Ljubljana, the ville lumière with a vibrant atmosphere

During the winter, Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, always has a vibrant atmosphere, with countless free traditional events taking place in the festively decorated city centre for one of the most imaginative light shows in Central Europe. Curated by local artist Zmago Modic, the Luci d'Artista are each year one of the most interesting reasons to visit the Slovenian capital in winter. The coming months also offer the chance to visit an interesting exhibition inside a former sugar refinery. This is Art Vital, on view until 3 May 2026, which offers for the first time a multifaceted look at the joint career of Ulay and Marina Abramović, who between 1976 and 1988 indelibly left their mark on 20th century art. In addition to their canonical works, lesser-known works and a wealth of private and archive material will be presented: letters, diaries, notes, sketches, sound works and documents that only now open up new readings and interpretations. The exhibition thus goes beyond a mere retrospective and becomes a space for critical reflection on the artistic process that was inextricably linked to the lifestyle and nomadic ethos of both artists. The host building, Cukrarna, is a fascinating industrial structure that has been transformed into a major new centre for Slovenian and European contemporary art since 2021. Also worth visiting in the city are the National Museum of Slovenia, with its historical character, and the Museum of Modern Art, which exhibits paintings and sculptures of 20th-century Slovenian art, perhaps finding time to sip a hot drink in the open-air cafés along the banks of the Ljubljanica river that divides the old part of the city from the more commercial area.