These extensive remains of the Roman period are among the most representative in the whole of Sicily. They consist of a long brick wall dating from the Imperial age, which was restored only in 1943. The Restoration also brought to light part of the original pavement. Although these Roman remains, running parallel to the upper stretch of Corsa Umbertico, are aesthetically diminished by the row of houses built above them, the monumental row of the 18 larger niches is nonetheless remarkable.*

*From the book entitled ‘Taormina – The Pearl of the Ionian Sea”

One of the scant survivors of the Roman town of Emona which once stood on the present site of Ljubljana, the Roman Wall complex runs for two blocks along Mirje street at what was the southern side of the fortification. Built between 14 and 15 AD, the wall measures 2.4 metres wide and from 6 to 8 metres high. Renovated during the 1930s, famed architect Joze Plecnik took the liberty of inexplicably adding a bizarre stone pyramid atop one section of the wall. Another renovation of the Roman Wall took place in the 1990s. This is the main vestige of the remaining traces of Emona, which fell into decline around 600 AD.

After breakfast we visited St Nicholas’ Cathedral and the Franciscan Church of the Annunciation. Both were decorated in a similar style inside. After these visits we went to look inside the Galerija Emporium department store to look at the Art Deco features of the building. There was not much to be seen on the inside so we left slightly disappointed  and went on to visited some bookshops before going for a walk past the opera house and modern art gallery. We noticed a distinctive Austrian style chalet which we went to investigate. When we got closer we found it was the American embassy. As there were police and security guards outside I decided not to chance taking a photograph.

We walked on and this took us past other embassies although we did not see the British one. By now it was lunch time and I suggested that we might be walking the wrong way to get back into town. Mr C wasn’t convinced so he got the map out to establish where we were. One of the locals stopped and asked if we needed help then pointed us in the right direction (thank you). The walk back to town took us past the Roman Wall which I had wanted to see anyway.

As part of the Ljubljana package, we had been given a voucher for a free boat ride so after lunch we made our way down to the mooring point for the panoramic boat ride. As we got on board we were offered drinks and everyone remained quiet until I said that I would like a glass of bubbly. It would have been rude not to During the cruise we were informed that the boat had been fully hand built in Lake Bled and that it had taken eighteen months to build. We were provided with an interesting commentary as we sailed along

After alighting the boat, we stopped off at a highly recommended ice cream outlet and chose our preferred flavour, mine being blueberry sorbet and fig and walnut ice cream. We were expecting one scoop of each flavour but we were given two of each. Very decadent!! Once back in the hotel we put our feet up for a well earned rest before returning to town for our evening meal.