Ljubljana

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Ljubljana

Ljubljana is the capital city of Slovenia as well as country’s largest city. It is the cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative centre of Slovenia. Throughout its history it has been influenced by its geographical position at the crossroads of Germanic, Latin and Slavic cultures. It has all the facilities of a modern capital, and yet it has preserved its small-town friendliness and relaxed atmosphere.

Around 50 BC, the Romans built a military encampment that later became a permanent settlement called Iulia Aemona – Emona. In the 6th century, the ancestors of the Slovene moved in. In the 9th century, the Slovenes fell under Frankish domination, while experiencing frequent Magyar raids. The town was mentioned for the first time in 1144 and in 1220, Ljubljana was granted city rights, including the right to coin its own money. For centuries, Ljubljana was the capital of the historical region of Carniola. In 1918, after World War I the region joined the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes. In 1941, during World War II, Fascist Italy occupied the city, and on 3 May 1941 made "Lubiana" the capital of an Italian "Provincia di Lubiana" and it formally remained its capital until 9 May 1945. After World War II, Ljubljana became the capital of the Socialist Republic of Slovenia, part of Yugoslavia until 1991, when Slovenia became independent.

Ljubljana lies in the centre of the country in the Ljubljana Basin. It cover the area of 275 square kilometers, the metropolitan area is 2,555 square kilometers large. Ljubljana's climate is oceanic, bordering on a humid subtropical climate zone with continental characteristics such as warm summers and moderately cold winters.

The city of Ljubljana is governed by the City Municipality of Ljubljana. The population of the city is nearly 280,000 people with the density of 1,018 inhabitants per square kilometer. The numbers for metropolitan area are 515,000 inhabitants with the density 201.4. The University of Ljubljana, Slovenia's most important and Ljubljana's only university, was founded in 1919.

Industry remains the city's most important employer, notably in the pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and food processing. Some of the large companies have their headquarters in the capital region: for example, the retain chain Mercator, the oil company Petrol d.d. and the telecommunications concern Telekom Slovenije. Ljubljana makes 25 % of the country’s GDP.

Ljubljana is at the centre of the Slovenian road network, which links the city to all parts of the country. Ljubljana’s railway station links city to several other states (lines from Germany to Croatia, from Austria to Slovenia and third one from Italy to Slovenia). The city bus network is Ljubljana's most used means of public transportation. Ljubljana Airport, located 26 kilometres north of the city, has flights to numerous European destinations.

In the architecture of Ljubljana there is the evidence of five thousand year history. There are the remains of the Roman city of Emona and the old city centre with its medieval castle, Baroque façades, decorative portals and uneven roofs. Numerous buildings constructed after the earthquake of 1895 was built in Art Nouveau. In the second half of the 20th century, the city's appearance was further shaped by Jože Plečnik and other Slovenian architects. Other significant bits of the city mosaic are picturesque bridges across the Ljubljanica river and the vast Tivoli park, which stretches into the very city centre. To the most beautiful buildings and places in town belong: Ljubljana Castle, Ljubljana Town Hall, Town Square, St. Nicholas Cathedral, the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation, St. Peter;s Church, The Urbanc House on the Prešern Square, Nebotičnik, Serbian Ortodox Church of Saints Cyril and Methodius, Dragon Bridge or Butcher’s Bridge.

Among other things, Ljubljana boasts one of the world's oldest philharmonic societies. Each year it hosts over 10,000 cultural events, from prestigious musical, theatre and art events to alternative and avant-garde events, notably including 14 international festivals.

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