Sofia (Bulgaria) – the most detailed information about the city with photos. Sofia’s main attractions with a description, guides and cards.
Contents
Sofia City (Bulgaria)
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria, as well as the largest city in the country. It is a place with a rich and ancient history, each whose vista reflects the complex past of all states: ancient churches turned into mosques monumental socialist architecture and roman heritage, intertwined with the modern city. Now Sofia is dynamic European capital whose business card is beautiful landscapes and unique architectural combinations, as well as many beautiful sacred monuments.
- Geography and climate
- Practical information
- Story
- How to get there
- Shopping and shopping
- sights
- Video
- Maps and guides
- Comments and reviews
Geography and climate
Sofia is located in western Bulgaria on the southern outskirts of the same name hollow. The city is located at the foot of the Vitosha mountains. The historical center lies at an altitude of 553 meters above sea level. Sofia has a humid continental climate, which is characterized by warm summers and cool winters. The cold period is enough here changeable with unstable snow cover and fairly frequent thaws. In July and August in Sofia can be relatively hot.
Streets of Sofia
Practical information
- Population – 1.35 million people.
- Area – 492 km ².
- The language is Bulgarian.
- Currency – Bulgarian Lev.
- Time – UTC + 2, in summer +3.
- Sofia is a safe city. The biggest threat to normal tourist will be thieves and crooks. Locals recommend (by opportunities) to avoid at night the boulevard Maria Louise, neighborhoods Lion Bridge and Borisov Garden.
- Cash should be withdrawn only in banks and ATMs. Street exchangers have an extremely disadvantageous course.
Story
Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is believed that The future capital of Bulgaria was founded about 2500 years ago. IN 1 century AD The Roman settlement of Serdica was founded here, which throughout late antiquity was the center of the province Thrace.
Interestingly, Serdika was one of the most beloved cities Emperor Constantine, who called her “his Rome”. Constantine seriously planned to make the city a new capital of Rome empire, but eventually chose the city of Byzantium (future Constantinople, now – Istanbul) due to more profitable strategic provisions.
On the streets of Sofia
In the 5th century, the city was devastated by the Huns. Resurrected in the 6th century Justinian under the name of Triaditsa. In 809 the city became part of Bulgarian kingdom and named Sredets. In 1382, Sofia was captured by the Ottomans. The modern name is the future capital of Bulgaria. received at the end of the 14th century.
In 1443 Sofia was captured and plundered by Polish-Hungarian by the troops. Later the city was rebuilt and became the second largest in Ottoman Empire after Istanbul. In 1870 Sofia is one of centers of the Bulgarian liberation movement. During Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878 the city was occupied by Russians by the troops. In 1879, Sofia was declared the capital of the principality. Bulgaria. During World War II, the city suffered from Allied bombing.
How to get there
Sofia is the largest transport hub in Bulgaria. The city has The largest airport in the country, which is connected by regular communication with Athens, Paris, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Munich, Warsaw, Barcelona, Madrid, Berlin, Bucharest, Brussels and other cities. By train to Sofia you can get from Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Greece, by bus – from Paris, Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, as well as other cities of Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Romania, Serbia.
Tram on the streets Sofia
Shopping and shopping
Vitosha Boulevard is the main shopping street of Sofia, which also is a popular place for walking. Largest mall – Paradise Center, located on Cherni Vryh Boulevard near the station Metro Vitosha. Souvenirs can be purchased in front of the old party house, at the metro station Largo and around the cathedral of Alexander Nevsky.
Sofia
sights
The old city of Sofia is made in the spirit of the Bulgarian revival. Most of the buildings were built in the late 19th – early 20th century, when the Bulgarians gained independence from the Ottoman Empire. Although there is in Sofia, the sights and monuments are much more the ancients.
Alexander Cathedral Nevsky
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – one of the most famous Sights of Sofia and the second largest Christian temple on the Balkan Peninsula, able to accommodate 10,000 believers. This the orthodox church was built between 1882 and 1912 in Neo-Byzantine architecture to honor 200,000 Russian soldiers killed during the Russian-Turkish wars for the liberation of the Bulgarian people from the power of the Ottoman Empire. Inside the cathedral is decorated with intricate mosaics, paintings and images saints.
Holy Church George
The Church of St. George – a small religious building from red brick built in the 4th century in the heart of the ancient Serdiki. This is the oldest building of modern Sofia, which miraculously preserved safe and sound on over a half thousand years. Inside you can see detailed medieval frescoes painted by the Ottomans after converting the church into a mosque.
More antiquities can be seen at the National Institute. archeology, where all the most important archaeological finds are collected, found in Bulgaria. We also recommend visiting national husbands. history, which contains more than 650,000 exhibits and is one of the largest historical museums in the Balkans.
Vitosha Boulevard
Vitosha Boulevard – the main street of Sofia, made in an elegant Art Nouveau as a reminder of the early years of the Bulgarian rebirth. Famous for shopping and spectacular views mountain range of the same name.
Mountain range Vitosha
Vitosha – a picturesque mountain range, on the outskirts of which Sofia is located. The highest point is Cherni Vrah (2290 m). Vitosha includes a national park and a ski resort.
Sofia church
Sofia church – a modest building of red brick, which, in fact, gave the name of the Bulgarian capital. Story The basilica dates back to Byzantine times, namely to the 6th century. The church was built on top of the ancient necropolis of Serdika and the foundation of an even older religious structure. In Ottoman The period was transformed into a mosque and abandoned in the 19th century after earthquakes.
Boyana church
Boyana Church – Medieval Orthodox Church, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Was founded in the 10th century and located 8 km from Sofia. Most A remarkable feature is the magnificent old frescoes. In addition to the first layer of frescoes 11-12 centuries, of which preserved only fragments, and the famous second layer of frescoes of the 13th century, the church also has several later frescoes 14, 16 and 17 centuries.
National Theater behalf of Ivan Vazov
National Theater named after Ivan Vazov – grandiose neoclassical structure built in 1909. This is a building with beautifully towering portico is a cult tourist attraction for Bulgaria and appears on its banknotes. The theater is famous for its dramatic productions.
Holy Cathedral Weeks
Holy Week Cathedral (Kyriakia of Nicomedia) – Cathedral Neo-Byzantine cathedral, built between 1856-1867. The first church on this site was founded in the 10th century. She was damaged by fire and dismantled in 1856 for construction the current cathedral.
Sofia is famous for its mineral springs. Pretty remarkable structure are the central mineral baths – Neo-Byzantine style building with a large dome and an impressive the lobby.
Amphitheater
The amphitheater was built in ancient Serdica in the Roman period and was one of the largest such buildings in all of Rome empire. At first, this building served as a theater, then It was rebuilt into an amphitheater, which was abandoned in the 5th century after ruin by the Huns. Amphitheater was discovered quite recently. It is a fragment of the ruins embedded in the design of modern hotel
Synagogue
The synagogue in Sofia is the largest in the Balkan Peninsula and the third largest in Europe. It was built in 1909.
Banya Bashi Mosque
Banya Bashi Mosque was built in 1576. Currently is the only valid mosque of Sofia.
Video
Maps and guides
Map of Sofia Scheme of public transport routes
