Ljubljana Cathedral (St. Nicholas' Church)

CATHEDRAL (ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH) of Ljubljana
Originally there was a Romanesque basilica here, which was first mentioned in 1262. After a fire in 1361, it was given a Gothic vault. After the establishment of the Diocese of Ljubljana in 1461, the church was expanded and rebuilt several times. In 1469 it was probably burned down by the Turks. In 1701 it was demolished and replaced by a new, baroque hall church in the shape of a Latin cross with side chapels.
The plans were drawn up by the Jesuit architect Andrea Pozzo, and construction lasted until 1706. An apparent dome was originally painted on the crossing vault, but the real one was not built until 1841. In addition to the frescoes by Giulio Quaglio (1703-06 and 1721-23), the following Baroque decorations are of importance: four statues of bishops of the city of Emona under the dome supports - all works by the sculptor Angelo Putti (1712-13), his depiction of the cathedral dean Janez Anton Dolničar (1715), who inspired the construction of the new cathedral, and in the transept on the left the altar angels by Francesco Robba (from the period between 1745 and 1750) and the altar created by the brothers Paolo and Giuseppe Groppelli (1711) on the right.
Numerous works of art in the cathedral were created later. Also interesting is the dome painting by Matevž Langus from 1844. Of exceptional importance among the additions made in the 20th century are the main gate with a depiction of the history of the Slovenes, created by the sculptor Tone Demšar to mark the 1250th anniversary of the Christianization of the Slovenes, and the side gate with portraits of the bishops of Ljubljana in the 20th century, a work by the sculptor Mirsad Begić.
Text / Source: Ljubljana Tourism Public Institute is the City of Ljubljana
visitljubljana.com/en/poi/cathedral-of-st-nicholas

The Cathedral of St. Nicholas is located on Ciril-Metodov Square, right in the center of Ljubljana. It is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Ljubljana. The baroque cathedral is dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra.

In 1996, on the occasion of the visit of Pope John Paul II, two massive bronze doors with relief representations of Slovene history and the bishops of Ljubljana were installed. Is explained in detail by each tour guide, what is there to see and what it means!