The Franciscan Church of the Annunciation (Slovene: Frančiškanska cerkev Marijinega oznanjenja or commonly Frančiškanska cerkev) is a Franciscan church located on Prešeren Square in Ljubljana, the capital ofSlovenia. It is the parish church of Ljubljana – Annunciation Parish. Its red colour is symbolic of the Franciscan monastic order.[1] Since 2008, the church has been protected as a cultural monument of national significance of Slovenia.[2]
Built between 1646 and 1660 (the bell towers following later), it replaced an older church on the same site. The early-Baroque layout takes the form of a basilica with one nave and two rows of side-chapels. The Baroque mainaltar was executed by the sculptor Francesco Robba. Many of the original frescoes were ruined by the cracks in the ceiling caused by the Ljubljana earthquake in 1895. The new frescoes were painted in 1936 by the Sloveneimpressionist painter Matej Sternen.[1]
The front facade of the church was built in the Baroque style in 1703–1706 and redesigned in the 19th century. It has two parts, featuring pilasters with the Ionic capitals in the lower part and pilasters with Corinthian capitals in the upper part. The sides of the upper part are decorated with volutes and at the top of the front facade stands the statue of Our Lady of Loretto, i.e. Madonna with Child. It has been made of beaten copper by Matej Schreinerupon a plan drawn by Franz Kurz zum Thurn und Goldenstein. The faces and the hands were modelled by Franc Ksaver Zajec. The statue replaced an older wooden statue of a Black Madonna in 1858. The facade also has three niches with sculptures of God the Father above the main stone portal, and an angel and the Virgin Mary in the side niches, work by the Baroque sculptor Paolo Callalo. There is a stone entrance staircase in front of the church. The wooden door with reliefs of women’s heads dates to the 19th century.
Such a lovely church.
We don’t get to see churches like this in Malaysia.
The most common denominations there are Anglican, then Methodist.
My parents actually sent me to Sunday School although they don’t believe in God.
Ha ha… My family is so dysfunctional, right?
Anglican and Methodist roots are not too far removed from the Roman Catholic faith.
Do you believe in God? I am also intrigued about your experience in Sunday School!
Gotta love the bell tower…and the color of the church!
It is rather distinctive
Our part of Russia had many similar facades in the main streets of the old town. Seems to have been popular.
It must have been a style of the time.
I didn’t know about the significance of the red colour, Cherie
I didn’t either until I read Wiki.
the pastel shades of the facade are so nice, CP. and i also like the overcast sky
It is a nice looking church. Unfortunately no photographs of the inside though.
Suffolk pink?
The colour is similar and I see a bit of Venetian influence again.