IAS NIKA TRAVEL

Slovenia, Neighbouring Country

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Slovene Coast

The Slovene coast which measures 46.6 kilometres and covered with abundant vegetation. There is a natural reserve with a rich supply of marble and sandstone and the unique Strunjan cliff which ascends 80 metres above the sea. The Secovlje saltworks are also situated here, known to be first mentioned in the 13th century. They were named a regional park and are a rich sanctuary of plant and animal worlds. They play a very important role in the world of ornithology, because they offer ideal conditions for birds due to the warm climate and abundance of food in the saltwork pools. About 200 bird species have been seen at the saltworks and they provide a natural habitat for about 80 bird species which nest there.

Here the towns of Piran, Izola and Koper attract visitors because of their medieval image. Koper with its historical core represents one of the most picturesque parts of the northern part of the Istrian Peninsula. Water sports are very important; there are many regattas in the Bay of Koper and the town has built a small marina. It also organises the Summer Festival of Primorska. The town’s surroundings and the countryside are exceptionally attractive: the steep rock walls by Crni Kal and Osp provide an ideal place for lovers of free climbing and the countryside boasts specific culinary and wine offerings.

Izola is a coastal town with a rich fishing tradition. Most of the tourism is concentrated on the eastern side, at the bay Simonov zaliv, where there is a seaside resort with swimming facilities, hotels and restaurants. On the western edge of the town is the marina of Izola.

The old seaport of Piran lies at the end of the Piran peninsula; it was surrounded by walls in the Middle Ages (200 metres of the city walls are still preserved). The whole town is protected as a cultural and historical monument and it has preserved its medieval layout with narrow streets and compact houses, which rise in steps from the coastal lowland into the hills and give the whole area a typical Mediterranean look. Today it is an administrative and supply centre and also an important coastal tourist resort with hotels, restaurants and holiday houses, the Sergej Mašera Maritime Museum and an aquarium, cultural institutions and events.

Portoroz, a tourist town which boasts the longest tourist tradition in Slovenia and offers comfortable hotels and modern swimming pools, restaurants and events. It is a popular conference centre – various conference and meeting facilities can accommodate up to 1500 visitors. Portorož has a casino, a sport airport and marina. It is a town visited by tourists from all over Europe and other countries as well. It is an internationally known holiday centre and climatic health seaside resort.

In the Savrinska Hills in the hinterland of Portorož lies a number of old Istrian settlements (Padna, Krkavce, Koštabona, Pomjan, Gažon), and not far from the coast there is the picturesque village Hrastovlje with its Church of the Holy Trinity which is adorned by late gothic narrative frescoes. Due to these Hrastovlje is considered as a real treasure of medieval frescoe arts in Slovenia.

Ljubljana

Ljubljana with about 276,000 inhabitants, is considered a city which suits everyone from its inhabitants to its numerous visitors as well. Despite the fact that it ranks among the middle sized European cities, it  maintains the friendliness of a small town, and at the same time possesses all the characteristics of a metropolis.

Here, at the meeting point of the cultures of the east and the west, the old interlaces in harmony with the new . In Ljubljana the remainders of all the five millennia of its history are preserved, among these is the legacy of the Roman town of Emona and the Old Town with its medieval castle, Renaissance and Baroque façades, ornamented portals and uneven roofs. The mosaic is complemented with the bridges over the Ljubljanica River and the vast Tivoli Park which stretches into the very centre of the city.

The present image of Ljubljana is generated mainly by the Italian Baroque, and partly by two hundred year earlier Secession period, which is reflected in the style of numerous buildings erected immediately after the earthquake in 1895.

In the first half of the 20th century the famous architect Jože Plecnik placed a strong personal stamp on his native city while also taking European standards into consideration. The city's image was later shaped by his disciples, who were a little more liberal than him, and the Art Nouveau creations of other renowned young Slovene architects.

Ljubljana is a city of culture, home of many theatres, museums and galleries and it also boasts one of the oldest philharmonic academy in the world. More then 10,000 cultural events take place in the Slovene capital – top quality musical, theatre and fine arts performers as well as alternative and avant-garde performers – which can be discovered in 14 international festivals.

