Sentjakobska Cerkev (Saint James's Church), Ljubljana

Šentjakobska cerkev (St. James’s Church) is one of Slovenia’s most important Baroque churches. The Jesuits built the present structure between 1613 and 1615, making it the first Jesuit church in the Slovene Lands. It replaced a 15th-century Gothic church founded by the Augustinian Order, which the Jesuits acquired in 1598. The adjoining monastery housed the first Jesuit college in the area, where theology, philosophy, medicine, and music were taught.

The interior contains marble altars, gilded decoration, ceiling paintings, side chapels, and an ornate pulpit. Its most significant works include the main altar and statues created by Francesco Robba between 1728 and 1732. These sculptures reflect the Venetian Baroque tradition and form one of the finest groups of religious marble carving in Slovenia.

The church originally had two bell towers, but both were severely damaged in the 1895 earthquake and later demolished. They were replaced by a single neo-Gothic tower designed by Austrian architect Raimund Jeblinger, which remains the highest church belfry in Ljubljana. Sacred music continues to play an important role through religious services and concerts.