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Sofia offers a rich and diverse culture. Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria,
one of the oldest countries in Europe, and itself the second oldest capital
city in Europe, blends the old and new in a unique way. From historic
landmarks to the biggest Orthodox Church in the world Alexander Nevsky
Cathedral to the vibrant night life, opera, the Rakovski street theater
district to Slaveykov Square Sofia's open book market and one of the world's
largest buildings dedicated to cluture NDK, Sofia amazes. In addition
there are numerous museums and art galleries in the heart of the city.
Sofia also has traditions in the film industry and is currently the base
of several international film studios. Fashion is also big with numerous
fashion designers, fashion shows and boutiques, a lot of them on Vitoshka
- the 22nd most expensive trade street in the world, representing the
industry. Cultural activities are enhanced by the natural location of
Sofia in the foothills of the beautiful Vitosha mountain and the diverse
public transportation system.
Landmarks
Downtown Sofia and the silhouette of Vitosha in the background
Tzar Osvoboditel blvd.Some of Sofia's most popular tourist attractions
are:
- The late Roman Church of St. George (4th century), hidden in the courtyard
of the Sheraton Hotel.
The red brick rotunda church of St. George is considered the oldest
building in Sofia. It is situated behind Sheraton Hotel, amid remains
of the ancient town of Serdica. Built by the Romans in the 4th century
AD, it is mainly famous for the 12-14th century frescoes inside the
central dome. Three layers of frescoes have been discovered, the earliest
dating back to the 10th century. Magnificent frescoes of 22 prophets
over 2 meters tall crown the dome. Painted over during the Ottoman period
(when the building was used as a mosque), these frescoes were only unearthed
in the twentieth century. At present, the church is a museum.
- The outdoor bookmarket on Slaveykov Square.
Slaveykov Square is one of the most popular squares in Sofia, the capital
of Bulgaria. It is named after Bulgarian writers Petko and Pencho Slaveykov,
a father and a son. A sculpture of the two sitting on a bench is one
of its main landmarks.Slaveykov Square is famous for its many book stalls.A
square called Kafene Basi is first mentioned to exist at the same place
in 1515, where a coffeehouse, a mosque and two Turkish police stations
were situated.In the 17th century, the square was an important crossroad
stretching from modern Sveta Nedelya Square to Vitosha Boulevard and
featured a fountain.After the liberation of Bulgaria, the square was
extended and many one and two story houses with gardens were erected
on the site, one of which belonged to Petko Slaveykov, whose name the
square later took.During the 1920s and 30s, Slaveykov Square formed
its modern appearance, with 5 to 7 story buildings featuring a shop
on the ground floor. The first significant constructions appeared in
this period — the Teachers' Fund (1924). the Ministry of Public
Works (1928), and the French Institute (1934).After 1944, the automobile
traffic around the square was gradually limited and it turned into a
pedestrian area.In the years following 1990, the square became a preferred
place for booksellers and many bookshops emerged on it.
- The early Byzantine Church of St. Sofia, erected in the 6th century.
The basilica St. Sofia is the second oldest church in the Bulgarian
capital Sofia. The church was built on the site of several earlier churches
and places of worship dating back to the days when it was the necropolis
of the Roman town Serdica (named after the Thracian Serdii tribe that
originally inhabited the area). In the 2nd century AD, it was the location
of a theatre used by the Romans for bloody public spectacles, such as
the persecution and sacrifice of Christians in coliseum-like battles
against gladiators and various wild beasts. Over the next few centuries,
several other churches were erected, only to be destroyed by invading
forces such as the Goths and the Huns. The basic cross design of the
present basilica, with its two east towers and one tower-cupola, is
believed to be the fifth structure to inhabit the site and was built
during the reign of Byzantine emperor Justinian I in the middle of the
6th century (527-565 AD).During the Second Bulgarian Empire (spanning
the 12th to 14th centuries), the structure acquired the status of a
metropolitan church. In the 14th century, the church gave its name to
the city (Sofia meaning "holy wisdom" in Greek). During the
Ottoman rule, the church was converted into a mosque: the original twelfth-century
frescoes were destroyed and minarets were added. In the 19th century
two earthquakes destroyed one of the minarets and the mosque was abandoned.
Restoration work was begun after 1900.St. Sofia church is now one of
the most valuable pieces of early Christian architecture on the Balkans.
