City of Sofia

Sofia has a history that goes back thousands of years. Through the centuries, many peoples have inhabited it and added to its rich and diverse history. Numerous Neolithic villages have been discovered in the area, while a chalcolithic settlement has been recently discovered in the very center of modern Sofia.
The Thracian Serdi tribe settled here in the 7th century BC and gave the first recorded name of Sofia - Serdica. The Byzantines called it Triaditsa and the Slavs - Sredets. The modern city of Sofia was named in the 14th century after the basilica St. Sofia. In Greek, word sofia means wisdom. In the 3rd century AD, the Romans built strong walls around Serdica, their capital of Inner Dacia and an important stopping point on the Roman road from Naisus (present Nish, Serbia) to Constantinople.
Today there are many archaeological sites in Sofia, that display the city`s diverse history - the castle 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 (bulefteris) is hidden under the "Sheraton" hotel, while a number of basilicas are below the National Historical Museum. The Roman thermal baths are under the Sofia Mineral Baths and a Roman residence with elaborate mosaics is below the "Rila" hotel.

After the Hun invasion of 441, the town was rebuilt by the Byzantines. The Slavs gave Sredets a key role in the First Bulgarian Empire, then in 1018 the Byzantines retook Triaditsa. At the end of the 12th century, the Bulgarians returned and Sredets became a major trading center of the Second Bulgarian Empire. The Turks captured Sofia in 1382 and made it the center of the “Rumelian beylerbeyship”. The city declined during the feudal unrest of the 19th century, but with the establishment of the Third Bulgarian Empire in 1879, Sofia once again became the capital of Bulgaria.
Rapidly the city`s image changed from an Oriental, to a European. Today many streets, buildings, parks, and even whole neighborhoods preserve the architectural style from the turn of the century. Between 1879 and 1939, the population of Sofia grew from 20 000 to 300 000, while today 1 250 000 people live in Sofia.

St. Sofia Basilica

The 4th-6th century basilica was built during the reign of Justinian. It has survived intact with 1600- year-old mosaic details and towards the end of the 14th century gave the city its name. Two layers of frescoes and mosaics depicting trees, flowers and birds have been recovered. What makes it unique, is that there are different cultural and historical layers on the same spot, going back around 2,200 years. The basilica’s architectural and spatial structure is also unique.

St. George Rotunda

A 4th century brick building in the courtyard behind the Sheraton Hotel, adorned with finely preserved early medieval frescoes. There are also remains of a 2nd century street and other Byzantine ruins.

Alexander Nevski Memorial Church

Completed in 1912 in honour of the Russian casualties of the 1877-78 War of Liberation from Ottoman Rule. Gold-domed, it 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 of icons, frescoes, murals and huge chandeliers. The interior decoration, made of Italian marble, Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold, mosaics embodies the spirit of the finest Eastern Orthodox traditions. A superb collection of icons - the best in Bulgaria - can also be seen in the Crypt.

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

The theatre was named after the greatest Bulgarian poet and writer Ivan Vazov. It was founded in 1904 and its building, designed by Viennese architects, was opened on 3rd January 1907. Designed in the style of German classicism, it contains many elements of the then fashionable Secession style. The building was destroyed by fire in 1923 during an anniversary celebration and reerected in 1929.

Sofia University

The St. Clement of Ohrid University of  Sofia or Sofia University is the oldest and most significant modern higher education institution in Bulgaria, founded on 1 October 1888. The university`s edifice was constructed between 1924 and 1934 with the financial support of the brothers Evlogi Georgiev and Hristo Georgiev, whose sculptures are now featured on its facade, and has an area of 18,624 m² and a total of 324 premises. Sofia University has 15 faculties and three departments, where 14,000 students receive their education.

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. It has 9 main sections, more broadly united under three main branches: Natural, mathematical and engineering sciences, Biological, medical and agrarian sciences and Social sciences, humanities and art. Each consists of independent scientific institutes, laboratories and other sections.

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