BULGARIA : THE CAPITAL SOFIA - SIGHTSEEING
Sofia is a city that grows but never ages. Founded over 7,000 years ago,
Bulgaria's modern capital testifies to the country's eternal bond
between past and present. A lot of Sofia's historic grandeur has been
lost, despite various Byzantine ruins and mosques attesting to a long,
colourful history. Some of its most impressive architecture post-dates
Bulgaria's Liberation of 1878. The town centre is dominated by
neo-classical Stalinist architecture and is surrounded by a sprawling
periphery of bleak, Socialist-era block housing – a formidable greeting
for the first-time visitor.
Near Sofia lies Boyana church, which is one of the most valuable
memorials of Bulgarian and European culture. The church boasts frescoes,
acclaimed by specialists as “the best examples of eastern mediaeval art
during its twelve century history”. The area surrounding Sofia is rich
in natural beauty. The tranquillity and charm of Mount Vitosha offers
ideal spots for picnics or walking in the summer and superb skiing in
the winter. The picturesque villages at its foothills are just a short
tram or bus ride away from the bustling capital.
A peek through the side streets and century-old commercial quarter of
the city itself reveals the true magic of Sofia – a very European city
of tree-lined boulevards and balconied buildings by 19th-century Russian
and Viennese architects. Standing among a cluster of ancient and
neo-Byzantine Orthodox churches, one functioning is mosque is virtually
all that remains of 500 years of Ottoman domination. However, it is in
street life where the character of the city is to be found. Locals meet
for coffee at open-air cafés, vast bazaars offer an array of pickles and
farm produce, gypsies sell flowers on street corners, while shoppers
queue to board the city’s rattling trams and folk musicians serenade the
metro users.
From the earliest times, Sofia’s main attraction has been its thermal
springs, which are still in public use today, as a water source. Its
strategic location on military and trade routes made it an important
administrative centre in Roman times, reaching its grandeur as an early
centre of Christianity during the reign of Constantine in the fourth
century. Two significant Byzantine churches remain. In 1382, the Turks
conquered the city but when they were ousted, in 1878, Sofia became the
capital and its grand boulevards were constructed, cutting through the
grid-plan quarters that had grown up around the oriental nucleus.
Ottoman-imposed mosques were torn down, as the Orthodox Church was
reinstated.
Major landmarks include the St George Rotunda, part of a large
archeological complex with rare Roman architectural features; the Sveta
Sofia Basilica which inspired the city's coat of arms; the Alexandar
Nevski Cathedral, whose magnificent icons and frescoes are world famous;
and the Boyana Church on Sofia's outskirts - a listed UNESCO building -
a fine example of Medieval architecture with unique wall paintings.
Other tourist attractions include: the Church of Sveta Nedelya, the
Banya Bashi Mosque (16th century) and nearby Turkish baths, the Hall
covered market and clock tower Synagogue, the National History Museum,
the Sveta Petka Saamardzhiiska Church, the Russian Church, the Alexandar
Batenberg Square, the flea market, antique shops and cafes around the
Kristal Square, the tree-lined Alexsandar Nevski Square, named after its
famous Cathedral, and the international art collection housed in the St.
St. Cyril and Methodius Foundation.
