Ljubljana Cathedral | |
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ljubljanska stolnica | |
Cathedral viewed from the north
(Pogačar Square) |
|
Basic information | |
Location | Ljubljana, Slovenia |
Geographic coordinates | 46°03′02″N 14°30′28″E / 46.05056°N 14.50778°ECoordinates: 46°03′02″N 14°30′28″E / 46.05056°N 14.50778°E |
Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
District | Archdiocese of Ljubljana |
Country | Slovenia |
Year consecrated | 1707 |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Cathedral |
Website | lj-stolnica |
Architectural description | |
Architect(s) | Andrea Pozzo |
Architectural type | Church |
Architectural style | Baroque |
Completed | 1706 |
Specifications | |
Dome(s) | 1 |
Dome height (outer) | 24 m (79 ft) |
Spire(s) | 2 |
Ljubljana Cathedral (Slovene: ljubljanska stolnica), officially named St. Nicholas's Church (cerkev sv. Nikolaja, unofficially also šenklavška cerkev), also named St. Nicholas' Cathedral (Slovene: stolnica sv. Nikolaja), the Cathedral of St. Nicholas, or simply the Cathedral (Stolnica), is a cathedral in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia. Originally, Ljubljana Cathedral was a Gothic church. In the early 18th century, it was replaced by a Baroque building. It is an easily recognizable landmark of the city with its green dome and twin towers and stands at Cyril and Methodius Square (Ciril-Metodov trg) by the nearby Ljubljana Central Market and Town Hall.
The site was originally occupied by an aisled three-nave Romanesque church, the oldest mention of which dates from 1262. It was a succursal church of the ancient Parish of Saint Peter. An extensive fire in 1361 saw it refurbished in the Gothic style but underwent alterations when the Diocese of Ljubljana was established in 1461 and the church became a cathedral. However, in 1469 it was burnt down again. This time, it was suspected to be arson, presumably by the Turks.
In 1700, at the initiative of Dean Johann Gregor Thalnitscher and the Academia Operosorum Labacensium, the Capuchin friar Florentianus Ponnensis from Milan or Bologna designed a new Baroque hall church. The following year, after the construction already started, the plan was revised and complemented by the Jesuit architect Andrea Pozzo who designed it as a basilica and added to it a dome. He did not supervise the realisation of his plan, so the buildings was significantly adapted by the builders, in particular by Francesco Bombassi of Venice. The two belfries, resembling of the Salzburg Cathedral, were added upon the plan by Lombard Giulio Quaglio.