SLOVENIJA AND LJUBLJANA
Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is an Alpine, Mediterranean and Pannonian country with its location in the heart of the Europe bordering Italy, Croatia, Hungary, Austria and the Adriatic Sea. Slovenia has been an independent country since 1991 and since 2004 a full member of European Union. It is the economic front-runner of the countries that joined EU in 2004 and was the first new member to adopt the euro as the country’s only currency on 1 January 2007. Moreover, Slovenia will also be the first new member state to hold the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2008. By the end of 2007 all border controls with Italy, Austria and Hungary will be abolished.
The capital of Slovenia is Ljubljana, a city of culture and rich historical legacy. Because of its picturesque and marvelous architectural styles blend it is sometimes named little Prague. With its 280.000 inhabitants Ljubljana is the biggest Slovenian city. It is cultural, scientific, economic, political and administrative center of Slovenia. Ljubljana is also a student city as there are approximately 50,000 students studying at the University of Ljubljana.
The roots of Ljubljana can be found in Emona, the earliest name of the present Ljubljana, which has been known since the Roman times. The traces left by Romans can still be felt all around the city. In the 13th century Ljubljana became the capital of the Province of Carniola and was later ruled by the Hapsburg rulers. Beginnings of Slovenian culture are found in the 16th century, when Ljubljana became the center of the Slovenian Reformation movement and culture. Under the French occupation between 1809 and 1813 Ljubljana was the capital of the Illyrian Provinces. After the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918, Ljubljana became an administrative, political and cultural center of Slovenia as a part of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenians. During World War II, the city was occupied first by Italians and later by the German army. The city was surrounded with a barb wire fence and was changed into the biggest war camp in Europe. After the war Ljubljana became the capital of Slovenia, one of the six republics constituting Yugoslavia, and after the independence of Slovenia, also the capital of the Republic of Slovenia.
The city was hit by earthquakes few times, with the strongest one in 1895. After the renovation, Ljubljana got its new, contemporary picture. The city architecture is a mixture of Renaissance, Neo-Classicist and Secession style. Large areas of the city built in the early 20th century feature the work of famous native architect Jože Plečnik.
With its numerous monuments, parks, cultural institutions and catering offer, Ljubljana creates a pleasant atmosphere as between its inhabitants as between tourists that are visiting the city all over the year.
More information:
http://www.slovenia.info
http://www.investslovenia.com
http://www.ljubljana.si