Calvary Hill (Kalvarija)

Kalvarija is the green hill that rises on the northern side of Maribor, just above the centre of the city, and it is among the most popular places for locals to walk. The name, the Slovene form of Calvary, refers to the hill where Christ was crucified, and it is a common name for hills topped with a chapel and a path of Stations of the Cross. Such hills were created across Catholic Central Europe in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, as places where people could make a pilgrimage in miniature without travelling to Jerusalem, and Maribor's Kalvarija follows this pattern, with a path that climbs through trees past a series of shrines.

The walk is short and straightforward. A stepped path begins at the foot of the hill, in the streets north of the centre, and rises through woodland and gardens, passing the Stations of the Cross, small chapels or niches with images of the scenes of the Passion, which are traditionally numbered from one to fourteen. At the top stands a chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross, with a small open space around it, shaded by old trees and furnished with benches. The climb takes less than half an hour from the city centre for most people, and it is gentle enough for families and older visitors, though the steps can be slippery after rain.

The reward is the view. From the top, Maribor lies spread out below, with its red roofs, the church towers and the broad ribbon of the Drava, and beyond the city the dark ridges of Pohorje rise to the south-west, while the hills of Slovenske gorice, covered with vineyards, roll away to the north and east. The best light is in the late afternoon, when the sun slants across the town, and on clear days the view stretches a long way. The slopes of the hill are partly planted with vines, a reminder that Maribor is a wine city, and the edges of the hill are used by walkers, joggers and dog owners.

Kalvarija is a quiet counterpart to the busy streets below. It fits into a walking tour of the city, together with other places of interest. Maribor Castle, Maribor Cathedral, Freedom Square Maribor and the Judgement Tower are close to the centre, the Lent district and the Drava River Promenade lie along the river, and the Maribor Art Gallery, Kavarna HiKoFi and MAK Restaurant offer places to rest. Cultural Tours cover the Historic Sites. The hill is open at all times and free, and spring and autumn offer the best colours.