Ljubljana Prešernov trg (Prešeren Square) is “adorned with the statue of a poet, rather than a political or military hero”. The square was named in honor of “Slovenia’s greatest poet,” France Prešeren (1800–1849). A Romantic known for his sonnets, one poem, “Zdravljica,” was “inspired by the French Revolution motto – liberté, égalité, fraternité“.
Prešeren’s monument “depicts the poet with a muse holding a sprig of laurel above his head”. The statue is “symbolically faced by a relief of Julija Primic, his great love, mounted on the façade of a building across the square”. A fascinating woman, Primic is said to be an “emblem of the Slovenian feminist movement“.
History
Prešernov square was “developed at a road junction in front of medieval Ljubljana’s city gates”. The most prominent feature of the square is the stunning pink Franciscan Church of the Annunciation built in the 17th century. History of the square includes a devastating 1895 earthquake, construction of palaces, office buildings, and department stores, Art Nouveau refurbishment, and a Triple Bridge over Ljubljanica River designed by renowned Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik.
It takes time to get in sync with new cultures and adapt to location changes, so I’ve spent several days acclimating. To my surprise, the language barrier in Ljubljana is much greater than remembered, and I’ve struggled with that handicap a bit. Almost everyone in Kraków spoke English.
The weather has been overcast but not too cold. My photography can’t compete with the fantastic media shots available online. They better illustrate the great beauty of Ljubljana, and I’ve used many of them in this post.
During my stay, I’m booked for several performances and daytrips. There’s a ton to see and do, so I’m pacing myself and trying to give things time to soak in – sometimes the brain gets overwhelmed with new info and resists change…. Tomorrow, I’ll visit an exhibition of interesting Austrian artist Maria Lassnig at Cankarjev Dom. This weekend I’m looking forward to a daytrip exploring two glorious Slovenian lakes – Bled and Bohinj.
So far, the right time/place for “selfies” has eluded me. Photos aren’t the highlight of my travels, but group daytrips are the perfect opportunity for solo travelers to get photographed…
More later…