Art Nouveau Tour in Ljubljana and Trieste

4 nights starting from
£1469

  • Ljubljana’s superb Art Nouveau architecture, including the Dragon Bridge, Hauptmann House and University Library

  • The Liberty architecture of lovely Trieste

  • Joze Plecnik’s St Michael’s Church and Zale Cemetery

  • Two talks from Art Nouveau expert, Prof. Anne Anderson

At the turn of the 20th century, a new artistic style contributed significantly to the appearance of a number of European cities. In Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, it developed under the influence of the Viennese Secession and found expression mainly in architecture, with the emphasis on local architects, such as Maks Fabiani, who, like their counterparts in other European cities, utilised the advantages of the new industrial serial production and materials such as iron, steel, glass and reinforced concrete, with inspiration coming from the animal and plant worlds, folklore and geometric forms. The major earthquake in Ljubljana in 1895 offered plenty of scope for rebuilding and its Art Nouveau collection is one of the finest in Europe, with many noteworthy buildings including the Dragon Bridge and Hauptmann House. Our tour, in the company of expert, Prof. Anne Anderson, ventures over the border into Italy and the lovely city of Trieste, who adopted an Italianate version of Art Nouveau, which became known as “Liberty.”

Available Departures

From

20 - March - 2025 £ 1469.00 Travel Info On Request

Provisional Timings

London Gatwick

Departing: 20th March 2025 at 17:10

Returning: 24th March 2025 at 19:45

ITINERARY

Day 1: Fly from London Gatwick to Ljubljana.
On arrival, transfer to the hotel for four nights with a light cold plate at the hotel included on your arrival.

Day 2: Full day Ljubljana by coach and on foot.
Our first full day in Slovenia’s capital takes us first to the home and studio of one of the city’s most famous sons, Joze Pleznik, whose work is evident in the city. A guided tour in small groups will show you the details of his life, style and work. Other sights on the itinerary include the city’s Sluice Gate, Church of St Francis, Central Market and Covered Market (designed by Plecnik). After free time for lunch (not included) at the atmospheric market, our afternoon continues on foot with the Dragon Bridge, Triple Bridge and a river cruise where we can view the city from a different perspective. This evening a talk from Anne, ‘Secession: from Vienna to Ljubljana’ and dinner with wine at the hotel.

Day 3: Full day Ljubljana  on foot.
Our day starts with a guided walking tour of Miklosiceva ulica street, where many of the best Art Nouveau architecture is to be found including Vurnik House, Urbanc House, Hauptmann House in Preseren Square, Cobbler’s Bridge, People’s Loan Bank Building, Mladika School, Municipal Savings Bank Building, Trnovo Bridge and Church of St John the Baptist. Free time to rest your feet and enjoy a leisurely lunch (not included) before continuing to the National and University Library, designed by Joze Plecnik, to visit the famous Reading Room, said to be one of the most unique library spaces in the world, showcasing outstanding Art Nouveau details including chandeliers by Plecnik. Our final visit of the day will be to the city’s National Gallery. This evening a second talk from Anne ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Trieste, ‘Liberty Style in Trieste and Beyond’ and dinner with wine at the hotel .

Day 4: Full day Trieste.
This morning we head south west just over the border into Italy and the lovely seaside city of Trieste, where Anne will cast her expert eye over the city’s myriad of Art Nouveau buildings including the National Hall, Palazzo Viviani, Central Fish Market, Ambasciatori Cinema and many more. Its seaside location on the Golf of Trieste lends the city a delightful atmosphere and there will be some free time to soak up the local colour and enjoy a local lunch (not included) before visiting the Revoltella Museum of modern art, whose collection is concentrated on significant 20th century Italian artists. Return to Ljubljana, where the evening is free to enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants close to the hotel.

