Sofia

THE CAPITAL OF BULGARIA

Virtual Tour Around Sofia
"Ever Growing, Never Ageing" this motto is written on Sofia's coat of arms. Sofia is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. For over 7,000 years Sofia has been a meeting place of the four directions of the world. Tribes and peoples came and went, civilisations flourished and declined but the city stayed forever. Historically it has been recorded as Serdica, Triaditsa, Sredets and Sofia. Old Sofia is literally buried beneath a modern facade. Late last century Sofia totalled only 12,000 residents. In 1946 – 516,000 residents, and today - some 1,200,000 residents, i.e. 14 % of the country’s population. Drawing a balance, one sees that in the past 100 years the population has multiplied 100 times.

A walk around Sofia

There are many archaeological sites in Sofia that display the city's diverse history - the town gates and towers of Serdica, public buildings and streets thousands of years old. A large part of the ancient city of Serdica is underneath important modern buildings. The ancient city council is hidden under the "Sheraton" hotel, a number of basilicas are below the Palace of Justice, and a Roman residence with elaborate mosaics is below the "Rila" hotel. Over 250 archaeological, historical and cultural monuments are part of the cityscape of the capital.
Today Sofia is a modern and busy capital, centre of Bulgaria's political, economic and cultural life. The harmony between the past and the present day lends the city its unique charm. Sofia has the tumult of a capital city and the convenience of a compact centre, where all the main sights can be visited on foot.
The edifice of the Bulgarian Parliament is one of the rightful candidates for the city’s emblem. It was built in three stages from 1884 to 1928, on plans of the Viennese architect Yovanovich. A motto inscribed on its main facade reads ”Union makes strength”.

The Monument to the King Liberator

The square in front of the National Assembly is dominated by the Monument to the King Liberator of Bulgaria - a fine statue of the Russian Tzar Alexander II, whose soldiers fought for Bulgarian independence during the Russian-Turkish war.

Alexander Nevski Memorial Church

Completed in 1912 in honour the Russian soldiers who died in the 1877-78 War of Liberation from Ottoman rule, the gold-domed Alexander Nevski Memorial Church is the finest piece of architecture in the Balkans. Craftsmen and artists from 6 countries worked on the five-aisle church in the course of 30 years and created real masterpieces - icons, nearly 300 mural paintings and decorative frescoes and huge chandeliers. The frescoed interior and splendid iconostasis surpass its lavish exterior. The interior decoration, made of Italian marble, Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold, and mosaics, embodies the spirit of the finest Eastern Orthodox traditions. The temple is the central patriarch’s cathedral of the autonomous Bulgarian Orthodox Church.

St. Sophia Church

Smaller and much less flamboyant than Alexander Nevski, is the nearby Church of St. Sophia. Many legends surround its history, but the basilica was actually built during the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian, between 527-565 or even earlier. This red brown church follows the classic Byzantine plan of a cross with a dome at the intersection. The modern city of Sofia was named in the 14th century after the basilica of St. Sofia.

Sofia University

St. Kliment Ohridski University is the oldest in Bulgaria and the largest and most advanced educational and research centre in the country. On both sides of the main entrance of the imposing Baroque-style building are the statues of the two brothers, Hristo and Evlogi Georgiev, who donated the land and money for the founding of the University in 1909. The French architect Breanson designed the main building, which is architecturally one of the most remarkable buildings in Sofia.

St. George Rotunda

The red brick rotunda church of St. George is considered the oldest building in Sofia. Built in the 4th century, the Rotunda brick building, adorned with finely preserved early mediaeval frescoes, is in the courtyard behind the Sheraton Hotel, amid the remains of the ancient town of Serdica. Three layers of frescoes have been discovered. The earliest dates back to the 10th century. Magnificent frescoes of 22 prophets over 2 meters tall crown the dome. There are also remains of a 2nd century street and other Byzantine ruins. At present the church is a museum.

National History Museum

The National History Museum undoubtedly has the finest collection. It was assembled in 1981 to celebrate 1300 years of the Bulgarian State. Thracian gold treasures are spaciously displayed, often singly, so they can be fully appreciated. Artefacts such as bas-reliefs, ceramics and silverware reveal the achievements of the medieval capitals, and there is a strong collection of material from the National Revival period, including folk costumes, carpets and domestic items.The museum covers the whole period from prehistory to the present day. It houses relics from the earliest period up to the Middle Ages and includes gold and silver treasures (the Panagyurishte treasure), ceramics and archaeological remains. It also concentrates on the ecclesiastical art of the 19th century Bulgarian National Revival, including folk costumes, carpets and typically furnished rooms from that period.

Earth and Man National Museum

The Earth and Man National Museum was founded in 1986. The unique mineralogical museum houses more than 20,000 samples collected all over the world which are represented by 3,500 exhibits grouped in 7 permanent expositions (Giant Crystals, Earth Minerals, Mineral Resources, Mineral Resources of Bulgaria, Precious Stones and Materials). The museum has a collection of 1155 mineral kinds and 234 mineral variations. Companies and private individuals have donated over 70% of the exhibits.

Slaveikov Square

The largest open-air book market in Sofia is to be found in Slaveikov Square, in front of the City Library. Recently the old three-tier bronze fountain was restored. In the spring of the year 2000 an original monument was created to commemorate two of the most prominent Bulgarian writers, poets and public figures, father and son Petko and Pencho Slaveikov, after whom the square was named. Visitors can sit for a while on the bench near them and have their photo taken as a keepsake.

Central Hali Shopping Centre

The three storey building of the Central Hali Shopping Centre houses a variety of shops, boutiques, one big restaurant, one bar, a food court for eight fast food chains, a storage area with freezers and dry storage compartments, and even an exchange bureau. Taking its name from the famed Les Halles in Paris, this prominent building was constructed during 1909-11 to serve as the city’s main marketplace. In the early days only men shopped here a, single woman would give money to a neighbour’s boy to go in her stead. Renovated in 1974 as a supermarket, it fell into disuse after 1989. Large-scale refurbishment began in spring 1999. The ornate facade - which incorporates Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian architectural elements - has alternating layers of stone and brick, large window niches and a high central arch above which is the city coat of arms topped by a small clock tower. Long before the Hali was built, archaeological excavations show that the site served as a gathering and market place dating back thousands of years. In the basement are archaeological remains, including Roman baths and parts of Serdica’s fortress wall. Reopened in the summer of 2000, the Hali has assumed its rightful place as the city’s central marketplace.

Vitosha Mountain

Most of Sofia’s streets are dominated by the view of Vitosha Mountain, a huge granite mass with wooded lower slopes. It is treated by the people of Sofia as part of the capital, indeed it can be reached quickly either by car or public transport. There are marked trails for walkers, who can admire wild flowers or an unusual natural phenomenon, the moraine - an apparently dry river made up of massive boulders. Some people bring picnics, but there are also several good hotels and restaurants, and many chalets. There are also good conditions for skiers - from December to late spring.

Boyana Church

Boyana, the beautiful suburb at the foot of Vitosha , is notable for the Boyana Church (included in the UNESCO World Heritage List). Frescoes are claimed to be among the oldest and most interesting examples of East European medieval art. The oldest part of the church dates back to the early 11th century. The most attractive part of the monument are the murals done in 1259. The frescoes are rich in tone. The artist skilfully combines the requirements of iconographical canons with real life. 89 scenes are depicted, containing 240 human images.