Triple Bridge in Ljubljana, Slovenia

Exploring Ljubljana by following the structures designed by Slovenian architect Jože Plečnik is a great way to discover the city. Ljubljana was an ancient Roman town called Emona, but it didn't gain importance until the 20th century. Plečnik, who lived during the Modernist era, believed that good architecture could improve people's lives and made it his mission to elevate Ljubljana through his designs. Despite being beloved by architecture fans, Plečnik is not well-known because he didn't join a major movement and instead focused on his work in Ljubljana. He aimed to turn Ljubljana into a "new Athens" and designed various spaces and buildings inspired by ancient Greek cities. One of his notable designs is Preseren Square, which features a bronze statue of Slovenia's most famous poet, France Preseren. The square is adjacent to Plečnik's iconic Triple Bridge, which spans the Ljubljanica River with three bridges at slight angles to each other. The bridge design, inspired by Venice's Rialto Bridge, includes one bridge for pedestrians, one for cars, and one for bicyclists, as well as some of Europe's earliest public toilets, which are still in use today. Historians believe that a bridge has existed at this location since the 13th century, but Plečnik's 1932 redesign was a radical departure from previous structures. Overall, Plečnik's contributions have had a lasting impact on Ljubljana's architecture and character.