Sofia is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,376,742 (15 February 2006 calculations). It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, and industrial centre of the country.

The history of Sofia dates back to the 7th century BC, when Thracians established a settlement there. It has had several names throughout its history, and remnants of the old cities can be seen today.

Sofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. Sofia is situated in western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Three mountain passes lead to the city, which have been key roads since antiquity, connecting the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black and Aegean Seas.

A number of low rivers cross Sofia, including Vladayska and Perlovska. The Iskar River in its upper course flows near eastern Sofia. Sofia is known for its numerous mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the last century.

Sofia is located about 150 km northwest of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city, 390 km west of Burgas, 470 km (294 miles) west of Varna, Bulgaria's major port-cities on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast.

Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, named after the Thracian tribe Serdi. Around 500 BC another tribe settled in the region, the Odrysi, known as an ethnos with their own kingdom. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was possessed by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.

The city was destroyed by the Huns in 447 but was rebuilt by Justinian and renamed Triaditsa.

Sofia Middle Ages :

Sofia first became part of the First Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Khan Krum in 809. Afterwards, it was known by the Slavic name Sredets and grew into an important fortress and administrative centre.

After a number of unsuccessful sieges, the city fell to the Byzantine Empire in 1018, but once again was incorporated into the restored Bulgarian Empire at the time of Tsar Ivan Asen I.

From the 12th to the 14th century, Sofia was a thriving centre of trade and crafts. It was renamed Sofia (meaning "wisdom" in Greek) in 1376 after the Church of St. Sofia. However, it was called both "Sofia" and "Sredets" until the 16th century, when the new name gradually replaced the old one.

Culture :

Sofia is one of the oldest capital cities in Europe, blending its past and present in a remarkable architectural style. Historic landmarks include the 10th-century Boyana Church (one of the UNESCO World Heritage protected sites), the Alexander Nevski Cathedral (one of the world's largest Orthodox churches), and the early Byzantine Church of St Sophia.

More modern architecture is represented by the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Rakovski Str theatre district, Slaveykov Square's outdoor book market, and the NDK, which is Southeastern Europe's largest cultural and congressional centre.

There are 16 universities in the city, among them Sofia University, founded in 1888. Sofia is the see of an Eastern Orthodox and of a Roman Catholic diocese.

Museums :

Sofia houses numerous museums, notably the National Historical Museum, the Bulgarian Natural History Museum, the Museum of Earth and Men, the Ethnographic Museum, the National Museum of Military History, the National Polytechnical Museum and the National Archaeological Museum. In addition, there are the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Bulgarian National Gallery of Arts, the Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art as well as numerous private art galleries.
_{This article is licensed under the [GNU Free Documentation License]. It uses material from Wikipedia}

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Tags: capital, bulgaria, administrative, cultural, centre

Date Added: 26 April '06

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