Slovenia - Skofja Loka and Kranj
Half a day stop in two Slovenian towns on the way to the airport. Well worth the visit.
You can catch a bus to Škofja Loka from Ljubljana. The oldest medieval town in Slovenia. From the bus stop take a walk over the 14th century Capuchin Bridge to the centre. Let yourself guided by the narrow streets. The 13th century Parish Church of St James is not to be missed as well.
From the same drop off point, there is another bus that goes to Kranj, the 4th biggest city of the country. Time only allowed me to go in the old town, but one can easily spend a full day here. Plenty of parks to explore, rich architecture and many restaurants to get a taste of Slovenian cuisine.
There is public transport connecting all these town, but even in summer they're quite rare so make sure to check the time table in advance. If you are in a rush a taxi might be a better option as the airport is quite close.
I hope this short video gave you a taste of Slovenia. Thanks for watching.
Škofja Loka passion play, Slovenia
UNESCO: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - 2016
URL:
Description: In Škofja Loka, Slovenia, a folk play procession takes place in the town’s medieval centre during Lent and Easter. The Škofja Loka Passion Play, based on the ancient works of a Capuchin monk, demonstrates 20 scenes of the stations of the cross and others from the Old Testament and New Testament involving 900 local performers and 400 additional volunteers. Performed every six years, it is considered a contributor to community identity and cohesion, transmitted by families, schools and local craftspeople.
Video long version :
Walk through the Medieval town of Skofja Loka in Slovenia | Oldest town in Slovenia
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A short 30 scenic drive from Ljubljana, you reach this beautiful medieval town of Skofja Loka. We had great time climbing up to the castle and then walking to see the historical lands marks of this town.
As you will see int he Video, you will have a tough time if you have a stroller. We pushed it halfway through and had to leave as the climb with it was nearly impossible. Rest of the walk is just fine, no major issues of any kind.
The major historical sites such as the Saint James Church, Capuchin Bridge (built with carved stone), 16th century houses and more.
Škofja Loka passion play
UNESCO: Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity - 2016
URL:
Description: In Škofja Loka, Slovenia, a folk play procession takes place in the town’s medieval centre during Lent and Easter. The Škofja Loka Passion Play, based on the ancient works of a Capuchin monk, demonstrates 20 scenes of the stations of the cross and others from the Old Testament and New Testament involving 900 local performers and 400 additional volunteers. Performed every six years, it is considered a contributor to community identity and cohesion, transmitted by families, schools and local craftspeople.
Country(ies): Slovenia
© 2015, by Marjan Cerar
Duration: 00:05:56 - Support: Blu-ray (0120300002)
Eric Clark's Travel Videos - Ljubljana Slovenia - Saint Nicholas' Cathedral, Dolničarjeva ulica
Eric Clark's Travel Videos - Ljubljana Slovenia - Saint Nicholas' Cathedral, Dolničarjeva ulica
PLEASE FORGIVE ME!!! In the recording I have Slovakia... And this is CLEARLY SLOVENIA! I have been to both countries and its a little tough to keep them straight some times. My bad. Please understand that this is in Slovenia. = )
Eric
From Wikipedia
Ljubljana Cathedral (Slovene: ljubljanska stolnica), officially named St. Nicholas's Church (cerkev sv. Nikolaja, unofficially also šenklavška cerkev),[1] also named St. Nicholas' Cathedral (Slovene: stolnica sv. Nikolaja), the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, or simply the Cathedral (Stolnica), is a cathedral in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia.[1] Originally, Ljubljana Cathedral was a Gothic church. In the early 18th century, it was replaced by a Baroque building. It is an easily recognizable landmark of the city with its green dome and twin towers and stands at Cyril and Methodius Square (Ciril-Metodov trg) by the nearby Ljubljana Central Market and Town Hall.
The site was originally occupied by an aisled three-nave Romanesque church, the oldest mention of which dates from 1262. It was a succursal church of the ancient Parish of Saint Peter. An extensive fire in 1361 saw it refurbished in the Gothic style but underwent alterations when the Diocese of Ljubljana was established in 1461 and the church became a cathedral. However, in 1469 it was burnt down again. This time, it was suspected to be arson, presumably by the Turks.[3]
Baroque cathedral[edit]
In 1700, at the initiative of Dean Johann Gregor Thalnitscher and the Academia Operosorum Labacensium, the Capuchin friar Florentianus Ponnensis from Milan or Bologna designed a new Baroque hall church.[4] The following year, after the construction already started, the plan was revised and complemented by the Jesuit architect Andrea Pozzo who designed it as a basilica and added to it a dome. He did not supervise the realisation of his plan, so the buildings was significantly adapted by the builders, in particular by Francesco Bombassi of Venice.[5][6] The two belfries, resembling of the Salzburg Cathedral, were added upon the plan by Lombard Giulio Quaglio.[7]
The construction took place between 1701 and 1706. It was led by Francesco Bombasi, who already after a few months replaced the unreliable Francesco Feratta, and Mihael Zamerl.[8] The master builder was Pavel Jugovic, and after his death in March 1704, Gregor Maček, Sr.[8] The construction was completed in 1706, the first worship took place in the new building in August 1706, and the consecration took place on 8 May 1707.[7] Originally, a fake dome was painted on the arch above the centre until the church's real dome was constructed by Matej Medved in 1841.
The church, oriented towards the east, is recognisable by its octagonal dome above the crossing at the eastern side, and two belfries at the western side. The dome with a cupola that replaced a painted one in 1841, was built by Matej Medved, whereas carpenter works were carried out by Jurij Pajk [sl]. The belfries were built in 1705–06 and have been decorated with gilded apples. Various relics and parchment inscriptions have been stored in them. The church towers have six bells, including the second oldest bell in Slovenia, dated to 1326, a bell by Gasparo de Franchi from 1706, and five bells by the Strojne Livarne factory.[9][10] Between the belfries, there is a segmented semicircular gable, a 1989 reconstruction of the original Baroque gable that was after the 1895 Ljubljana earthquake replaced by the builder Franz Faleschini with a triangular one according to plans by the architect Raimund Jeblinger [de].[11]
The facades of the church are decorated with 19th-century and 20th-century niches containing statues of bishops and saints, with Baroque frescoes, and with ancient Roman tombstones and some others named the Thalnitscher stone monument collection (Dolničarjev lapidarij), which was created in the early 18th century at the initiative of the historian Johann Gregor Thalnitscher. On the southern wall there is a side entrance in the eastern part and a brightly decorated Gothic pietà in the western part, a copy of one that used to be in the earlier Gothic cathedral. A sundial with Roman numerals and a Latin motto (Nescitis diem neque horam – You don't know the day or the hour), dated to 1826, also decorates the southern facade. It was renovated in 1989. The western facade with the main entrance is decorated with a plaque to the right of the entrance bearing a ceiling boss from the old Ljubljana cathedral in the form of Christ's head and the Latin inscription Memoria veteris ecclesiae cathedralis (old memories of the cathedral church).
There are six sandstone statues of bishops and saints in the niches of the cathedral. The niches of the southern facade contain the Gothic pietà, and statues of Saint Hermagoras and Saint Fortunatus, made of sandstone in 1872 by the sculptor Franc Ksaver Zajec.