Turizem Ljubljana CGP 2017

5.11 Brošura 210x100 mm: Turizem Ljubljana

13 Prešernov trg (Prešeren square) The tourist trail

16 Stolnica (Cathedral)

The Ljubljana church, which boatmen and fishermen dedicated to their patron St Nicholas, probably stood on the site of the present cathedral as early as the mid-13th century. The original Romanesque church was later rebuilt several times. The construction of the present church, built to the plans of the Roman Jesuit architect Andrea Pozzo and decorated with Illusionist frescoes by Giulio Quaglio, started in 1701. The cupola was added in 1841 by the native architect Gregor Maček, and painted by Matevž Langus in 1843–44. Among the remains of the previous church are, on the exterior, a Gothic keystone with the head of Christ to the right of the main entrance, and a mid-15th century Gothic Pietà which stands in a niche on the southern facade. Contemporary Slovene sculptor Mirsad Begić carved the history of the Ljubljana Diocese on the side door of the Cathedral in honour of the Pope’s visit to Ljubljana in 1996. The main door, made of bronze, created in the same year, is a masterpiece of the contemporary Slovene sculptor Tone Demar. It represents 1250 years of Christianity in our country and was blessed by the Pope. Škofijski (Bishop’s palace) The present Archbishop’s palace, originally Renaissance, was later transformed in its first renovation into an early Baroque building and has the most beautiful preserved arcaded courtyard in Ljubljana. The construction of the palace started in 1512, and it was raised by one storey in the mid-17th century. At the end of the 18th century it acquired its present facade with wreathed ornamentation and was connected to the cathedral by a passage. Some time later, Emperor Napoleon slept in this building, and his governors of the Illyrian Province, L. Bernadotte, Marmont and others, resided here. Today it is the seat of the Slovene Catholic Metropolity. between 1708 and 1714 and gradually completed by 1772. Its portal is the work of the Ljubljana mason Luka Mislej, while the two giants were carved by Angelo Putti. The seminary library in this building was the first public library in Ljubljana and preserves a number of valuable manuscripts and printed works. It is also known for its beautiful furniture and vault frescos painted by Giulio Quaglio. Semenišče (Seminary) The seminary palace behind the cathedral was built

This square is named after the greatest Slovene poet, France Prešeren (1800–1849). His poetry is a symbol of longing for love and freedom, which is why one of his poems, ‘Zdravljica⁄A Toast’ became the national anthem. The monument to Prešeren was unveiled in the autumn of 1905 and is the work of architect Maks Fabiani and sculptor Ivan Zajc. The square, based on the Italian model, is dominated by the ornamented facade of the Franciscan Church 14 , built between 1646 and 1660. Its great altar is the work of sculptor Francesco Robba, from the mid- 18th century. The vaults were painted by Matevž Langus in the mid-19th century, and repainted in the 1930s by Matej Sternen. The Art Nouveau facades of “Ura” and ‘Centromerkur’ are also a characteristic of Prešeren Square. Tromostovje ( Triple Bridge ) 15 , a special feature of Ljubljana’s architecture, is made up of an old stone bridge from 1842 and two side ones, which architect Jože Plečnik added in 1931; together, they provide an elegant entrance into the Old Town.

Left: Tromostrovje (Triple Bridge)

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