love and fertility. Pilgrims later came to the church of St Mary on the island. A thousand years ago, on 10 April 1004, the town of Bled was mentioned for the first time when the Holy German emperor, Henry II, gifted it to the Bishop of Brixen. At that distant time, a Roman tower already stood at the top of the cliff rising vertically 100 m above the lake, and it still forms part of the mighty castle that now houses a museum collection.
Between two gothic churches lies a square with typical Bovec houses, friendly restaurants, shops, and hotels. Bovec is a town just by Triglav National Park and is the centre of the Upper Soča valley. You can find some unique villages in the land of Bovec: Srpenica, Žaga, Log Čezsoški, Čezsoča, Plužna, Log pod Mangrtom, Kal-Koritnica, Lepena, Soča and Trenta. The earliest mention of Bovec is from 1174, but the history of this area stretches much further back in time – to the Roman road through Predel and to the finds from the early Iron Age. In the past for Bovec was important trade route between the port of Triest and Wienna that passed the town. Later, the Bovec area was affected by the first World War battles. Today you can follow the traces from that time on the Walks of Peace.
Description and location Tolmin, the town that gave the name to the entire region, is the largest settlement in Zgornje Posočje (Upper Soča Valley) as well as the economic, cultural and administrative centre of the valley. Its streets and houses bask in sunlight on a terrace above the confluence of Soča and Tolminka rivers. It is positioned at the right distance from the steep mountainous valleys, so that inhabitants may enjoy mild winters, and from the sea and Gorica plateau, so that they may take pleasure in enjoyable summers. This section includes the area of valleys and mountain villages above Tolminka and Zadlaščica, and continues through the hinterland of Volče and Čiginj all the way to the state border on Kolovrat.
