1. General facts about Slovenia
1.1. Geographical characteristics
The Republic of Slovenia lies at the heart of Europe where the Alps and the Mediterranean meet the Pannonian plains and the mysterious Karst. A country with spectacular mountains, thick forests and a short Adriatic coastline, Slovenia also enjoys substantial economic and political stability. Absorbed into the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes – later Yugoslavia – after World War One, Slovenia was part of the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia under Marshall Tito. Slovenia was the wealthiest and most liberal country in the federation and did not suffer from the ethnic divisions that would bring disaster when the federation broke up. The population was almost universally Slovene and their path to independence was uniquely short and peaceful. Slovenia’s capital is Ljubljana, a lively city with pavement cafes, cultural events and Baroque buildings. The city is also home to 50,000 students – a young city with an ancient history.
1.2. Religion
The majority of Slovenes - 71.6% are Roman Catholic, although there are around 30 other religious communities and spiritual groups.
1.3. Language
The country's official language is Slovene, which makes use of the Latin alphabet.
The Slovenian language has played a special role throughout Slovenian history. It is still considered one of the foundations of national identity. In spite of various influences, it has preserved its special linguistic features - the most notable being the archaic dual form. This is the grammatical number used for two people or things in all inflected parts of speech.
Most businesspeople in large cities in Slovenia have a good command of English and some are fluent in German and Italian as well.
1.4. Food and Drink
Slovenia is also known for its great wines and delicious traditional food.
• Cuisine
Slovenia is a hospitable country which surprises its visitors with the abundance of traditional Slovenian food as well as culinary masterpieces which originated outside the country but have received a Slovenian touch. In the palette of national dishes there are many connected with the traditional festive slaughtering. Popular everyday dishes are made from cabbage, beans and potatoes. Every Slovenian region has its own various types of bread. There are also many flour-based dishes, among which those made from buckwheat – the cereal which gives grey flour, are a speciality. More than seventy variations of štruklji are widely spread across Slovenia. The most renowned is luxuriously filled prekmurska gibanica. Don’t forget to try the potica, a cake roll filled with walnuts, poppy seeds, raisins, various herbs, cottage cheese, honey or crackling. In Primorska, they will delight you with original fish dishes and delicacies made from local plants, vegetables and fruit (asparagus, artichokes, truffles), and of course pršut from Karst which is cured in the bora wind.
• Wines
Slovenia lies on the southern slopes of the Alps and touches the Mediterranean, so it enjoys the best of both worlds, as well as climatic uncertainties from both North and South. However, the tradition of wine production is very long, going back at least to the time of the Roman Empire.
Nowadays, 38 vine varieties are grown in 14 wine districts. This, together with the natural conditions mentioned above, provides a very rich diversity of taste, smell and colour in the different wines. With the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables, wild mushrooms, dairy products and fresh pasta available here, vegetarians are sure to enjoy their time in Slovenia, too.
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