Homan House

Škofja Loka is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Slovenia, and its main square, Mestni trg, is lined with houses that show how a prosperous market town of the late Middle Ages looked. The Homan House stands at the northern end of the square, close to the place where one of the town's gates once stood, and it is one of the most photographed buildings in the centre. Homanova hiša, as it is called in Slovene, takes its name from a family that once owned it, and the building has been rebuilt more than once over the centuries. The surviving structure dates in its main features from the sixteenth century, with later alterations, and its position at the entrance to the old town gives it a prominent role in the street scene.

The facade is the main attraction. The upper walls are covered with painted decoration in the style of the time, including frescoes and sgraffito, a technique in which a design is scratched through a layer of plaster to reveal a darker or lighter layer beneath. Figures of saints and other figures look out over the square, among them St. Christopher, the giant who carried the Christ child across a river and who was often painted on the outside of buildings as a protector of travellers. Painted walls like this were common in Alpine towns in the late Middle Ages, but most have faded or been lost, so the survival here is precious. The house was repaired after earthquake damage in the early sixteenth century, which probably explains some of its present appearance.

Inside, the ground floor now houses a cafe, so you can step in, sit under thick stone walls and old vaults, and get a feel for the interior while enjoying a drink. The upper floors are not generally open to casual visitors, so the most rewarding approach is to study the facade from the square, perhaps with a coffee in hand. The location gives views along the old street and down towards the Selška Sora valley.

Homan House fits naturally into a walk around Škofja Loka. The Upper Square, called Plac in local speech, has a series of historic burgher houses, the Capuchin Bridge crosses the river nearby, and Puštal is the village on the edge of town with its castle-like building. The Škofja Loka Passion Play, an old tradition of religious drama, links to the town's rich cultural life, and the castle above the town houses a museum.

The house suits architecture lovers, photographers and anyone who enjoys sitting in a historic square. Visit in the morning light for the best pictures. Visitors will notice that Škofja Loka’s old streets reward looking up. The Selška Valley lies just beyond the old gate, and Loka’s medieval layout is still clear.