One of the emblems of Ljubljana is the dragon, and dragons in many forms appear throughout the city. The heart of the city is pedestrian-only, and a very pleasant place to stroll. The castle above the city is the oldest part of the city. The city center is largely 18th and 19th centuries, although there are many older buildings. One of the city’s more eccentric sons was a, by most accounts, difficult, almost misanthropic, but genius architect by the name of Pletnik, who designed some of the city’s many bridges. His house is preserved pretty much as it was at the time of his death in 1957. The city is a trove of Art Deco and Art Nouveau buildings. Only a few modern high-rise buildings are to be found in the city center, most dating from Communist times. Outside the center are some handsome modern buildings. The city abounds in parks — the largest is known as Tivoli.
