Europe Explored » sculptor https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Utena – one of the oldest settlements in Lithuania https://europeexplored.com/2012/01/19/utena-one-of-the-oldest-settlements-in-lithuania/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/01/19/utena-one-of-the-oldest-settlements-in-lithuania/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 07:30:34 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=6041 Utena is located in the eastern part of Lithuania and is considered one of the oldest settlements in the country. The city’s name has been firstly mentioned in the year 1261. There are four rivers flowing through the city – Vyžuona, Krašuona, Vieša and Utenele and you can find here also two lakes – Dauniškis […]

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]]> Utena is located in the eastern part of Lithuania and is considered one of the oldest settlements in the country. The city’s name has been firstly mentioned in the year 1261. There are four rivers flowing through the city – Vyžuona, Krašuona, Vieša and Utenele and you can find here also two lakes – Dauniškis and Vyžuonaitis.

Vilnius, Lithuania
Illustrative photo of nearby city of Vilnius – if you have actual photo of Utena, please let us know. Author: F H Mira

Utena today is mainly an industrial city with food and clothing factories. Especially famous is the local beer Utenos. Most of the streets, squares and public parks have been renovated in recent years and Utena becomes a favorite travel destination for those looking for both the quiet and sporty recreation. In 2007, despite its industrial orientation, was proclaimed the second most pleasant city to live in an international competition in the category of cities with ten to fifty thousand inhabitants. Utena have several extensive parks and many opportunities for recreation.

About 5 kilometres north of Utena you can visit the village Sirutenai where you will find Museum of Bells and Arts, which was founded by a local sculptor. Despite the efforts of the Soviets to destroy all the chapels, crucifixes and churches here at the roads they survived until today. You have to see 300 bells of all shapes and sizes.

Not far from Utena you can find another village Dusetos, which is known for the annual horse races on the frozen lake Sartai.


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]]> https://europeexplored.com/2012/01/19/utena-one-of-the-oldest-settlements-in-lithuania/feed/ 0 Maribor – the second largest city in Slovenia https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/26/maribor-the-second-largest-city-in-slovenia/ https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/26/maribor-the-second-largest-city-in-slovenia/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2011 11:03:47 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=4711 Maribor, with its 100,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city in Slovenia, after the capital city of Ljubljana. But it is the largest city of Slovenian part Styria (Slovene: Štajerska). Basic information Maribor is an important transport hub, especially for those travelling from Central Europe to Croatia or from Eastern Europe to Italy. But this […]

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]]> Maribor, with its 100,000 inhabitants, is the second largest city in Slovenia, after the capital city of Ljubljana. But it is the largest city of Slovenian part Styria (Slovene: Štajerska).

Basic information
Maribor is an important transport hub, especially for those travelling from Central Europe to Croatia or from Eastern Europe to Italy. But this city deserve more, not just passing through. There are galleries, museums and also the university, which was founded in 1961. But the main attraction is the four hundred years old, still nascent, grape-vine in Lent – the oldest part of the city. Through the city flows the river Drava, where you can try a traditional raft ride.

History of Maribor
Maribor originated from the village below the Markburg castle. It was first mentioned in 1208, the name Maribor is used only since the late 19th century. There is also a large railway junction (the oldest railway crossing Slovenia) and the highway to Zagreb, Ljubljana and Graz. Until the World War I, there was a large minority of Germans living in Maribor. But they had to leave after the first, and then also after the Second World War, so now the city is purely Slovenian.

Old Vine (Stara trta)
The old grape-vine on the banks of Lent was discovered during the renovation of the port. It was found that this forgotten grape is perhaps the oldest in Europe (three hundred to four hundred years old). Ceremonial harvest of these precious berries of wine is at the end of October. However the wine of this origin can hardly be bought. You could get it only as a present and only if you are really very important visitor to the city of Maribor.

Maribor’s Squares
Core central area of ​​Maribor includes the Main Square (Glavni Trg) and Slomškov Square (Slomškov Trg). On the Main Square you can see the Plague Column made by the sculptor Joseph Straub, which commemorate the tragedy of 17th century, when a third of Maribor’s residents died of black death. On the same square you can admire the old Renaissance Town Hall (Rotovž), through you can walk to Town Hall Square (Rotovški Trg). On the Slomškov Square you can see the monumental church and great facade of the classicist theater.

Lent International Summer Festival
Bank of river Drava, formerly a major port or residence of rafters and small craftsmen, is now a promenade with many cafes and restaurants. It is suitable for pleasant walks. Lent is also a place of the annual international music, theater and entertainment festival. It is held for approximately two weeks at the end of June.


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]]> https://europeexplored.com/2011/07/26/maribor-the-second-largest-city-in-slovenia/feed/ 2 Pienza – the model of the Renaissance town in the heart of Tuscany, Italy https://europeexplored.com/2010/10/23/pienza-the-model-of-the-renaissance-town-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/10/23/pienza-the-model-of-the-renaissance-town-in-the-heart-of-tuscany-italy/#comments Sat, 23 Oct 2010 17:03:30 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=1425 Pienza is a lovely town, whose small chamber center had been almost totally rebuilt by Pope Pius II. in 15th century. In 1405 in Corsignanu, as Pienza was called at that time, was born Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini. He later became a leading humanist and philosopher. In 1458 he became pope Pius II, and a year […]

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]]> Pienza is a lovely town, whose small chamber center had been almost totally rebuilt by Pope Pius II. in 15th century. In 1405 in Corsignanu, as Pienza was called at that time, was born Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini. He later became a leading humanist and philosopher. In 1458 he became pope Pius II, and a year later he decided to change the face and the name of his birthplace.

Florentine architect and sculptor Bernardo Rossellino, was assigned to a cathedral project, the papal palace and town hall (all buildings have been completed within three years from 1459 to 1462). Grandiose plan – to build the model of the Renaissance city has never been realized. Some ideas of how the town could looks, you can see at Palazzo Piccolomini, the former papal palace which served until 1968.

You can see there for example Pius bedroom and library. The main highlight is a stunning panorama, which opens to visitors from the balcony and the arcaded courtyard in the back of the palace.

A pleasant walk, and another amazing spectacle you can enjoy by the village walls.

Pienza is surrounded by nature and it is home to 3,000 inhabitants. It is famous for its cheese production, which you can see everywhere in the town. The cheeses are aged here for several years, stored in underground and are made with different flavors.


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