In the warmer months of the year numerous cafes and restaurants move outdoors, to the banks of the Ljubljanica and the squares of the city centre. Here the people of Ljubljana meet for a morning coffee after our Saturday visit to the market or our Saturday visit to the flea market or for an evening chat with friends. The first impression of Ljubljana obtained by the visitor is that it is an exceptionally young city, because here there are more than 50,000 students giving it a special pulse of youth.

Many scientists come to Ljubljana because of its University and institutes with international reputations.

Famous artists from all over the world visit it because of its creative spirit, economists because of numerous business meetings and fairs and international experts because of conferences – to sum up: Ljublana is a city where people often travel on business or they come again due to pleasant memories of their previous visit.

Due to its geographical position, Ljubljana also represents an ideal starting point to discover the amazingly diverse features and beauty of Slovenia.

The Alps

The mighty but easily accessible Julian Alps, the tourist area in this attractive geographical area is linked by the offer of four developed tourist towns: Bled, Kranjska Gora, Bohinj and Bovec with the Soca Valley. Most of the area is within the Triglav National Park which measures 83 807 hectares and is one of the largest natural parks in Europe. The park lies in the vicinity of high stony mountains including Mount Triglav (2864 m); the highest mountain of Slovenia - and deep river gorges, highland karst potholes and friendly highlands. It protects many endemic animal and plant species (living in the park, among unique plant species there are chamois, mountain sheep, wild roosters, grouse, eagles and marmots) and the tradition of the hard life of alpine dairymen and mountaineers.

The renowned Bled with its lake and the island with a church from the 17th century (and the bell of wishes) is situated at the edge of the park, and above it stands a medieval castle. Bled is considered a real tourist paradise with its thermal springs and other natural attractions, numerous recreational possibilities, its conference hall, casino and golf course. The best rowers of the world measure their strength in competition at Bled.

Bohinj is the starting point for numerous mountain hikes, Lake Bohinj and Bohinjska Bistrica are a paradise for lovers of water sports (kayaking, canoeing, rafting, hydro-speeding, swimming) and fishermen. In its surroundings there are ski slopes and trails for cross-country skiers and also facilities for mountain biking, paragliding, sport climbers, horseback riders, tennis and mini golf players. Bohinj (and its surrounding areas) inspire visitors with a rich ethnologic heritage with many cultural and sacral attractions as well. In Bohinjska Bistrica a new water park is being built.

A famous tourist destination Kranjska Gora attracts visitors with outdoor sports (hiking, mountaineering, cycling, horsmanship, paragliding, fishing etc) in the summer, and in winter with excellent slopes for winter sports and other joys of the winter such as the dog sled , night sledging from Vršic, roaming across the landscape by snowmobile. In Kranjska Gora there are the World Cup competitions in Alpine skiing. Visitors can enjoy its casino and wellness programmes, and younger visitors can enjoy the original land of the Slovene hero Kekec. In the nearby Planica, in the shelter of two thousand metre high mountains, the best ski jumpers in the world compete every year; we have seen the competitors surpass 100 and 200 metres in our Planica.

In the Soca Valley, the valley of the emerald river, attracts those who search peace as well as lovers of adrenaline. Here there are opportunities for numerous water sports . from kayaking to canoeing and rafting. You can also go paragliding, hang-gliding or cycling and experience the valley which is also loved by fishermen. The largest number of accommodation and guest-houses can be found in Bovec, Kobarid  and Tolmin. From the valley you can reach the highest Slovene ski centre Kanin which is only an hour’s drive from the coast, and where it is possible to ski until Summer.

Along the Idrijca River you can come to Cerkno and Idrija. This is the home of famous lace-making tradition, Idrija’s mercury mine and the Gewerkenegg Castle. That area also has reminders of many terrible battles of the First World War. They are presented in the award winning Kobarid museum. In the upper part of the valley is picturesque Trenta with the information office of the Triglav National Park, a museum and the famous alpine botanical garden Julijana.

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