Sofia - City of Bulgaria

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria. It is also the biggest city in the country with about 1.4 mln citizens. Today, Sofia is a dynamic Eastern European capital, distinguished by its unique combination of European and Communist-style architecture as well as many beautiful orthodox churches. Furthermore, it claims to be one of the few European capitals with beautiful scenery and a developed ski-resort so close to it - the Vitosha mountain.

Sofia has a humid continental climate with high temperature amplitudes. The hottest month is August while January is the coldest. The city receives around 650 millimetres annual precipitation with summer maximum and winter minimum. The temperatures in Sofia generally remain cooler than other parts of Bulgaria in summer, due to the high altitude of the valley in which it is situated.

Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, or Sardica, possibly 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 ruled by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.

To get all information about Sofia, like history, restaurants, things to do (nearly everything) take a free tourist guide in your pocket. Ask for it in your hostel. You could also check the Programata website which contains detailed information on all cultural events in Sofia, cinema, theatres and also restaurants and bars.

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe with ruins spread across the city center. It was founded because of the quality of its mineral waters. In the city alone there are 7 independent mineral water springs. An interesting constellation can be seen in the city centre, where a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, a mosque and a synagogue are located at great proximity.

Yalta Club and Chervilo are among the most popular clubs in Bulgaria. Yalta Club has hosted some of the most popular DJs: Pete Tong, Axwell, Steve Angello, Dimitri From Paris, Tom Novy and many others.

Sofia has an extensive nightlife scene with many different night clubs, live venues, pubs, mehani and restaurants. The city has played host to many world star concerts including performances by, among others, Elton John, Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden, Ray Charles, Seal, Metallica, KISS, Mark Knopfler, Kansas, Marilyn Manson, Eros Ramazotti, DJ Tiesto, Korn, Judas Priest, Robin Gibb, Kylie Minogue, Rihanna, Dima Bilan, Deep Purple and Tarja Turunen.

The early Byzantine Church of St Sophia was built in the 6th century on the place of an ancient Roman theatre and several earlier churches. During the Second Bulgarian Empire the structure served as the cathedral of the city but was later converted to a mosque by the Ottoman invaders.

The Russian Church or the Church of St. Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, built in 1914 is dedicated to the patron-saint of the Russian Tsar at the time Nicholas II. The construction was supervised by the architect A. Smirnov, who was building the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral nearby.

There are 16 universities in Sofia. The Saint Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia is often regarded as the most prestigious university of Bulgaria, being founded in 1888 and having an incoming class of 14,000 students each year.

Other important universities include the National Academy of Arts, the Technical University of Sofia, the University for National and World Economics, Sofia Medical University, the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, the University of Forestry and New Bulgarian University.