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A Brief Guide To Sofia - Bulgaria

Sofia

Sofia is the capital, and the largest city, of Bulgaria. It is located at the foot of Mount Vitosha, which makes it a spectacular travel destination, especially for people with a Eurail pass. One can have a mixed experience of melancholy in the ancient ruins and museums, piety in the religious churches, exhilaration while climbing the breathtaking mountain and pleasure while partying at the Bulgarian restaurants and pubs.

History of Sofia

The original settlers of Sofia, the Thracians, called the place ‘Serdica', named after the Serdi tribe who camped in the area. In 500 BC, the Odrysi tribe joined the Serdi tribe. After many years, Alexander the Great conquered the city. When the Romans conquered the city in 29AD, they named it Ulpia Serdica. Eventually, it became a modern settlement which lured Constantine to call it "my Rome". The city was seized by many empires, from the Huns, to the Byzantine, to the Ottoman. The name Sofia was used in 1376 after the city's church. In 1908, Sofia was made capital by the Kingdom of Bulgaria. After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1989, Sofia moved to become an economically independent and modern city.

Things To Do In Sofia

Sofia is rich in historical architectural buildings, which are also considered religious locations. One, which is voted as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is the 900-year old Boyana Church located near Mt. Vitosha. It is also where the National Museum is located, so every traveler must visit this site. Another must-see site is the Alexander Nevski Church, a memorial for the 200,000 Russian soldiers who fought during the Russo-Turkish Liberation War. Tsentralna Sofiiska Sinagoga, Sveti Georgi and Tsurkva Sveta Nikolai are other churches worth visiting, too. For those up to the challenge, Vitosha Mountain offers hiking and skiing activities. To learn the culture and history of Bulgaria, there is the Statue of Tsar Nikolaj, Kambanite, Orlov Most, Institute of Archaeology with Museum, National Museum of History, Ivan Vazov National Theater and the National Palace of Culture Congress Center.

Sofia By Rail

Now that Bulgaria is included in the Eurail list of countries, Using a Eurail Pass is a convenient way to visit Sofia. From Sofia there are direct connections to Belgrade, Bucharest, Thessaloniki, Alexandroupolis, Kiev, Moscow, Minsk, St. Petersburg and Istanbul.

About the Author

Travel to Sofia and destinations across Europe with a Eurail Pass at http://www.eurailtravels.com.

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