Maribor is the second largest city in Republic of Slovenia (EU), nestled along the river Drava in the embrace of the green forests of Pohorje and picturesque wine-growing hills. The city is also known as a university and metropolitan city and the economic, financial, administrative, educational, cultural, culinary, commercial and tourist centre of the north-eastern part of Slovenia. Maribor is a green city, a city of many parks, urban forests and hinterland with forests and areas with high growth potential (Pohorje, Dravsko polje). 11.4% of the area of Maribor is also situated in Natura 2000. Maribor as the capital of the Podravje region spreads across 147,5 km². Maribor is the economic, financial, administrative, cultural, educational, trade and tourist centre of north-east Slovenia. ln 2012, Maribor was awarded the titles European Capital of Culture in 2018 Maribor was the European Capital of Sport and European Capital of Social Economy. It is also a title holder of Alpine town of the year. Maribor lies at the heart of Europe at the crossroads of the X. and V. trans-European transport corridor, which connects Madrid with Kiev and Berlin with Istanbul.