Travel Sofia Guide
The capital city of Bulgaria, Sofia lies in a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains. With a population of 1.2 million people, Sofia is a significant city and is home to museums, nightclubs, 5 star hotels, and numerous tourist sites. Sofia is also one of Europe's oldest cities, and because of its ancient heritage, is a historical destination for many travelers, with monuments dating back to the 8th Century BC.
Sofia's key location has contributed significantly to its history and culture. Sofia sits at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, and mountain passes connect the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black and Aegean Seas. Sofia's proximity to such vast wilderness makes it an excellent starting point for nature day trips to the beautiful Bulgarian countryside.
Sofia's history lends to its beautiful and unique architectural style. The Boyana Church lies on the outskirts of the city of Sofia and was built in the 10th Century. Added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this church is most famous for its frescoes of 1259 depicting the life of St. Nicholas, they are considered one of the most complete and best preserved monuments of Eastern European midaeval art.
Sofia' Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the world's largest Orthodox churches. The church is built in the Neo-Byzantine style and features an enormous gold-plated dome which dominates the Sofia skyline. The interior of the church is decorated with marble, onyx, alabaster and expensive metals. This church is also home to a museum of religious icons, and is surrounded by a small crafts market.
Sofia also has an impressively large national library, a theme park, a zoo and numerous archaeological sites dating back thousands of years. Sofia's nightlife, as in most Eastern European capitals, is going strong and clubs and bars are generally open all night. Sofia's local cuisine is surprisingly good, though travelers will have no problem finding Italian, French, Greek and even Mexican food restaurants throughout the city.
Sofia is crisscrossed by two rivers, and its bridges, ancient architecture and abundance of art make it a beautiful city to simply stroll through. Chances are, your strolls through Sofia will lead you to endlessly fascinating sights, sounds and activities. Sofia is one of Europe’s most interesting and yet most under appreciated capital cities; see for yourself what Sofia has to offer.
Sofia's key location has contributed significantly to its history and culture. Sofia sits at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, and mountain passes connect the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black and Aegean Seas. Sofia's proximity to such vast wilderness makes it an excellent starting point for nature day trips to the beautiful Bulgarian countryside.
Sofia's history lends to its beautiful and unique architectural style. The Boyana Church lies on the outskirts of the city of Sofia and was built in the 10th Century. Added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this church is most famous for its frescoes of 1259 depicting the life of St. Nicholas, they are considered one of the most complete and best preserved monuments of Eastern European midaeval art.
Sofia' Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is one of the world's largest Orthodox churches. The church is built in the Neo-Byzantine style and features an enormous gold-plated dome which dominates the Sofia skyline. The interior of the church is decorated with marble, onyx, alabaster and expensive metals. This church is also home to a museum of religious icons, and is surrounded by a small crafts market.
Sofia also has an impressively large national library, a theme park, a zoo and numerous archaeological sites dating back thousands of years. Sofia's nightlife, as in most Eastern European capitals, is going strong and clubs and bars are generally open all night. Sofia's local cuisine is surprisingly good, though travelers will have no problem finding Italian, French, Greek and even Mexican food restaurants throughout the city.
Sofia is crisscrossed by two rivers, and its bridges, ancient architecture and abundance of art make it a beautiful city to simply stroll through. Chances are, your strolls through Sofia will lead you to endlessly fascinating sights, sounds and activities. Sofia is one of Europe’s most interesting and yet most under appreciated capital cities; see for yourself what Sofia has to offer.