Must See Slovenia - Ljubljana

Ljubljana is a smaller Prague without the hordes of tourists. By far Slovenia's largest and most populous city, this charming place feels like a clean, green, self-contented town rather than an industrious municipality of national importance.

Ljubljana began as the Roman town of Emona, and legacies of the Roman presence remain throughout the city. But contemporary Ljubljana has a vibrant Slavic air all its own. The 35,000 students who attend Ljubljana University keep the city spirited and young.

Most of the city's sights are along the banks of the Ljubljanica River. On the southwest side is the Municipal Museum. Northwest of the river is the National Museum, which has the requisite prehistory, natural history and ethnography collections. Diagonally opposite is the Museum of Modern Art, where the International Biennial of Graphic Arts is held every other summer. More museums occupy the Old Town, which also features cafes, baroque churches and quaint bridges hidden in its maze of narrow streets. If looking at all this art incites the need for some R&R, head for peaceful Tivoli Park, in the northwestern quadrant of the city.