Second day in Ljubljana, still loving it!
Practical stuff - the weather. Stunning blue skies but a morning temperature of 12 and a high of 27, although it certainly didn't feel cold this morning.
I'm fascinated by the Art Nouveau architecture around the city and have tried at various times today to capture the Co-operative Bank building which is just along from where I'm staying. The architect Ivan Vurnik has taken the Art Nouveau style one step further by incorporating motifs from Slovenian folklore into the decoration on the building. It's just so vibrant and different.
A street away (and housing Zara and Mango) the buildings are more renaissance with the domed tower features and statues on the roofs.
I want to take you back to the Preseren Trg (square). Preseren was a poet (1800 to 1848) who is credited with writing the first poems in the Slovenian language (which hitherto had been considered a peasant's language) and the Slovenian National Anthem. The eponymous trg has a statue dedicated to him - he lived in conflict with both the civil and religious establishment as well as the provincial bourgeoise of Ljubljana. (Reading between the lines, i guess he was an immature romantic with social issues)..
As a 40 year old he fell passionately in love with a 16 year old called Julija - it was unrequited love (thank goodness). He had a close relationship with alcohol (and depression) and twice he tried to kill himself. His death at 48 was alcohol related. Anyway. I'm telling you this to help you appreciate the statue in the trg - he stands with a book of poetry in his hand, but behind him sits his muse Julija, topless and i guess nubile, (or the other way around). Ironically, the statue is right opposite the Franciscan Church, and in those pious times there was a bit of backlash about the lack of modesty, but the respect for the poet swayed popular outrage. And, opposite, following Preseren's gaze, and on the side of building where Julija lived, is another part of the statue, Julija looking out of the window at him., frozen in time. Isn't that cute?
Practical stuff - the weather. Stunning blue skies but a morning temperature of 12 and a high of 27, although it certainly didn't feel cold this morning.
I'm fascinated by the Art Nouveau architecture around the city and have tried at various times today to capture the Co-operative Bank building which is just along from where I'm staying. The architect Ivan Vurnik has taken the Art Nouveau style one step further by incorporating motifs from Slovenian folklore into the decoration on the building. It's just so vibrant and different.
A street away (and housing Zara and Mango) the buildings are more renaissance with the domed tower features and statues on the roofs.
I want to take you back to the Preseren Trg (square). Preseren was a poet (1800 to 1848) who is credited with writing the first poems in the Slovenian language (which hitherto had been considered a peasant's language) and the Slovenian National Anthem. The eponymous trg has a statue dedicated to him - he lived in conflict with both the civil and religious establishment as well as the provincial bourgeoise of Ljubljana. (Reading between the lines, i guess he was an immature romantic with social issues)..
As a 40 year old he fell passionately in love with a 16 year old called Julija - it was unrequited love (thank goodness). He had a close relationship with alcohol (and depression) and twice he tried to kill himself. His death at 48 was alcohol related. Anyway. I'm telling you this to help you appreciate the statue in the trg - he stands with a book of poetry in his hand, but behind him sits his muse Julija, topless and i guess nubile, (or the other way around). Ironically, the statue is right opposite the Franciscan Church, and in those pious times there was a bit of backlash about the lack of modesty, but the respect for the poet swayed popular outrage. And, opposite, following Preseren's gaze, and on the side of building where Julija lived, is another part of the statue, Julija looking out of the window at him., frozen in time. Isn't that cute?
Pink building is beautiful - can you bring one home please?
ReplyDeleteAll respectful women should sit topless and gaze at their lovers, should they not....
Indeed. Perhaps after 16 years they should be aware of gravity though
ReplyDelete