Beautiful and ancient Sofia cordially welcomes its guests, demonstrating what the capital itself and the whole wonderful country of Bulgaria are rich in. A sea of impressions and emotions leaves an acquaintance 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 Sophia goes back thousands of years. The territory on which the capital of Bulgaria is located was inhabited by primitive people even in the Neolithic era. In the 7th century BC e. there was a city of Serdika. The modern name - Sofia (translated from Greek - "wisdom") - the city received in the XIV century. It was destroyed many times and passed from hand to hand, was an important center of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, and from 1382 was under Turkish rule. Status "capital of Bulgaria" Sofiareceived only in 1879, after which it gradually began to change its appearance from Ottoman to European. Fortunately, the Bulgarians are able to keep the 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 led to such a feature of the appearance of the capital 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 the rite of baptism, then as a Christian church, and after the conquest at the end of the 14th century. Bulgaria was turned into a mosque by the Turks. Currently, the building of the oldest church in Sofia houses a museum.
The capital of Bulgaria is named after a remarkable ancient building - the Hagia Sophia, presented on the coat of arms of the city. This is the oldest (built in the VI century) operating Orthodox church in the world. On the territory of the temple there is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and nearby, in a cozy and beautiful park, there is another interesting attraction - the Doctor's 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 that bears his name. The majestic temple-monument was built as a signgratitude to the Russian people for the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman yoke and is dedicated to the heavenly patron of Emperor Alexander II, St. Alexander Nevsky.
The capital of Bulgaria is a confluence point of European and Eastern cultures. In Sofia there is one of the oldest Muslim temples in Europe with the name Banya Bashi, which translates into Russian as "many baths." A superb example of Ottoman architecture was erected in the 16th century over a natural thermal spa.
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. Magnificent nature, many healing mineral springs, a lot of significant cultural events taking place here and a developed infrastructure put Sofia on a par with major centers of world tourism.
