Stolnica Svetega Nikolaja (Saint Nicholas Cathedral), Ljubljana (must see)

Saint Nicholas Cathedral is the country’s principal Roman Catholic church and an important example of Baroque architecture. It stands on the site of earlier Romanesque and Gothic churches, the latter of which was damaged by fire in 1469. The present cathedral was built between 1701 and 1706. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, and merchants, it reflects the importance of the nearby river to historic trade.

The cathedral is recognised for its twin bell towers and green copper dome, erected in 1841. Its interior was later decorated with dome frescoes by Matevž Langus, a 19th-century Slovene painter. Before the structural dome was completed, Italian Baroque painter Giulio Quaglio painted an illusionistic dome on the wooden ceiling to create a sense of greater height. His other frescoes depict the life of Saint Nicholas and the martyrdoms of early Christians, while pink marble altars and gilded details enrich the interior.

Outside, visitors can see fragments preserved from earlier churches, including a Gothic Pietà and a carved stone bearing the face of Christ. A sundial painted in 1826 carries a Latin inscription meaning, “You know neither the day nor the hour.” The towers contain six bells, including one cast in 1326.

The bronze doors were installed in 1996 for the visit of Pope John Paul II and to mark 1,250 years of Christianity in the Slovenian lands. The main Slovene Door presents scenes from the country’s religious history. It has no conventional handles, so visitors pull on parts of the reliefs, polishing the bronze through repeated contact. The side door depicts six 20th-century bishops above the enshrouded body of Christ.