Slovenia, Italy - Friuli

July 2024

Since air tickets from Poland to Slovenia were relatively expensive, I decided to fly to Trieste and return to Poland from Vienna. Thanks to this, I had the opportunity to get to know the picturesque region in eastern Italy, Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Another advantage of such a move was the possibility of visiting Slovenia from south to north, without unnecessary doubling of travel routes.

Slovenia is, right after Croatia, the most attractive tourist country of the former Yugoslavia. Here you can find beautiful Adriatic beaches, vineyard-covered hills, vast valleys and karst plateaus, and even Alpine peaks. Equally rich are the monuments of the past - mighty castles, picturesque abbeys and churches with magnificent frescoes, as well as public buildings representing all architectural styles. Another advantage is the original cuisine and open and friendly inhabitants. It is impossible not to like this country, and I simply fell in love with it and will certainly come back here.

Koper and Piran

The Slovenian Adriatic coast is not very long, but the varied coastline creates charming bays and rocky headlands. It is in such places that the picturesque towns of Piran and Koper lie, a popular summer destination. Koper delighted me with its rich market square, considered one of the most beautiful in the country, while Piran overwhelmed me with crowds of tourists. However, it was enough to go beyond the main square to feel the extraordinary atmosphere of this place.

Predjama Castle and Škocjan Caves

On the second day of my stay in Slovenia, I faced the classic dilemma of every tourist, or visit the Postojna Cave or maybe it is better to choose Škocjan Caves ? I decided on the second option due to the fact that the Scottish caves are inscribed on the Unesco list and there is less traffic. The caves themselves and the surrounding karst areas made an amazing impression on me. I could not refuse to see the Predjama Grad castle, the most picturesque in the whole country.

Ljubljana

I probably won't be too original when I write that Ljubljana made an incredible impression on me. I spent hours wandering through the picturesque streets admiring monuments from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, and Art Nouveau. The interwar period holds a special place in the history of the city, because it was then that one of the most outstanding architects of the 20th century, Jože Plečnik, a Slovenian urban planner, philosopher, and visionary, realized his projects here.

Lake Bled

Lake Bled is the undisputed symbol of Slovenia, appearing in all tourist brochures advertising this country. I admit that it is indeed phenomenal, and its view from the castle walls is simply breathtaking. During an all-day trip, I visited the medieval Bled Castle, walked around the lake and took a relaxing bath in its waters. I only regret that due to communication problems I did not visit the Vingar Gorge.

Škofja Loka

Skofja Loka is the best preserved medieval town in Slovenia. Picturesquely situated on two terraces above the Selscica river, I was enchanted by its beautiful old town with impressive burgher houses, castles and churches, as well as the suburbs rich in architectural and artistic monuments. The only drawback of the tour was the ongoing renovation of the main square Mestni trg and the fact that the historical buildings are located on a large area.

Celje castle

I visited Celje, which is a bit off the beaten track, because of the family ties of the Counts of Celje with the Polish Piasts and Jagiellons. The creator of the family's power was Herman II, who was rewarded with numerous titles and land grants for saving King Sigismund of Luxembourg in the Battle of Nicopolis. The Celje Castle, located on a high, inaccessible hill, makes an incredible impression even today, and the picturesque town transports visitors to the distant past.

Ptuj

Ptuj is another city in Slovenia where time has stopped, and its biggest attraction is the breathtaking panorama of the Drava River. The city has many valuable monuments from different eras, but the real gem is the castle of the Salzburg bishops, rebuilt in the 16th century into a Renaissance residence with magnificent cloisters. Another interesting curiosity are the remains of the Roman military camp Poetovio from the 1st century AD.

Maribor

It was with great regret that I said goodbye to Slovenia, and Maribor was the last city I visited. The capital of Slovenian Styria, situated on the Drava River, enchanted me with its combination of modernity with a pinch of tradition and provinciality. The weather was good, which further highlighted the beauty of the local monuments. During the tour, I relaxed on the Drava embankment and in a stylish café located in the historic Water Tower.

ITALY

Udine

A bit forgotten today, Udine belonged to the Republic of Venice for almost 400 years, and numerous monuments from that time bear traces of the overwhelming influence of the Republic's culture. The Piazza Liberta, rightly considered one of the most beautiful squares in Italy, made the greatest impression on me. Another attraction of Udine are the frescoes by the Venetian rococo master Giambattista Tiepolo, but I have to admit that I didn't like them that much.

Aquileia and Grado

In Roman times, the famous Amber Road began in Aquileia. The rich city was destroyed by the Huns, and its inhabitants fled to nearby lagoons, founding Grado and Venice. The Unesco listed basilica and baptistery have survived to this day, as well as several archaeological sites. In the cathedral, I had the opportunity to admire a magnificent, early Christian 4th-century floor mosaic with an area of ​​760 square meters and medieval frescoes.

Trieste and Grotta Gigante

I arrived in Trieste during Pope Francis' visit to the city. Sightseeing was much more difficult due to the crowds of believers and the large screens placed in churches and main city squares. Taking advantage of the sunny morning, I admired the picturesque boulevards and neoclassical architecture of the Borgo Teresiano district. In the afternoon, I went to Grotta Gigante, the world's largest karst cave, located on a plateau above the city.

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