The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation is one of the most beautiful churches in Ljubljana, the most important historical and architectural landmark and cultural monument of the state. Located next to the Triple Bridge, it creates with it a unique ensemble of the left bank of the Ljubljanica River.
In the 17th century, the monks of the poor Order of St Augustine built this church in fifteen years, then spent another forty years raising funds for the exterior decoration. It was finally decorated only in 1700. For more than one and a half hundred years the church belonged to the Augustinian monks. At the end of the XVIII century more powerful order of Franciscans simply took away from them the church, which has since been called Franciscan.
The Franciscans then set about rebuilding it according to their own tastes. As a result, it took on a completely different look - European Baroque, topping the long list of Ljubljana buildings built in this style. The façade has been changed only once since then - a significant reconstruction was needed after the earthquake in 1895. Ongoing restoration work continues today.
Nowadays the church looks not too big, noble building of dark pink colour with white semi-columns. Its end is adorned with a bronze statue of the Madonna and Child, the largest in size of all the sculptural representations of the Virgin Mary in the city.
The church is a beautiful and luxurious building.
Beauty and luxury fill the interior: gilded details carved with great skill and exquisite taste, rich frescoes by Mateusz Langus covering the walls. The church ceiling is painted with frescoes of extraordinary beauty by Mathieu Sternin. The Baroque altar, the work of the famous Italian Francesco Roba, also attracts attention for a long time.
The altar, together with the library, is the pride of the church. The library is located in the monastery built at the church. Its archives contain over 60,000 rare books, including priceless folios and the rarest ancient incunabula. Another pride of the active church is holding services in all European languages.
Today, the Franciscan Church is open to parishioners and tourists alike. Surrounded by poplar and thuja trees, it adorns the Prešern Square and serves as a mecca for history buffs and Baroque lovers.
