Hrebienok, a small ski resort and a well known tourist centre located in the elevation of 1265 metres in the High Tatra Mountains, in northern Slovakia, connected by the the Starý Smokovec - Hrebienok funicular to the town of Starý Smokovec has opened the Tatra Ice Dome, a winter art installation with an intricate design modelled after the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome.
This year’s structure is a grandiose and magnificent tribute to the iconic Roman Archbasilica and two popes : the late Pope Francis who died in 2025 and his successor, Pope Leo XIV as well as in honour of the Jubilee Year.
The theme of the 13th edition of this stunning project is the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran, the oldest of the four major papal basilicas, the Catholic Cathedral of the Diocese of Rome, founded in 324 AD by Emperor Constantine, consecrated by Pope Sylvester I and dedicated to the Most Holy Saviour, Mater et caput of all Rome’s and the world’ Catholic churches, and also known to be the oldest church of the Western World.
The architectural design of the dome was created again by sculptor Adam Bakoš, who worked on the structure together with 20 sculptors from Slovakia, Czech Republic, Germany and Poland for 25 days. In total the facility was constructed using 225 tons of ice, which were formed into 1.800 ice blocks.
The dome
with a diameter of 25 metres and a height of 10.7 metres, maintains a constant
temperature between 
−3 and - 10∘C.
The ice dome features a replica of the Archbasilica façade crowned with statues of Christ, Saint John the Baptist, Saint John the Evangelist and the twelve Apostles on the roofline, a unique masterpiece completed in 1735 and designed by architect Alessandro Galilei in a Baroque and Neoclassical style.
On the right - hand side, visitors will find the Holy Door, a symbol of faith and hope, which, in the real Archbasilica, is opened only once every 25 years during the Jubilee Year and 2025 is the latest Jubilee, giving this year’s theme even deeper significance.
On the left side lies the Papal altar surrounded by portraits of the six recent pontiffs including Leo XIV, Francis, Benedict XVI, John Paul II, and John Paul I and Paul VI, along with the Papal Throne and carved doors that all together form a moving image of faith, tradition, and service.
The structure includes artistic details like a mini - quest to find five hidden ice - carved edelweiss flowers, illuminated in the evening with coloured lights and visitors can enter the dome through a newly added ice tunnel.
The installation can be accessed on foot or by funicular from Starý Smokovec, is open to the public until 19, April,2026, depending of weather conditions.
Admission is free of charge, inviting visitors to admire this dazzling spectacle of craftmanship, light and ice architecture and discover the beautiful mountains of Slovakia during the winter holidays.
The national tourism organization Slovakia Travel responsible for the development and promotion of tourism of the country in both the national and international markets, highlights that the Tatra Ice Dome is a popular attraction for both domestic and international visitors, combined with the natural beauty of the Tatra Mountains, part of the Carpathian mountain chain in eastern Europe that create a natural border between Slovakia and Poland.
Both Slovak and Polish sides are popular destinations for winter and summer sports and they are protected as national parkland, home to wildlife including the Tatra chamois, marmot, lynx and bears and Slovakia has the highest mountain in the range : 2.655m Gerlach Peak.
Slovakia invites visitors to experience the serene beauty of the High Tatras, a stunning desrtination where nature, culture and winter art come together to bewitch a multitude of people.
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