The present building is a cross basilica with three altars. According
to popular lore, St Sofia's miraculous powers protected the lovely building
over the centuries, warding off human invasions and natural disasters
to keep the church as an example of the elegant, austere and symmetrical
architecture of the age.
- The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, built in the early 20th
century in memory of the 200,000Russian soldiers, who died in the Russo-Turkish
War, 1877-1878, which led to the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman
rule.
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral
in Sofia, Bulgaria. Built in Neobyzantine style, it is one of the largest
cathedrals on the Balkans and one of Sofia's primary tourist attractions.The
cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m high, with the bell tower reaching
50,52 m. The temple has 12 bells with total weight of 23 tons, the heaviest
weighing 12 tons and the lightest 10 kg.The construction of the St.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral started in 1882, but it was in fact built
between 1904 and 1912 in honour to the Russian soldiers, who died during
the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, as a result of which Bulgaria was
liberated from Ottoman rule. The cathedral was proclaimed a monument
of culture in 1924. There is a museum of Bulgarian icons inside the
cathedral crypt. The church claims that the museum contains the largest
collection of Orthodox icons in Europe. Around the cathedral, one can
buy handmade textile and antiques on a small flea market. The St. Alexander
Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3170 m² and can take
5,000 people inside, as many as the National Palace of Culture's main
hall.
- The yellow brick streets in the heart of the city centre.
- The tiny Church of St. Petka Samardzhiyska, from the 14th century,
at Sveta Nedelya Square, featuring some fine frescoes.
- The Banya Bashi Mosque, built in the 16th century.
- The Bulgarian National Historical Museum, noteworthy for its Thracian
treasures.
- The National Palace of Culture cultural and congressional centre -
the largest multifunctional complex in Southeastern Europe, inaugurated
in 1981 and situated in a lush green park surroundings.
The National Palace of Culture located in Sofia, Bulgaria, is one of
the largest multifunctional congress centres in Southeastern Europe.
It was opened in 1981 and its main hall has 5,000 seats
- The Ivan Vazov National Theatre. The Ivan Vazov National Theatre is
Bulgaria's national theatre and one of the important landmarks of Sofia,
the capital of Bulgaria. It was founded in 1904 and its building, designed
by Viennese architects, was opened on 3rd January 1907. The building
was destroyed by fire in 1923 during an anniversary celebration and
reerected in 1929.
- The many brand name stores on Vitosha Boulevard, Sofia's main thoroughfare.
Vitosha Boulevard (often called just Vitoshka) in Bulgaria is Sofia's
main thoroughfare and is famous for the many brand name shops and boutiques
on it. Posessing a shop on the boulevard is thought of as a matter of
image and advertising for companies operating in Bulgaria. The boulevard
is named after Vitosha, the mountain just next to Sofia. According to
a 2005 study, Vitosha Boulevard is the world's 22nd most expensive trade
street.
- Vitosha mountain - one of the symbols of Sofia, just a short drive
or lift trip away, open year round. Ski and snowboard in the winter
or hike Vitosha's many trails in the summer. Has an extensive network
of lifts to take you just about anywhere on the mountain. Now features
a lit night ski run as well.Vitosha is mountain massif, at the foot
of which Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is situated. Vitosha is one
of the symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking, alpinism and
skiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily
accessible. Vitosha has the outlines of an enormous dome. The territory
of the mountain includes Vitosha national park that encompasses the
most beautiful and most frequently visited parts. The foothills of Vitosha
shelter resort quarters of Sofia - Knyazhevo quarter has mineral springs.
Vitosha is the oldest national park in the Balkans.
Since the ancient times of the Thracians a large population has always
existed at the base of Vitosha. For the last four thousand years the
economy of this large settlement has always been connected, in one
way or another, with the neighboring mountain. The name Vitosha comes
from the two-peaked, twin ridge mountain, which rises above the Sofia
field and has acquired its present shape in stages over many millennia.
The mountain emerged as a result of volcanic activity and has been
subsequently shaped by the slow folding of the granite rock layers
and a series of gradual uplifts of the area. It appears dome shaped
at first sight, but the mountain, 19 km long by 17 km wide, actually
consists of concentric denudational plateaus rising in tiers one above
the other. Vitosha is separated into four main parts whose main ridges
gather at a crown known as “Cherni Vruh” (‘The Black
Peak’). This is the highest point of the mountain at 2290 m
and is one of 10 peaks on Vitosha over 2000 m in height.
