Franciscan Church of the Annunciation

The Franciscan Church in Ljubljana. In front, the monument to France Prešeren.

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 of Slovenia. It is the parish church of Ljubljana - Annunciation Parish.

Built between 1646 and 1660 (the belltowers following later), it replaced an older church on the same site. The layout takes the form of an early-Baroque basilica with one nave and two rows ol lateral chapels. The Baroque main altar was executed by the sculptor Francesco Robba. Much of the original frescos were ruined by the cracks in the ceiling caused by the Ljubljana earthquake in 1895. The new frescos were painted by the Slovene impressionist painter Matej Sternen.

The Franciscan Church - Night View

Next to the church, squeezed between Čop Street, Nazor Street and Prešeren Square, there is a Franciscan Monastery dating from the 13th century. The monastery is famous for its library, containing more than 70,000 books, including many incunabulae and medieval manuscripts. Founded in 1233, the monastery was initially located on Vodnik Square, moving to the present location during the Josephine reforms of the late 17th century.