Krizanke

Krizanke is a former Teutonic Order monastery at Trg francoskih revolucij 1 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, redesigned in the 1950s by the architect Jože Plečnik into a cultural complex centred on an open-air theatre and courtyard. The monastery buildings date back to the 13th century and were later altered in the Baroque period, and Plečnik's interventions added a monumental gateway, colonnades and a stage setting in the courtyard. Today Krizanke is the main venue of the Ljubljana Festival each summer, with classical music, opera, ballet and theatre staged outdoors beneath the sky from June to September. Outside performances, the courtyard is free to enter in the daytime, and visitors can walk through the arcades, admire Plečnik's details and the Church of the Holy Cross within the complex, and rest at the cafe. A typical visit lasts twenty to thirty minutes, longer if attending a concert. The best photo angle is from the centre of the courtyard looking back at the arcades and the gateway, ideally in soft morning or late-afternoon light. Evening concerts are the most atmospheric but require tickets purchased in advance via the festival. Crowds are thin by day, with the busiest times being festival evenings in July and August. Krizanke stands on the west side of the river across from the old town, about five minutes on foot from Triple Bridge, and close to the Congress Square and the Ursuline Church. It can be combined easily with a walk through the Plecnik sites of the city, including the National and University Library nearby.