Sofia

Sofia (population: 1.2 millions inhabitants) is our capital. The city is situated in the 'Sofia field' in the western part of the country and is about 600 meters above sea level. The town is surrounded by the mountains Vitosha, Lyulin, Lozenska and Plana, which are attractive places for tourism not only for the residents of Sofia but for all visitors of the city. The town is an administrative, economic, political, cultural, trade and tourist centre. The history tells that in the 8-7th century before Christ, on the place of a former Neolithic settlement round the thermal springs, an ancient Thracian town had sprung up. Later the Romans conquered the town and gave it the name of Serdika after the Thracian tribe that lived there. In the Rome epoch (I – IVth century A. D.) the town was growing as a center of the Inner Traci country. In the V – VIth century, at the time of the Great Migration of the People there were invasions of Huns, Goths and Barbarians. From the middle of the VIth century the town has developed as an important administrative and economic center of the Byzantine Empire with the name of Triaditsa. In 809 the town was included within the limits of the Bulgarian country with the name of Sredets. From the end of the XIVth century till the seventies of the XIXth century the city and the whole country were under the Ottoman rule. In the beginning of the XVth century the town acquired its present name – Sofia. After the liberation from the Ottoman yoke and during the Bulgarian National Revival the city was chosen as a capital. Our capital has rich landmarks, some of which are proclaimed as national cultural monuments. The biggest universities and research institutes are situated here. A great number of churches are located in Sofia, the most famous of which are: The Cathedral Church of St. Alexander Nevski, St. Sofia dating back to the 4th – 6th century, the Russian church St. Nikolai, the rotunda St. George and St. Nedelya. Here are situated the National Historical Museum, the Museum of Foreign Arts, the Earth and People Museum , the National Church Museum and others. The biggest zoo in the Balkan Peninsula and many city parks are attractions for visitors.