Recently, I had the pleasure of exploring one of Europe’s smallest and newest countries, Slovenia. The country is part of the former Yugoslavia and gained independence in 1991. Slovenia is located nestled between Italy, Austria and Croatia. When traveling to Slovenia, most of the country is made up of mountains and forests.
My journey involved flying into Ljubljana’s airport which is the middle of one of the many forests in the country and is about a 30 minute drive from the city center. Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia and has a beautiful charm.
Most of the city center is focused around the river in the city, the Ljubljanica. Along both sides of the river is a series of markets and shops. The river is spanned by multiple bridges which are pedestrian friendly including the Dragon Bridge, built in 1900 and the Three Bridges, which was first built in 1842. The Dragon Bridge is named for its magnificent dragon sculptures, of which there are four on the Bridge.
The city center is completely walkable and it is not necessary to rent a car once in the city center. Other sites not to miss in the city center include Ljubljana Cathedral, the Town Hall, and the Congress Square. The Cathedral is a catholic cathedral and was originally completed in 1706! The population of Slovenia is over 70% catholic. The Congress Square also has historical significance as many of the mass demonstrations and proclamations to establish independence for Slovenia began at this location.
No visit to Ljubljana is complete without a trip up to the Ljubljana Castle. This magnificent castle sits at a hill above the city and was first founded in the 11th Century. It has been rebuilt many times but many of the current buildings within the Castle date to the 16th century and 17th century. There is an easy cable car that takes visitors to the castle and is able to be accessed from behind the Town Hall.
Once on the Castle Grounds there are many interesting historical displays and incredible views out over the city. The castle was even used as a prison and military stronghold in the 19th century, so there are examples of the prison cells which one can view.
Slovenia is an incredible country that is extremely welcoming to tourists. Even though it can be challenge to find a direct flight into Ljubljana, it is well worth the stop. I found everyone I met to be super friendly and especially interested in the fact I was visiting from the US, as Slovenia is the home country of the current first lady, Melania Trump.
