Vrba is one of ten villages in the Municipality of Žirovnica in the Upper Carniolan region of Slovenia. It was first mentioned in written sources from 1247 and is a typical example of a compact Alpine village. According to the 2002 census, it has a population of 196. The Slovene national poet France Prešeren, who was born in the village, dedicated it the sonnet "O Vrba", the first of his Sonnets of Misfortune.
Vrba from an airplane
Saint Mark's Church
The birthplace of France Prešeren and Anton Vovk
The birthplace of Janez Zlatoust Pogačar, bishop of Ljubljana (1875–1884)
Upper Carniola is a traditional region of Slovenia, the northern mountainous part of the larger Carniola region. The largest town in the region is Kranj, and other urban centers include Jesenice, Tržič, Škofja Loka, Kamnik, and Domžale. It has around 300,000 inhabitants or 14% of the population of Slovenia.
Upper Carniola near Spodnja Sorica
Upper Carniolan folk costumes
Female traditional costume with traditional head coverings: a peča (left) and zavijačka (right)
A typical rural shrine