Day 5: Ljubljana and depart.
This morning is free to explore the city and a final lunch (not included) before heading to the outskirts of Ljubljana for two of Plecnik’s most original and significant buildings from the late 1930s. First, we visit the Church of St Michael in the Ljubljana marshes and constructed on piles before heading to our last visit at Zale Cemetery with its colonnaded memorial arch where we will enjoy a guided tour before bidding farewell to this much under-rated city and head to the airport for the return flight to London Gatwick.

NB: Exact order of excursions may vary according to local conditions and tour manager's discretion.

Please note the maximum group size on this tour is 25 passengers.

INCLUDED

  • Return flights from London Gatwick to Ljubljana
  • Four nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Grand Hotel Union, based on shared occupancy of a twin/double room
  • Cold plate at the hotel on arrival
  • Welcome reception and two dinners with wine at the hotel
  • Two lectures at the hotel
  • Transfers, tours and entrance fees
  • Prof. Anne Anderson and tour manager throughout

NOT INCLUDED

  • Double for sole use supplement 
  • Holiday insurance 
  • Meals other than those stated 
  • Items of a personal nature such as drinks, laundry, telephone calls etc 
  • Porterage and gratuities

HOTEL

Grand Hotel Union, Ljubljana
Traditional four-star hotel dating back to 1905, located in the heart of the city and constructed in Secession style, which has been welcoming distinguished guests including the British Queen for more than a century.  The hotel boasts an indoor swimming pool, wellness centre, historic café, restaurant and atmospheric Art Nouveau bar as well very comfortable bedrooms with all modern amenities including TV, telephone, air-conditioning, minibar, safe and hairdryer.

Hotel Website

MORE INFO - Please click here to see full details of this tour

Prof. Anne Anderson
Prof. Anne Anderson author, broadcaster and Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, was a senior lecturer at Southampton Solent University for 14 years, specialising in the Arts and Crafts, Art Nouveau and Modernism. Anne's career as an international speaker has taken her all over the world and her TV credits include the BBC's Flog It!. Anne has received a rapturous response from or customers at the many Travel Editions UK lectures and tours as well as a host of tours overseas and her knowledge, wit and enthusiasm bring her beloved subjects to life in whatever location she finds them.

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Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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Great hotel. Well-organised tour.

Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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I thoroughly enjoyed my trip and thought Anne Andersen was excellent. The hotel was also delightful. My only comment is that the Italian Guide in Trieste has very little knowledge and doesn't know how to keep a group together. She should not be used again. She stopped the coach in the middle of a road! I'm sure you will hear other comments.

Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024

Travel Editions feedback:

Thank you very much for the feedback, we've made a note on this guide and won't be using them again. Many thanks, looking forward to seeing you on another one of our tours.


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I gather there is an obligation to use local guides, but Anne could have done a better job than both, particularly in Trieste. I'm not keen on the audio devices.

Review by Bryson who travelled 21-March-2024


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Very enjoyable. Bad start with a long delay from Easyjet and I would have liked the television in my hotel room to work. But great visits and good value for money.

Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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Ann and Scot were excellent- a shame they couldn’t lead in Trieste- their knowledge seemed superior to the local guide.

Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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A well researched and most enjoyable tour, excellent hosts and hotel. I would recommend this to anyone.

Review by Linne who travelled 21-March-2024


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Very well placed hotel in a lovely little walkable city.

Review by Jackson who travelled 21-March-2024


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Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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Anne and Scott Anderson were a great team - she is an art expert, also very good on history. He excelled at the admin. The hotel was perfect - by far the best I have stayed in on, I think, 7 tours with Travel Editions - brilliant staff, superb food and wonderful location. Easy jet probably no worse than other airlines but outward flight delayed by 90 mins and seats very cramped. Guide in Trieste was useless but we had been spoiled by Anne. I'm looking forward to my next tour!

Review by Fawcett who travelled 21-March-2024


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A well organised tour to two interesting cities. As ever Anne Anderson was an excellent lecturer and guide around the buildings and galleries.

Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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The trip was most enjoyable. However giving the guests the night off on a Sunday when the majority of restaurants are closed was not ideal. It was fortunate we discovered this in advance and were able with the assistance of the hotel staff to book a table at a restaurant that was open. Other members of the group were not so fortunate and ended up having to make do with burgers. Not ideal.

Review by anonymous who travelled 21-March-2024


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Covered such a lot in a few days, hotel excellent, all most enjoyable.

Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-March-2023


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On Day 2, we went from breakfast to lunchtime without a coffee break. We were not impressed with the tour guide we had to use in Trieste, she was extremely hard to understand. She also didn't appreciate that we had travelled for over an hour from Ljubjiana and really needed a quick coffee break half way through her tour which finally ended at nearly 1.00pm. Our age group need these breaks factored in to the tours as we cannot be expected to go for hours without a drink - not healthy!

Review by Henry who travelled 23-March-2023


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Ljubljana is a delightful city and easy to get around. The hotel was excellent, very well situated and our rooms were spacious and comfortable. The meals we had at the hotel were of a good quality, as were the wines. As always, Anne and Scott were the perfect team making the trip interesting, informative and enjoyable.

Review by Feely who travelled 23-March-2023


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What a pity a couple of people came with significant disabilities despite the warnings on the tour details! They caused many delays and difficulties for the tour managers who were absolute saints with them. The tour was inspirational and a delight!

Review by Baker who travelled 23-March-2023


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An excellent trip. Anne was a fountain of knowledge and delivered it to us clearly and succinctly. Nothing ruffled Scott, even switching a day’s order of events at the arrival of heavy rain. I also loved the use of the Vox Box so we didn’t miss a word of explanation. Thank you both.

Review by Dumville who travelled 23-March-2023


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Anne and Scott make a wonderful team together, and we could all appreciate the combination of knowledge and admin. I know tours in Europe have to make use of local guides; after our 1 1/4 hour early morning journey to Trieste, we were all gasping for a coffee - so perhaps meeting the local Italian guide could be done at the Cafe San Marco in future rather than in the city centre, so that our time with the guide could be appreciated more after a resuscitating coffee, and started a good half-hour after our arrival there? The Union hotel was simply wonderful - most definitely the best we've stayed in on a Travel Editions tour!

Review by Turnbull who travelled 23-March-2023


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I enjoyed this trip very much and Anne and Scott Anderson ran this trip extremely well. My only comment is I appreciated having my boarding pass printed and sent to me but unfortunately the printer printed over the bar code and the pass was rejected by the airport scanners at both airports which lead to difficulties. I look forward to my next Travel Editions experience

Review by Anonymous who travelled 23-March-2023


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I really enjoyed this tour to Ljubjlana. Anne is a fascinating and knowledgeable guide and It was good to have a dedicated tour manager.

Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-March-2022


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Most charming and beautiful city. Really excellent hotel. Tour leader, Steve, very efficient and helpful at every stage and Anne Anderson’s knowledge inspiring. Thoroughly enjoyed the trip and the wall to wall sunshine.

Review by Clarke who travelled 24-March-2022


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Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-March-2022


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I think the above questionnaire answers show how delighted I was with every aspect of this trip ( of course the unexpected sunshine was a bonus too!) A special thank you to Tour Manager Steve Hartnell - always calm,. always highly efficient He contributed so much to the success of this trip I know this was the first time Travel Editions had run this trip - I very much hope it will continue

Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-March-2022


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Hotel was really fantastic, very efficient and friendly. Anne gave us great lectures and walks, Steve managed the logistics so it all felt seamless. Also it was great to have an evening flight so the holiday could start properly the next day. Slovenia is a very interesting country and Ljubljana a brilliant place to visit

Review by OSullivan who travelled 24-March-2022


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This could become one of your best foreign tours. Only minor tweaking needed. Too much walking on second day. Anne had a good balance between tour time and free time. Steve was excellent at alleviating my mobility problem. I may do it again.

Review by Hamilton who travelled 24-March-2022


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Review by Anonymous who travelled 24-March-2022


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