The Balkan nation of Slovenia offers tourists a wide variety of landscapes in a small space: Alpine in the northwest, Mediterranean in the southwest, Pannonian in the northeast and Dinaric in the southeast.
The nation's capital, Ljubljana, proudly shows its Baroque and Art Nouveau influence. Other attractions include the Julian Alps, with picturesque Lake Bled and Soča Valley, as well as the nation's highest peak, Mount Triglav. Perhaps even more famous is Slovenia's Karst, named after the Karst plateau in southwestern Slovenia. More than 28 million visitors have visited Postojna Cave, while a 15-minute ride from it are Skocjan caves, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Further in the same direction is the coast of the Adriatic sea, with a jewel of Venetian style Gothic architecture, Piran. The hills around the nation's second-largest city, Maribor, are renowned for their wine-making. Even though Slovenes tend to consume most of the wine they produce, some brands like Lutomer have made their appearance abroad. Geology has made the northeastern part of the country rich with spas, with Rogaska Slatina being perhaps its most prominent site.
