In a millenium or so Maribor has had its ups and downs. As its history shows, it was not a large or important city until the middle of the eighteenth century. Slowly it achieved prominence. It recieved fresh impetus during the initial phase of industrialization in the second half of the nineteenth century. From a peaceful, provincial town, inhabited by merchants, craftsmen associated with several guild-organizations, a sprinkling of clerks and soldiers, and a few members of the nobility, Maribor has been transformed into an economically and culturally dynamic city.
All those transformations during the time show up in the picturesque city architecture, or You can find out more about Maribors history, by visiting The Regional Archives of Maribor. Today, Maribor's "trade marks" are the University, the National Theatre with Opera, the Castle, the Cathedral, the City Park with the Aquarium, the Pohorje hills, vineyards with the european oldest vine (over 400 years old), the Plague Memorial, the Narodni dom (the National Home), the Bus Terminal, the Drava river Banks, the City's Coat of Arms.
Maribor is considered to be a cheerful, friendly city. Some relate this pleasant situation to its extensive wine-growing regions that routinely invite visits from Maribor residents. These vineyards are part of the natural beauty of the city, along with the Pohorje forests, the valley of the Drava river, the Kozjak and the Koban ravines, or the Slovenske Gorice hills and fields at the southeast of the city. Mariborians are open, easy-going people. Visitors may sometimes chide them for being perhaps too fond of their city, for being too ready to enter into competition with the more elegant centre of Ljubljana. But, such sentiments, after all, cannot be but a healthy showing of the pride and delight they take in observing day by day the multidirectional growth of the city they live in. Very quickly, the visitors will become familiar with local food and drink (especially wines). After the gastronomy needs are taking care of, let's do something for soul - perhaps you're interested of fine arts, theatre or music.