LJUBLJANA, CITY OF DRAGONS

Free tour of Ljubljana with a local guide:

Now is the time to get to know Ljubljana up close with a local tourist guide. Join a guided tour of the old city center of Ljubljana, where we will combine the history, nature, layout of the city on the dragon lines and myths, with the Ljubljana icon – the dragon. The dragon, which is also a green symbol of the city, will take us from the swampy past of Luwigana to the beloved city of today, the green capital.

The dragon is one of the most recognizable symbols of the Slovenian capital. Visually it is present on the Dragon Bridge and the city shafts, on the city coat of arms, is forged in iron, at the Ljubljana Dragon Carnival and is also used in Ljubljana cuisine; if you haven’t tried the dragon cake (“zmajeva potica”) yet, this will be your opportunity. We will also reflect on how the dragon is associated to water and points out that Ljubljana is a city with a strong water element.

By legends and tradition, the dragon has been present in Ljubljana since ancient times, when this ancient monster was defeated by Jason, the hero of Greek mythology. It is interesting that the dragon was eventually accepted as a patron saint of Ljubljana residents. Already Valvasor pointed out that the dragon on the coatof arms means vigilance or alertness. The Ljubljana dragon therefore has a very positive meaning, as it          protects the city and its inhabitants from danger.

Free tours with a local guide are enabled by the Slovenian Tourist Board in order to raise awareness about how tourist guides improve the quality of the destination experience and at the same time contribute to the support of operation and preservation or raising the quality of tourist guides as an important part of tourist services.

Free tours are available until 10^th December 2021 or until the funds are used up.

The program includes: 2 hours of free easy walking tour of the city center with a local tourist guide in Slovenian or Russian language.

Registrations are required by e-mail nika.buda@touras.si or by phone +386 41 947 447.

Main sights included in the tour: Congress Square, National University Library, Open Air Theatre Križanke, Cobblers' Bridge, the river Ljubljanica, the Town Hall, Robba Fountain, the Ljubljana Cathedral / St. Nicholas's Church, Plečnik's Market, Dragon Bridge, Butcher's Bridge, Prešeren Square with Triple Bridge and on requets Ljubljana Castle.

Meeting point: Congress Square at the anchor monument