A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO SOFIA

Sofia has a beautiful city center whose many late 19th and early 20th century buildings have recently been restored. In some areas this neo-Classical and Secession architecture sits side by side with the monolithic constructions of the communist period. There are also many glossy new buildings, particularly office centers, and some have made a real effort to integrate their modern glass and metal components with the original facades of the buildings. Outside of the center most of the city’s 1.1 million inhabitants live in the monstrous socialist housing complexes but beyond these, the city is surrounded on all sides by wonderful mountain ranges.
Over the last ten years the suburbs around Sofia, in particular those on Vitosha Mountain have been overwhelmed with a non-stop building boom as the “nouveau riche” battle to outdo each other with bigger and grander villas, many in total disregard of their beautiful setting and without the relevant planning permission. Anyone driving around these areas may be forgiven for thinking there was no economic hardship in Bulgaria.

Sofia became capital of Bulgaria as recently as 1879, usurping the position from Veliko Turnovo after six hundred years. Sofia was felt to possess a strategic location and the change of capital marked the end of Bulgaria’s dark ages under Ottoman rule.
When it became capital, Sofia was a muddy, underdeveloped town of just 12,000 inhabitants, something akin to a large, open-air market. Writers talk of how the city’s inhabitants attended the first royal ball dressed in woolen socks and baggy Turkish pants. The city’s historic buildings date from the turn of the century up until the 1930s, when there was a rush to bring the city up to date and turn it into a modern European capital.
Evidence has been found that Sofia was inhabited as early as 7000 years ago. Thracian and Roman remains can still be seen dotted around the city: in the underpass in front of the presidency; behind the Military Club, and behind the Sheraton hotel. Sofia’s thermal springs meant that it was always an attractive place for settlement. There are springs in the city center, Gorna Banya, Knyazhevo, Bankya and Ovcha Kupel. Under Thracian and later Roman rule Sofia was known as Serdika, from the middle of the 6th century the Byzantines renamed it Triaditsa and from the 9th century onwards during the First Bulgarian Kingdom it took on the Slavonic name of Sredets.  The city finally became known as Sofia from the beginning of the 15th century taking on the name Sofia, from St. Sofia church (wisdom).
Sofia’s coat of arms was designed in 1900. The City’s motto “Raste no ne stare” (grows but does not age) was added a year later.

During World War II, Sofia was badly bombed by allied air raids in the early months of 1944. Over 3000 buildings were totally destroyed and another 9000 damaged.

Although in many ways the real beauty of Sofia lies in it's surroundings, it is is still worth spending a few days exploring the city and it's attractions. Sofia does not have the historic charm of say Plovdiv's old town and apart from a handful of significant buildings, it lacks any memorable architecture. However in recent years the city centre with it's pavement cafes has developed a distinctly continental flavour and rennovated buildings make sightseeing in the city an all round more pleasant experience.
Many sights now have signs outside them in English and Bulgarian giving a mobile number. If you call this number you can listen to a short recording (approximately 3 minutes) about the sight. The charge for the call is approximately 1.20 BGN.