A meteorological station was built at the top in 1935, and is still
operating. The station also serves as a rest shelter for hikers and
is the headquarters for the mountain rescue team. Historical documents
show that several centuries ago Vitosha mountain was still covered
by the remains of the inaccessible “Great Bulgarian Forest”.
Today, the natural coniferous forests of Vitosha remain only in the
reserves Bistrishko Branishte, Peat Branishte, and around Zlatni Mostove
(The Golden Bridges). The Golden Bridges is an amazing phenomenon
known as a Stone River and consists of a ribbon of huge boulders running
down the mountainside. This scenic spot is located along the Vladaiska
River in an area of mixed deciduous and evergreen forest. However,
this is only one of the eight stone rivers found in Vitosha and they
were once the moraines of ancient glaciers. Their further formation
occurred due to the spherical erosion of the sienite rocks and their
gradual movement to down stream valleys by the forces of gravity and
moving water.
At a time when nature conservation ideas were a long way from the
present understanding, some enlightened noblemen took the first step
in 1934 by declaring 66.00 km² of Vitosha a National Park, hence
Vitosha became the first park on the Balkan Peninsula. During the
following year, some of the first Bulgarian reserves - Bistrishko
Branishte (10.61 km²) and Torfeno Branishte (7.84 km²) were
defined within its boundaries. The park boundaries fluctuated over
many years and today it encompasses the entire mountain – an
area of 266.06 km².
Due to a great variability in elevation, a rich diversity of climates,
flora and fauna can be found within the park. Research has revealed
that on the comparatively small area of the mountain there are 1500
species of higher plants, 500 species of sponges, 500 species of algae,
326 species of mosses, and 200 species of lichens. Among these there
are 31 species which are Balkan endemics and 52 species which are
included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The forests are made up mainly
of Norway Spruce and Bulgarian Fir, with some Macedonian Pine, Scots
Pine, and at the tree-line, Mountain Pine, and mixed hardwood forest
at lower altitudes.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
Opening Hours: 10.00 - 12.00/ 14.00 - 18.00; Closed on Mondays.
Address: 2, Saborna St. 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: ++359/2/882-406
Remains of Thracian, Greek and Roman settlements in the ivy-clad 15th
century 'Buyuk(Big)Mosque'.
THE EARTH AND MAN MUSEUM
Opening Hours: 10.00 - 18.00; Closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Address: Tcherni Vrah Blvd. 4, 1420 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: ++359/2/656-639
Fax: ++359/2/661-455;
Director: Assoc. Prof. Mihail Maleev, PhD
Chief curator: Petko Petrov
Founded in 1986. Over 20,000 exhibits are on display, divided into
six sections: Giant Crystals, Minerals of the Earth, Industrial Minerals,
Raw Material Sources of Bulgaria, Gems, New Materials. The museum
also holds art exhibitions and classical music evenings, which are
noted in our cultural supplement.
NATIONAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
Opening Hours: 10.00 - 19.00; No day off.
Address: Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. 1, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: ++359/2/874-195; ++359/2/988-5115 ext. 711
Director: Assoc. Prof. Peter Beron, PhD
The museum was founded in 1889 and opened to visitors in 1907. Nowadays
the museum has three major sections: Geology, Zoology and Botany.
Apart from several meteorites, the 'Earth and Space' exhibition features
unique lunar samples and an impressive dinosaur skeleton. A special
exhibition shows live pythons, crocodiles, and iguanas.
ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
Opening Hours: 10.30 - 17.30; Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Address: 6A, Moskovska St., 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: ++359/2/874-191
The museum displays folk costumes, fabrics, jewelry,wood cuttings,
hammered ironwork, etc. A small craft shop sells crafts, costumes
and musical instruments from all over Bulgaria. In the former Royal
Palace on Tsar Osvohoditel Blvd., along with the National Art Gallery.
THE ALEXANDER NEVSKY CRYPT
Opening Hours: 10.30 - 12.30/14.00 - 18.30; Closed on Tuesdays.
Address: 1, St. Alexander Nevsky, Sq. 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
Phone: ++359/2/877-697
The crypt museum was founded in 1965 and contains items from the very
beginnings of Bulgarian iconography (the end of the 9th century) until
the end of the 19th century. All stages of the Bulgarian iconography
school are represented in a collection of 1500 items.
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