The oldest and largest seat of higher learning in Slovenia and one of the largest universities in Europe, the idea for starting a national university dates back to the tumultuous year of 1848, although it took a further six decades for the dream to be turned into a reality. Officially established on July 23, 1919 as the University of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and originally made up of just five faculties, today’s University of Ljubljana is a thriving institution of some 56,000 students spread out over several different buildings around the city. The original building, completed in 1902 as the Regional Parliament of Carniola, was completely renovated in 2002 to celebrate its centenary and several gorgeous halls and rooms including the Assembly Hall, Balcony Hall, Prešeren Hall and the Museum Room are open for guided tours by prior arrangement. Well worth visiting for anyone with even a passing interest in history and architecture, tours are available in English and go into some considerable detail about the colourful life and times the building has lived through.