Sofia, the capital of Republic of Bulgaria – one of the most ancient cities of Bulgarian earths

It became the capital in March, 1879. On September, 17 – a holiday of Sainted Sofia and its daughters is Vera, Nadezhda and Ljubov is a holiday of city.

Sights of Sofia

Public buildings testify to close connection of Bulgaria with Russia, in particular, magnificent, built in neo-Byzantine style cathedral of Alexandra Nevsky (most famous temple of Sofia, character of liberation). A cathedral will be erected in 1912. A cathedral is built on the project of the Russian architect A. Pomeranceva and reminds in the diminished type of Isaaciy cathedral in Saint Petersburg, contains 500 persons. From a bell tower in 52 m high, ringing is audible 12 bells, outpoured in Tule and Moscow.

Monuments narrate about changeable history of Sofia, public gardens and cafe invites to rest and bite. The high cultural living of Sofia offers to the guests a choice on any taste. Sofia is famous the museums, telling about history of country, and private galleries of modern art, reflecting life of new Bulgaria of 1990th г.г. To feel history of Bulgaria, we offer to you to see museums and temples of the capital – the National historical museum, National archaeological museum, Ethnographic museum, National artistic gallery together with us, and also many churches – Saint Petka Samardzhiyska, Saint Week, mosque of Bania Bashi, Sofia synagogue and other sights of Sofia.

Pointed minaret of mosque of Bania Bashi and this enormous dome visible from distance. The name a mosque, erected in 1576, got from the former Turkish bath-houses. A famous Ottoman architect erected a mosque Khadzhi of Mimar Sinan. Mosque, where and today the Moslems of Sofia accomplish prayers, one of not many survivor buildings epoch of Ottoman. Access in it, especially during prayer, strictly forbidden. Decorative patterns in the interior of mosque remind about Islam prohibition on the images of people and animals. Next to a mosque there is a mineral spring. In a public garden before building of the Mineral bath-house from two dozen faucets beat the fountains of hot mineral water which possesses a strengthening and medical action, the habitants of Sofia fill with it bottles and tanks.

Unique objects of Sofia – Eagles a bridge is a monument of freedom of the Bulgarian spirit and Lion's bridge is a monument of strength of the Bulgarian mind. A lion's bridge is built in 1889 At that time there was an end of city and during many years four sculptures of lions meet and accompany the guests of Sofia.

The central synagogue of Sofia is built in PseudoMauritanian style in 1909 by the Viennese architect by Frederic Gryunangerom. This synagogue – one of the greatest buildings of similar family on the Balkan Peninsula, was recently restored.

There is an age-old and well saved historical monument – rotunda of Saint in the centre of Sofia. George is part of large archaeological complex. It is assumed that building was built in II-III в.в. and his primary setting is a mausoleum or cult structure. A church was once or twice blasted and today it is in a kind, in what was in V in., when it was utilized as a Christian temple. Painting of interior behaves to different ages. Restorers cleared numerous colourful layers one over other. The head of angel especially impresses under a dome X in.

Church of Saint Resurrection was erected in XIX in. on foundation of more ancient buildings.

The animated highway of Sofia is boulevard of Vitosh. His greater part is a pedestrian area. Boulevard of Vitosh is the largest auction street of Sofia with in a number of shops, banks, restaurants, cafe and bars. At the beginning of boulevard Vitosh cost two beautiful buildings – Theological academy and National historical museum of Sofia, located in former building of court. It is the richest museum of Bulgaria, among most known his exhibits are wares from gold and silver, articles of famous Panagyurski of gold treasure IV and III to ad, 165 articles of silver treasure from Rogozen V and IV century.

The archaeological museum of Sofia is located in historical building – former mosque of Buyyuk, deprived the minaret. In a museum finds are proposed from all of territory of modern Bulgaria, related to the epoch of Romans, and also to dark ages.

Opposite an archaeological museum, in former tsar's palace, the displays of two museums of Sofia are presented. An ethnographic museum acquaints with the culture of the Bulgarian people, with his traditions and consuetude’s, with colourful works of folk masters. The Bulgarian painting is presented in the national artistic gallery of Sofia, since XIX in. In the period of national Revival the Bulgarian fine art long developed in traditions of the medieval religious painting. It is here possible to see works of the largest Bulgarian master Zachary Zograf, in creation of which a central place is occupied by religious themes, and also creations of the known artists of country. The National recreation centre, different the architecture, functional technical systems and equipment, is built in 1981, to the proper modern international standards.

There is the Bulgarian academy of sciences in Sofia, the largest and eldest Bulgarian university is the Sofia university the name of Saint. Kliment Okhridski, National library the name of Saint Cyril and Mefodiy.

Sofia – one of most green the capitals of Europe. Along with city parks for rest and tourism all of near-by mountain ranges are comfortable: Vitosh, Lyulin, Lozen, Plan and other A central place among the parks of Sofia occupies the Borisov park, collecting in a centre a city the most various types of vegetation, tennis courts, routes for competitions on bicycles and suitable terms for employments by the most different types of sport. There is a lake of Ariana in beginning of park, where different entertainments settle down. The second-largest is the South Park, newest park of Sofia, located not far from the foot of mountain of Vitoshi. Child's holidays are organized in him, and he is a wonderful resting-place. Here is museum "Earth and people". A public city park is in the centre of city. The great number of sculptures and monuments of architecture prevails here. A western park is a place, where everybody can accomplish a walk and have fun.

Little capitals of the world are located so close to the large mountain. By the beautiful nature, rapid brooks, the mountain of Vitosh grew the age-old forests into a favourite resting-place and tourism. On it the great number of rest-homes is located, hotels, workings the whole year round.

And it far not all is sights of Sofia, attention is deserved folk theatre the name of Ivan Vazov, Russian church of Saint Nick (sacred to the warriors lost Russian in the Russian-Turkish war-time), great number of monuments (Russian monument, monument of Vasily Levski, Doctoral monument) and simply beautiful places. Unique building, built in baroque is building of folk theatre the name of Ivan Vazov.

Created in 1906, building is decorated figures from Greek mythology. In a theatre a state theatrical troupe puts raising both on the Bulgarian plays and on works of foreign authors. Before building there is a fountain with a statue, near which concerts and other presentations are organized in acicular days.

In September, 2002 the first in Bulgaria Pleasure Park which is one of most large in south-east Europe was opened in Sofia. Located near-by the centre of the capital, "Sofia-lend" was stretched on territory of 35 dike and separate on two parts: for children 2-5 years and domestic and extreme entertainments, and also on territory there is bowling, billiards, cinema halls, cafe, restaurants, piano-bury and other.

Sofia zoological garden and zoo, located in south part of Sofia and in a direct closeness with the mountain of Vitosh. He is plugged in the general system of planting of greenery of the capital and disposed on territory in 250 dikes that enables to design the places of stay of animals so that they maximally approached their natural environment. Here found shelter about 3200 animals – representatives about 300 kinds, dwellings both in Bulgaria and in everything the world. In addition, a zoo is characterized an exceptionally rich and various vegetation.

For the last 10 years in Sofia the great number of buildings is built in the most modern style. Building proceeds… Today's Sofia is a dynamic, modern city with the numerous representative offices of known worldwide firms, with business - tetramer, by restaurants, parks and complexes for entertainments and sport.