Eastern Europe Republika Slovenija Ljubljana SLOVENIJA Slovenia officially the Republic of Slovenia (Slovene: Republika Slovenija), is a country bordered by Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast,Croatia to the southeast, and the Adriatic Sea to the southwest. Slovenia is mostly mountainous and forested, covers 20,271 square kilometers, and has a population of 2.1 million, of which 500,000 live in the capital and largest city Ljubljana. Slovenes form the vast majority of the country's population, while Serbs are the largest minority. Ljubljana Republika Slovenija august 2021 Ljubljana (also known by other historical names) is the capital and largest city of Slovenia. It is the cultural, educational, economic, political and administrative centre of the country. During antiquity, a Roman city called Emona stood in the area. Ljubljana itself was first mentioned in the first half of the 12th century. Situated at the middle of a trade route between the northern Adriatic Sea and the Danube region, it was the historical capital of Carniola, one of the Slovene-inhabited parts of the Habsburg Monarchy. It was under Habsburg rule from the Middle Ages until the dissolution of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918. The central square in Ljubljana is Prešeren Square (Prešernov trg) where the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation (Frančiškanska cerkev) is located. Built between 1646 and 1660 (the belltowers following later), it replaced an older Gothic church on the same site. The layout takes the form of an early-Baroque basilica with one nave and two rows of lateral chapels. The Baroque main altar was executed by the sculptor Francesco Robba. Although the oldest architecture has been preserved from the Roman period, Ljubljana's downtown got its outline in the Middle Ages. After the 1511 earthquake, it was rebuilt in the Baroque style following Italian, particularly Venetian, models. The city's architecture is a mix of architectural styles. Despite the appearance of large buildings, especially at the city's edge, Ljubljana's historic centre remains intact. The Triple Bridge (Slovene: Tromostovje, in older sources also Tromostje) is a group of three bridges across the Ljubljanica River. It connects Ljubljana's historical medieval town on one bank and the modern city of Ljubljana. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. The main watercourses in Ljubljana are the Ljubljanica, the Sava, the Gradaščica, the Mali Graben, the Iška and the Iščica rivers. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. The symbol of the city is the Ljubljana Dragon. It is depicted on the top of the tower of Ljubljana Castle in the Ljubljana coat of arms and on the Ljubljanica-crossing Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most). It symbolises power, courage, and greatness. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana City Centre Republika Slovenija august 2021 Ljubljana Cathedral (Slovene: ljubljanska stolnica), officially named Saint Nicholas's Church (cerkev sv. Nikolaja, unofficially also šenklavška cerkev), also named Saint Nicholas's Cathedral (Slovene: stolnica sv. Nikolaja), the Cathedral of Saint Nicholas, or simply the Cathedral (Stolnica), is a cathedral in Ljubljana. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana Town Hall (Slovene: Ljubljanska mestna hiša, also known as Ljubljanski rotovž or simply Rotovž or Magistrat) is the town hall in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, is the seat of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. It is located at Town Square in the city centre close to Ljubljana Cathedral. Ljubljana Town Hall Ljubljanska mestna hiša, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana Town Hall Ljubljanska mestna hiša, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana Cathedral ljubljanska stolnica, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Castle Hill, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Ljubljana Castle (Ljubljanski grad) is a medieval castle with Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance architectural elements, located on the summit of Castle Hill, which dominates the city centre. The castle was built in the 12th century and was a residence of the Margraves, later the Dukes of Carniola. Interior of St. George's Chapel, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. Interior of St. George's Chapel, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. The Triple Bridge Tromostovje, Ljubljana (Roman Emona), Republika Slovenija, august 2021. The city's symbol is the Ljubljana Dragon. It is depicted on the top of the tower of Ljubljana Castle in the Ljubljana coat of arms and on the Ljubljanica-crossing Dragon Bridge (Zmajski most). It represents power, courage, and greatness.