Sofia is the capital and largest city in Bulgaria. It is located at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain in the western part of the country and occupies a central position of the Balkan Peninsula.
The history of the city could be traced back to 2,400 years ago according to the historical layers found in the archaeological excavations. Its ancient name Serdica derives from the local Celtic tribe of the serdi who established the town in the 5th century BC. Sofia was part of different entities – the Roman, the Byzantium and the Ottoman Empires and remains from all these periods could be seen throughout the city. It remained a relatively small settlement until 1879, when it was declared a capital of Bulgaria and experienced infrastructural, economic and population growth.
Nowadays Sofia is the 15th largest city in the European Union with a population of around 1.3 million people. Many of the major universities, cultural institutions, and business of Bulgaria are concentrated in Sofia.
More information regarding the history, geography and culture of Sofia could be found here.
Places to visit in Sofia
- National History Museum
- National Archaeology Institute with Museum
- Institute of Ethnology and Folklore Studies with Ethnographic Museum
- National Art Gallery
- National Museum of Military History
- The National Museum “Earth and Man”
- National Gallery of Foreign Art
- National Museum of Natural History
Places of worship
- Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
- Church of St. George
- Church of St. Sophia
- Boyana Church
- St. Sedmochislenitsi Church
- Church of St. Paraskeva
- St. Nedelya Church
- Church of St Petka
- Russian Church
- Banya Bashi Mosque
- Sofia Synagogue
- The Cathedral of St. Joseph
Places of culture
- Ivan Vazov National Theatre
- Central Military Club
- National Opera and Ballet
- SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library
- Slaveykov Square
- National Palace of Culture
Gardens & Parks
