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Monthly circulation: 20 000 Central Bus Station Real Estate Agencies Cultural Institutes Top Restaurants & Bars Casinos Travel Agencies COMMERCIAL AND ECONOMIC SECTION OF THE EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA IN: FRANCE, GERMANY, GREECE, KAZAKHSTAN, MONTENEGRO, MACEDONIA, MOLDOVA, ROMANIA, SERBIA, SLOVAK REPUBLIC, SLOVENIA, THE NETHERLANDS, UK OVERVIEW 3 Inter Expo Center Information Center Sofia (Largo, Chitalnyata) Galleries Real Estate Agencies Top Restaurants & Bars Travel Agencies 4 OVERVIEW public organizations. Sofia accommodates also SOFIA CITY REGION the cultural institutions in Bulgaria. The capital city of Bulgaria is situated in the It has been given several names in the course of geographic center of Southeastern Europe thus history. serving as a natural bridge to the Middle East. • Serdika was the name of the central dwelling of the ancient Thracian tribe known as “Serdi”. • The toponym Sredets was indicative of its FACT & SYMBOLS central location on the Balkan Peninsula. When the city became part of the Bulgarian state at the beginning of the ninth century it acquired this Slavic name and it was soon recognized as one of the most important feudal towns. • Sofia – In nowadays the Bulgarian capital carries the name of St. Sofia (the holy Lady of wisdom), inspired by the name of the church St. Sofia. Sofia Municipality 33, Moskovska Str. (map E3) & 02 937 73 03 www.sofia.bg Population: 1 291 591 Area: 1 310, 8 sq. km The city motto: “Growing without aging” GDP: around 29% of the national GDP Sofia is the biggest and the most dynamic center of the economic life in Bulgaria. Half of the foreign direct investments in Bulgaria are concentrated in the capital. One third of the St. Sofia Church annual tax revenues in the national budget come from Sofia. The region occupies the central part of the CULTURAL HERITAGE Sofia Plain (with average altitude of 550 m) The cultural heritage of Sofia combines traces and it is encircled by the Balkan Mountains (in from the civilizations of the Neolith and the the north) and the Vitosha Mountain and the Thracians, of the ancient Greeks and Romans, Lyulin Mountain (in the south). The area has an of the Slavs and the proto-Bulgarians and the abundance of curative mineral springs (Gorna Ottomans, These tribes and ethnic groups Banya, Ovcha Kupel, Bankya). The Vitosha molded the face of the city through the victories Mountain is an international winter sports and defeats and through the consequent cultural destination. From ancient times, Sofia was well- influences. The socialist realism and the dynamic known as a spa centre, thanks to her 18 healing changes of modernity are still defining the mineral and thermal springs. Those springs development of Sofia and are also part of its have been drawing settlers and conquerors from inextinguishable charm. While be walking on ancient time to nowadays. They are depicted on the streets of Sofia today, people can still see the coat-of-arms of Sofia Municipality. the remnants from older civilizations can still be seen. THROUGH THE CENTURIES As early as the Neolithic age the territory of the Founded seven thousand years ago, Sofia is the present-day million city was inhabited by primitive second oldest European city. The city situated in societies. Archaeologists continue to discover the center of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia has implements and devices from the Stone, Copper been the official center of the Bulgarian nation for and Bronze ages in the city and in its vicinity. 127 years, since shortly after the Liberation he There are more than 70 Eastern Orthodox was declared for the capital of Bulgaria. churches and monasteries, many of which have Sofia has been the capital of Bulgaria since April become emblematic for the Bulgarian capital. 3, 1879. It is the permanent seat of the National The city center is an eclectic mix of communist Assembly (the Parliament), the Presidency, era neoclassical and West European architecture, the Council of Ministers, the central governing which enchants with its aristocratic atmosphere bodies of various agencies, political parties and and Eastern charm. BULGARIA IN BRIEF 5 6 BULGARIA IN BRIEF WELCOME SPRING WITH A DAY HIKE IN VITOSHA So – you’re in Sofia and it’s the beginning of spring. You happen to also like nature, mountains and hiking? Congratulations – you’re here at the right time! The glorious snows of Vitosha are melting and the river waters are higher than ever. The hiking routes are not only beautiful, but easily accessible and not too difficult as well. One of our favorites is the route to Boyana Waterfall. Why the Boyana Waterfall? The Boyana Waterfall is the largest waterfall in Vitosha, splashing down from 15m and it’s most rampant in spring. Besides that, the hiking route is not too far from the city center – you can reach the starting point by public transport for just about 30-50 minutes. The route is difficult enough to challenge you and easy enough to have a fun day-trip with friends and family. When you reach the higher parts of the path, you will have the chance to enjoy some panoramic views of Sofia. How to get there? The beginning of the hiking route is located in Boyana district, very close to the Boyana Church. Make sure to check out the Boyana Church too! It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage List and is one of the most remarkable monuments in Bulgaria for its frescoes, which are thought of as forerunners of European Renaissance. BULGARIA IN BRIEF 7 To reach it by public transport, you have two options: 1) Take the metro to Vitosha station and from there bus No. 64 to station ‘Boyansko hanche’ or 2) With tram No. 5 from right behind the Palace of Justice (Serdika Metrostation) reach ‘Ovcha kupel blvd.’ station and then take bus No. 107 to station ‘Boyana Church’. From there you walk uphill for about 5 minutes on Pop Evstati Vitoshki Street and you reach the forest where you will find yellow signs for the waterfall and painted marks on the trees – white, green, white – guiding you all through your journey. Watch out! There’s another route that goes right by the flowing Boyana river – but it can come a bit difficult if you don’t have previous experience with hiking – therefore, take the left turn for the easier route. The route is about 6 km long with 600 m denivelation – the Boyana waterfall is about 1300 m above sea level. It will take you about 2-3 hours uphill and about an hour and a half down (following the same route). It’s said to be of intermediate hiking difficulty. Overall, it’s broad and slant most of the time, so there’s nothing to worry about. Some useful tips! It would be best to start your journey in the morning, so you have enough time to walk around and visit the Boyana Church and the Boyana Lake as well. Don’t miss Suhi Vrah – it has a beautiful panoramic view of Sofia! You’ll see it on your right after about an hour of climbing. Be careful for the more slippery parts as you get closer to the river – it would be best to wear your hiking shoes or boots. Don’t forget your raincoat and something warm to wear on top too! The higher parts of the forest could get a bit cool. And of course, bring water and some snacks or sandwiches in your backpack! And most importantly – have fun! :) More information about how to spend your time in Sofia on www.visitsofia.bg www.facebook.com/InformationCentreSofia 8 OVERVIEW Sofia’s Symbols National Assembly The University of Sofia (map E3) St. Kliment Ohridski The building of the National Assembly (map E4) (Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria) is located on the square of the same name, situated on In front of the entrance to the oldest and largest Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. Parliament is the state high school in Bulgaria is standing the bronze body of the legislature power in the country. The sculpture of the brothers Hristo and Evlogi building of the National Assembly was built after Georgievi, with the financial support of which it the Liberation in 1884 on the idea of Konstantin was built.