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ABOUT OUR CITY
Founded seven thousand years ago, Sofia is
the second oldest city in Europe. It has been given several names in the
course of history and the remnants of the
city’s millenary
history
still can
be seen today
alongside modern landmarks
.
Sofia is the capital and largest city of
the Republic of Bulgaria. Today the population of Sofia is
1 377 531 people.
Sofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central
position in the Balkans. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot
of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, and
economic centre of the country. It’s in the Sofia Valley that is
surrounded by mountains on all sides. A number of low rivers cross the
city, including the Vladayska , Perlovska and
Iskar River. The city is known for its numerous
mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the
last century.
Sofia is one of the oldest capital cities
in Europe, blending its past and present in a remarkable architectural
style. Historic landmarks include the 10th-century Boyana Church, the
Alexander Nevski Cathedral (one of the largest Eastern Orthodox churches
in the world), and the early Byzantine Church of St Sophia. More modern
architecture is represented by the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet,
the “Bulgaria” Hall, the Ivan Vazov National
Theatre, the Rakovski Street, Slaveykov Square - outdoor book market,
and the National Palace of Culture - NDK, which is Southeastern Europe's
largest cultural and congressional centre. The architecture of Sofia's
centre is mostly typically Central European.
Sofia is very popular tourist destination.
There are a number of places of special interest and tourist attractions
include:
The Church of St George (4th century)
The Church of St Sophia - built in the 6th
century
The Church of St Petka of the Saddlers
from the 14th centurу
The Russian Church “St. Nikolai”
The St. Clement of Ohrid University of
Sofia or Sofia University - is the oldest and most significant modern
higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on October 1st
1888.
Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library
- founded on April 4th 1878
Sofia City Art Gallery
The Sofia Synagogue, the largest in the
Balkans
Sofia's central boulevards paved with
Viennese yellow cobblestones
The Largo, an architectural complex in
downtown Sofia which includes the embassies
and headquarters of many national institutions
and many more.
Sofia has also a huge nightlife scene with many different night clubs,
pubs, Bulgarian traditional taverns, and restaurants.
Sofia has
well-developed infrastructure and transport and
it is an important centre for international railway and automobile
routes. Three Trans-European Transport Corridors cross the city. All
major types of transport (except water transport) are represented in the
city, which is home to 8 railway stations, and the Sofia Airport. Public
transit is well-developed, reliable and important to the city's economy;
it is provided by means of underground trains (the Sofia Metro), buses,
trams and trolleybuses. There are over 15,000 licensed taxi cabs
operating in the city.
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