Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia. The population of Maribor is approximately 133,000 [...
Maribor is the second largest city in Slovenia. The population of Maribor is approximately 133,000 [1]. Maribor lies on the river Drava at the meeting point of the Pohorje mountain, the Drava Valley, the Drava Plain, and the Kozjak and Slovenske gorice hill ranges. It is the center of the Slovenian region of Lower Styria and its largest city. Maribor Airport is the second largest international airport in Slovenia. The nearest larger urban center is Graz (Gradec) in Austria which is about 60 km (40 miles) away. Maribor's coat of arms features a white dove flying downwards above a white castle with two towers and a portcullis on a red shield. Popular tourist sites in Maribor include the 12th century cathedral in the Gothic style and the town hall constructed in the Renaissance fashion. The castle dates from the 15th century. The city hosts the University of Maribor, established in 1961, and many other schools. It is also home to the oldest grapevine in the world called Stara trta, which is more than 400 years old. Maribor is hometown of NK Maribor (www), a Slovenian football team. They participated in the UEFA Champions League in the 1999-2000 season. Every January, the skiing centre of Mariborsko Pohorje, situated on the outskirts of the city on the slopes of the Pohorje mountain range, hosts women's slalom and giant slalom races for the Alpine Skiing World Cup known as Zlata lisica (The Golden Fox). Every June, the two-week Festival Lent (named after the waterfront district called Lent) is held, with hundreds of musical, theatrical and other events. Maribor was named as an Alpine city in 2000 and chosen as European Capital of Culture 2012 alongside with Guimar??es, Portugal. Maribor will be the host city of the 2013 Winter Universiade.
