Small in scale, vast in scope, Slovenia is a nation with big ideas, immense energy and a commitment to preserving its natural wonders and rich history. An independent republic and member of the European Union, Slovenia's diverse and untamed natural wonders span the peaks of the Julian Alps, spectacular underground caves, fjord-like lakes, striking landscapes of ancient rock and rivers and green valleys bursting with flowers. Slovenia's capital, Ljubljana, is an architectural marvel of bridges, parks, churches and buildings in the Baroque, Renaissance and Neo-Classical style, many designed by Slovenia's most acclaimed architect, Joze Plecnik. A perfect balance of Old World allure and 21st-century vision, it is the soul of this dynamic, newly independent nation and its hospitable and friendly.