Sofia

I spent three days in this city, and I really have the impression that its centre is not very spread out and all the main sights are quite close to each other, which is great if you are planning to stay here only for a few days. The city is vibrant and offers so much! I have to say, I am happy with what I managed to see, although an extra ‘sunny’ and warmer day would have allowed me to do the 2-hour walk, which starts from the Boyana Church and takes you to the peak of the Vitosha Mount… However, the weather was not that kind with me during these mid-September days.

Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and its largest city. Founded thousands of years ago, today the city continues to develop as the country’s cultural and economic centre. It is located in the western part of the country, on the Sofia Plain and the lower slopes of Mount Vitosha. The city is located at a strategic crossroads. The route from Western Europe to Istanbul passes through Sofia via Belgrad and Skopje, then through Plovdiv to Turkey. Sofia also connects The Near East and The Middle East, lying between the banks of the Danube and the shores of the White Sea on the one hand, and between the Black Sea and the Adriatic on the other.

Sofia has been settled for many millennia. In honor of its hot springs, in the 8th century BC the Thracian tribes settled here gave the city its first name – Serdika. In the 1st century BC, Serdika was captured by the Romans, who transformed it into a Roman city. It was the favorite city of Constantine the Great (reign 306-337), who said: “Serdika is my Rome.” In roughly 175, massive fortified walls, with four watchtowers were built to protect the city, and a second outer fortified wall was added during the 5th-6th centuries. From 1018-1094, the city was under Byzantine rule, but remained an important strategic, economic, and cultural center. During the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1393), Sredets took on the appearance of a large Medieval city – its narrow, crowded streets witnessed the construction of more and more small churches and monasteries, which later became Sofia’s Holy Mountain. The city gained its present name at the end of the 14th century, in honor of the city’s major symbol, The Saint Sofia Basilica.

In 1382, the city fell to the Ottomans. It was liberated five centuries later, in 1878, and on April 3, 1879, it was declared the capital of the newly-liberated Bulgarian nation.

Sofia preserves many valuable monuments to its long and storied past.

The Saint Sofia Basilica is one of the oldest churches in the capital. It was the city’s major church during the Middle Ages, and under the Ottomans, it was used as a mosque. Very close to Saint Sofia is The Memorial Church Saint Alexander Nevsky, now one of the city’s most recognizable symbols. Directly across from the church is The National Gallery of Art, which often exhibits works by world-famous artists. The oldest church in Sofia is the Saint George Rotunda, now surrounded by imposing buildings built during the Socialist period with the intent to make the church less visible. There is also the Banya Bashi Mosque, built in the 16th century. Not far from the mosque is a Synagogue, which houses a museum.

There is hardly another city in all of Europe that has so many noteworthy Christian, Islamic, and Jewish monuments so close together.

In the immediate vicinity, other historical remains are preserved, such as the Municipal Baths (now a museum), the marketplace, and The Holy Sunday Church, the St. Nedelya Cathedral Church.

Right in front of this museum is the Russian Church of Saint Nikolay Church, which is an architectural landmark. The Parliament Building, Monument to the Liberator (in honor of the Russian Tsar Alexander II, who was instrumental in freeing Bulgaria from Ottoman rule), and the campus of Sofia University “Saint Kliment Ohradski” are three more of the city’s major symbols. Without a doubt, one of the most beautiful buildings in Sofia is the Ivan Vazov National Theater.

On the lower slopes of Mount Vitosha, in the Boyana District, is located the National Museum of History, with its collection from prehistoric times to the present day and close to the museum is the Boyana Church, one of the Bulgarian monuments that are listed among the UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Sofia’s parks are a favorite place for rest and recreation. Borisov Park is right in the center of the city, and South Park is next to the National Palace of Culture.

One of Sofia’s favorite spots for both visitors and residents is Vitosha Boulevard. Being a pedestrian zone, it is a very pleasant place for strolling and relaxation. In general, the capital is a shoppers’ delight, since Sofia is still one of the major crossroads on the Balkan Peninsula for a trade of all kinds.