Ljubljana, the capital city of Slovenia, is a city that will surprise you and exceed your expectations. It is a unique place, small in size but huge in its hospitality and quality of life. In fact, Ljubljana is the European Green Capital for 2016 – a city with a green soul.

Nature is easily accessible even from the centre of the capital city. Tivoli Park, Roznik and Sisenski Hrib Nature Park, extends right into the city.

The Ljubljansko Barje Nature Park, a protected wetland, a Unesco World Heritage Site, is also close at hand.

Ljubljana is also home to one of the oldest botanic gardens in Europe while Ljubljana Castle sits atop a green hill above the Old Town, where you can stroll along pleasant paths under shady trees.

The city centre, open only to pedestrians, cyclists and Kavalir (electric-powered small vehicles) is like a big living room amid a cultural and social setting. Former degraded areas have been transformed into numerous parks, green spaces and playgrounds, where citizens relax and socialise.

Welcome to the city where green is at home. It is often said of Ljubljana, both by its residents and those visiting it, that it is a city made to the measure of man.

On one hand, it ranks among mid-sized European cities and offers all the comforts of big capitals, while on the other, it has preserved a small-town friendliness and uniqueness of its own.

Nature is easily accessible even from the centre of the capital city

During winter, it is its dreamy central European character that prevails and during summer, its relaxed Mediterranean feel. It has so much to offer regardless of the season or weather.

Ljubljana has a large number of sight, picturesque areas and delightful nooks and crannies as well as a wealth of stories and legends. Joining a city tour is the best option with an experienced guide showing you around.

Taking a boat tour is also a must. You will be able to view the city’s bridges and the facades of many of its famous buildings from a completely different angle.

Ljubljana city centreLjubljana city centre

This city’s character is marked by two widely different and yet complementary features. Ljubljana is famed for its historical heritage and tradition while being a relatively young city with a modern lifestyle.

Academics find it attractive for the international reputation of its university while world renowned artists for its vibrant and creative spirit. Ljubljana has succeeded in preserving evidence of all the periods of its rich history: the remains of the Roman city of Emona; the city centre with Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau facades, lopsided roofs, ornate entrance portals and romantic bridges over the Ljubljanica river; a park stretching into the very city centre and works by Joze Plecnik, a pioneer of modern architecture.

Being the capital city, Ljubljana has a considerable number of both national museums and those presenting the history of the city.

Its leading art museums are the National Gallery and the Museum of Modern Art. Apart from these, Ljubljana has a large number of galleries exhibiting or selling art pieces.

Culture is a huge word in a city boasting, among other things, one of the world’s oldest philarmonics and the oldest jazz festival in Europe. Each year it hosts over 10,000 cultural events, from prestigious musical, theatre and art events to those pertaining to alternative and avant-garde culture.

Musical life in Ljubljana reflects the city’s characteristic blend of rich tradition and vibrancy. There are several venues hosting opera and ballet performances. The Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theatre hosts an extensive repertoire of classical and contemporary works.

Ljubljana is also one of the most important centres of theatre in this part of Europe, particularly its progressive, innovative and thought-provoking strands.

However, entertainment is not over when evening cultural events end. It goes on way into the night since there is an array of nightlife options of different genres. Pubs and wine bars are all over the place and during summer, numerous open air cafes, located on the banks of the river add to the atmosphere.

The Malta group with members from the Slovenia Tourist Board.The Malta group with members from the Slovenia Tourist Board.

The city’s nightlife continues into the small hours at clubs and casinos. Late night entertainment is available also at rock and jazz clubs.

Maribor

The city of Maribor, the metropolis of Slovenian Styria, is the second most important city in the country. It stretches beneath the green Pohorje mountain range along both banks of the river Drava.

This colourful city boasts rich architecture, wine-growing tradition, diverse cuisine and hospitable people. In recent years, it has become increasingly popular as a cultural, festival, sports, recreational and tourist centre.

Maribor, a city surrounded by wine-growing hills, treasures in its nest a gem that nothing in the world matches – the Old Vine, which has thrived for more then 400 years in the mediaeval core of the city, next to the Drava river.

It is the oldest growing example of a noble vine on the planet. As a unique gem of natural heritage, the Old Vine in 2004 gained mention in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest vine in the world.

Its very old age is verified in paintings of Maribor dating from 1657 and 1681 which are kept in the Steiermarkisches Landesarchiv in Graz.

In 2007, the building surrounding the famous tree was renovated to the Old Vine House, which today represents the central sanctuary of wine culture in Slovenia, as a symbol of natural and cultural heritage of the city and state.

The Old Vine is of a noble variety of grapes, the Madra Kavcina or Zametna Crnina, a live tradition of the culture of cultivating vines in the Maribor wine-growing area that goes back to pre-Roman times.

The oldest vine in the world is in Maribor.The oldest vine in the world is in Maribor.

It also represents an extremely rare example of an indigenous Slovenian vine with uninterrupted continuity. This variety still thrives and is most often found in south-eastern Slovenia.

People revere the Old Vine because of its age and resilience. It is even celebrated by a hymn that usually marks the opening of all major wine events on the banks of the Drava river.

Scions of the Old Vine are growing in Australia, Japan, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, Poland, Switzerland and yes, even in Malta, in one of the vineyards in Ta’ Qali.

However, Maribor is not only about wine. The city’s turbulent past left numerous scars and memorials, while history and tradition have constantly intertwined with modern times and dynamics.

This colourful city boasts rich architecture, wine-growing tradition, diverse cuisine and hospitable people

The city experienced strong economic developments in 1846 when it was one of the first in Europe to be part of the important Vienna-Trieste railway line.

The Slovenian National Theatre, the base of many world-renowned artists, gives the city, along with a rich Bourgeois tradition, a contemporary cosmopolitan spirit. Other cultural institutions include the Puppet Theatre, the Regional Museum and the National Liberation Museum.

Maribor’s reputation as a cheerful and hospitable city is confirmed by its lively pulse, which makes it an unforgettable destination.

Throughout the year, the city boasts many top cultural entertain­ment and sporting events. These include the famous multicultural Lent Festival, the Wine and Culinary Festival with its St Martin’s Day celebration – the biggest one-day celebration in Slovenia – the annual Maribor Theatre Festival and a magical festive December which closes with a big New Year’s cele­bration and the annual Golden Fox Competition for the Skiing World Cup.

So if you decide to visit this beautiful, diverse city, check the dates first, there is always something going on here.

Ronald Cassar travelled to Slovenia courtesy of the Slovenia Tourist Board and Britannia Tours who operate direct flights to Ljubljana. Winter skiing and New Year packages are being offered also by Britannia Tours.

www.bsl.com.mt

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