Beautiful and ancient Sofia welcomes its guests cordially, demonstrating what is rich in the capital itself and the whole wonderful country of Bulgaria. A sea of impressions and emotions leaves familiarity with the tourist attractions of the capital city - the brightest examples of medieval architecture, museums, theaters, parks, squares, squares, markets, antique shops, hospitable cafes and many other interesting objects.
The history of Sofia goes back thousands of years. The territory on which the capital of Bulgaria is located, even in the Neolithic era, was inhabited by primitive people. In the VII century. BC e. there was the city of Serdika. The modern name - Sofia (translated from Greek - "wisdom") - the city received in the XIV century. It collapsed many times and passed from hand to hand, was an important center of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, and since 1382 it was under Turkish rule. Sofia received the status of "capital of Bulgaria" only in 1879, after which it gradually began to change its appearance from the Ottoman to European. Fortunately, the Bulgarians are able to preserve historical memory. To this day, more than 250 historical monuments have been preserved in the main city of the country, testifying to the rich and complex past of Sofia, which determined such a peculiarity of the capital’s appearance as a mixture of architectural styles belonging to different ethnic groups and eras.
Sofia has preserved many excellent examples of church architecture. The rotunda of St. George was built by the Romans in the 4th century in the center of the residence of Emperor Constantine the Great. Initially, it was used as a baptistery - a building for baptism, then as a Christian church, and after the conquest at the end of the fourteenth century. Bulgaria by the Turks was turned into a mosque. Currently, the museum is located in the oldest church in Sofia.
The capital of Bulgaria is named after a remarkable ancient structure - the Hagia Sophia, presented on the city’s stamp. This is the oldest (built in the VI century.) Active Orthodox church in the world. On the territory of the temple is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and nearby, in a cozy and beautiful park, there is another interesting attraction - the Doctoral Monument dedicated to Russian doctors and military personnel who died in the Russian-Turkish war.
The Cathedral in the name of the Holy Prince Alexander Nevsky occupies the center of the square bearing his name. The majestic temple-monument was built in gratitude to the Russian people for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke and is dedicated to the heavenly patron of Emperor Alexander II, Saint Alexander Nevsky.
The capital of Bulgaria is the point of confluence of European and Eastern cultures. In Sofia there is one of the oldest Muslim temples in Europe with the name Bath Bashi, which is translated into Russian as “many baths”. An excellent example of Ottoman architecture was erected in the 16th century over a natural thermal resort.
For true travel lovers, the capital of Bulgaria - one of the most ancient European cities - is attractive not only for its wide range of attractions. The magnificent nature, many healing mineral springs, the mass of significant cultural events taking place here and developed infrastructure put Sofia on a par with the major centers of world tourism.