Disney’s Sleeping Beauty chanted in song, “Visions are seldom what they seem”. Well Disney, have you been to Slovenia’s capital? Ljubljana is a vision come to life, a fairytale leaping from the storybook pages, a city so cute and picturesque, it even comes in fun size. Petite and pretty, the Ljubljana River cuts through the capital city, lining in cafes and shops. The glistening emerald of the River only furthers the city’s out of this world appearance as Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau architectures pull the other half of pretty weight. It is safe to say the capital of Slovenia was rightly named. Ljubljana translates as beloved in Slove.
The center of it all rests in Presernov Trg. The square connects the Center district and the Old Town of Ljubljana. Locals meet here to catch up on the day or the 50,000 university students in town “study” amidst the city’s architectural aesthetic. Every princess needs her castle and Ljubljana doesn’t disappoint a princess. High atop Castle Hill, the reigning king of the city still stands. The Ljubljana Castle has served as both a royal residence and military barrack, beginning in Celtic times. While the current structure is less than ancient, with origins around the 16th century, the Ljubljana Castle still hosts one of the best views of the capital city from is Pentagonal Tower.
There is only one church in Ljubljana that is truly pretty in pink. Since the 17th century, the Franciscan Church of the Annunciations has perfected the city with a little color and spirit. The pink structure dresses in baroque fashion in Presernov Trg. Not enough pink for you? The Cathedral of St. Nicolas presents another pinky option in town for its pink marble. A church of some form has stood here since the 13th century, easily noted by its twin towered structure and baroque frescoes.
Ljubljana leaves no equation in the fairytale unturned or missing. Every get tale must have a green space to wander around singing songs while birds and animals assist with dressing. The Botanical Gardens in Ljubljana carry over 200 years of history across 2 hectares of land. With 4,500 species of native and foreign plants, the setting may feel a little surreal. The city is not finished just yet with its green backdrops. Laid out in 1813, Tivoli Park rests amidst lawns, pasturelands, rolling hills and wooden areas. Sure, you may not meet a prince at these green spaces, but you are welcome to imagine.
Completing the fairytale of Ljubljana with the perfect villain, the town’s mascot is none other than a dragon. Dragon symbols spring up in unexpected places in Ljubljana. The most famous place to have a run in with the animal that breaths fire comes on the Dragon Bridge, or Zmajski Most. Four large dragons stand guard as tourists snap photos of the storybook creatures. Ljubljana does not take on the dragon symbol just for show. Supposedly Jason and the Argonauts passed here on the way to the Adriatic. Jason fought and killed a dragon, and seemingly left him behind, along with a few of his friends and relatives.
The makings of a great fairytale are all there in Ljubljana. You have your dragons, castle, gardens, legends, and most importantly, characters. Still very much a political and cultural center for Slovenia along with a university town, Ljubljana may have its head in the clouds in appearance and feel, but it is still very much in touch with broken spells.
