- Architectural symbols
- Where to go in Sofia with children?
- Green recreation areas
- A stone's throw from the city
- Where to have a snack
Sofia, the main city of Bulgaria, is not the most popular capital in Europe. Many travelers who choose a seaside vacation in Bulgaria do not even get to Sofia. Only in winter, heading to the ski resorts in Bulgaria, tourists have the opportunity to see Sofia at least with one glance. And those transit vacationers, having driven along the streets of Sofia, come back here to spend a weekend or a week here, because it is impossible not to fall in love with this city, surrounded on all sides by mountains! It was about Sophia that the phrase "See and die" was said. After that, they began to talk about Paris like that. Every tourist arriving in Sofia wonders what to see, where to go in Sofia?
The Bulgarian capital surprises at once. Travel guides report that there are 250 different tourist sites in Sofia that are worth seeing. Most are concentrated in the central quarters, so you can walk between them. No traveler misses the oldest church in the city - the rotunda of St. George, dating from the 4th century. All guests will be sure to see the remains of the fortress walls that used to surround the city. Near the building called the Presidency, where the office of the head of state is located, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of an ancient settlement of the 2nd century, which was located on the site of present-day Sofia.
Architectural symbols
The city, founded more than seven thousand years ago, just a priori should be interesting from the point of view of architecture. And indeed it is. Here are preserved monuments from the times of the ancient Thracians, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans. After the expulsion of the Turkish invaders from Bulgaria, which happened in the second half of the 19th century, new sights began to appear in its capital, which can rightfully be called the symbols of Sofia. First of all, this is the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky, the construction of which was completed in 1912. This majestic Orthodox church is considered the largest in the Balkans. The interior was painted by various artists. There are also frescoes by Viktor Vasnetsov. They are located near the Royal Doors. The cathedral houses 12 bells, the ringing of which can be heard far beyond the city limits.
The second hallmark of Sofia is the building of the National Assembly, where the country's parliament sits. The Neo-Renaissance building, which consists of several buildings, faces the National Assembly Square with its main facade. Construction work was completed in a record 6 months of 1884. In subsequent years, the complex was expanded.
Another very recognizable building that can be seen on various souvenirs is the Ivan Vazov National Theater, erected near the popular City Garden. The Austrians were engaged in its construction at the beginning of the 20th century on the site of the former wooden theater "Osnova". The building was destroyed several times as a result of fires, but was constantly rebuilt. The theater hosts interesting performances, one of which you can go to if you wish. And since the Bulgarian language is similar to Russian, there should be no difficulties in perceiving the play.
Where to go in Sofia with children?
The Bulgarian capital is suitable not only for leisurely walks with friends and loved ones. You can come here on vacation with children, for whom there is a lot of interesting things.
Among the most popular places in Sofia, which are created for visiting with little ones, are:
- rope park "Kokolandia", where there are attractions not only for children of any age, but also for adults;
- zoo "Zoo Sofia" with an area of 250 hectares, spread out at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. It is the oldest menagerie in the Balkan Peninsula. It was founded by Prince Ferdinand at the end of the 19th century. In spacious enclosures there are about a thousand animals and birds of 300 species. Some of the fauna can be fed. Playgrounds and a contact farm have been built for children;
- a botanical garden from the University of Sofia, which occupies a small area, but at the same time is a wonderful place for walking. Its history begins in 1892 with the planting of a small tree, which has now turned into a huge oak, reminiscent of the fact that in time immemorial there was an oak grove on the site of present-day Sofia. Nowadays, plants of 2500 species grow in the botanical garden. As you walk, show your child the greenhouses with orchids and cacti. Palm pavilions, rose garden;
- an interactive museum "Muzeiko", dedicated to different fields of science: history, architecture, paleontology, astronautics, etc. In the center of the exposition there is a huge tree on which various objects are hung. Each of them can be taken, studied, sounds can be extracted from it, and finally, simply played with it;
- house-museum of dolls. This is a gallery, which consists of a museum itself, where 3000 souvenir, modern, antique, collectible dolls are collected, a creative workshop where classes for kids on making dolls are held every Saturday, and a center where children's parties are held.
Green recreation areas
In Sofia, there are many parks for recreation, in which both citizens and guests of the Bulgarian capital love to spend time. Some quarters, laid out after 2000, are so densely built up that they do not have green zones. In the center of Sofia there are four main parks - Borisov, South, West and North, as well as several small ones, among which are the Zaimov Park, the City and Medical Gardens.
Borisov Garden is the most famous park in Sofia, founded in 1884 and named after the last monarch of Bulgaria - Boris III. Three of the most famous landscape designers in Europe have consistently worked on the garden, and they strictly followed the existing plan and did not try to change anything in it of their own free will. The park was conceived as a nursery where trees and bushes could be grown for their subsequent planting on the streets of the city. Nowadays it is a shady park where you can find several interesting natural and architectural objects. There is Lake Ariana, the summer baths "Maria Luiza", the university observatory, the stadiums "Yunak" and "Vasil Levski", a tennis club, a cycle track and a TV tower. On the territory of the Borisov Garden there is also a monument with the burial of local partisans who died during the Second World War.
The city garden, located behind the Archaeological Museum, is small, but it is always loved by the people of Sofia. Here you can often see chess players, keen on the game, or parents who brought their offspring to the old playground, which is still preserved in the park. Nearby there is a wooden pavilion selling fresh newspapers from around the world. The city garden continues a small green park, in the center of which is the building of the former casino, which now belongs to the Sofia Art Gallery.
A stone's throw from the city
Travelers who want to see the surroundings of Sofia can contact local guides or plan a trip outside the city on their own. It is worth starting with a visit to the Vitosha reserve.
The oldest Balkan natural park Vitosha is located on the slopes of the mountain of the same name, which is located south of the center of Sofia. The area of the park is 266 sq. km, with half of it included in the municipality of Sofia. The park is often chosen for one-day excursions, because Vitosha Mountain is a popular hiking destination. It can be easily reached by public transport or private car. Throughout the year, two cable cars rise to the park, the lower stations of which are located on the outskirts of the capital of Bulgaria. In winter, Vitosha Mountain is suitable for skiing. Not so long ago, at the end of the last century, tracks of various difficulty levels were developed here. Ski equipment is provided to everyone in the rental offices, and instructors teach beginners to ski.
Regular buses make it easy to get from Sofia to the famous balneological resort Bankya. It is located on the slopes of the Lyulin Mountains. Water from local sources helps in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system.
While in Sofia, be sure to visit the village of Boyana to see the local landmark - Boyana Church, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The eastern part of the temple was built in the late X - early XI centuries. The church is famous for its well-preserved 13th century frescoes, which are considered one of the most valuable monuments of medieval painting in the Balkans.
Where to have a snack
Although Bulgarians use the Cyrillic alphabet, it is sometimes difficult to understand what is behind the names in restaurant menus. Among the first courses among Bulgarians, tarator (cold soup like our okroshka) chorba (thick soup with obligatory pepper and tomatoes) is very popular. For the second, order gyuvech (stew with meat and vegetables), followed by a delicious Shopt salad. We recommend buying a jar of honey and a bottle of brandy as a gift from local delicacies.
Where to taste all this splendor? In inexpensive taverns, where menus of the day are often offered at a fixed price, and in mehans - national restaurants with a very large selection of Bulgarian dishes.
All the most famous Bulgarian dishes are served in the “Divaka” chain cafe, which is appreciated not only by tourists, but also by the residents of Sofia. The first course will cost about 5 leva, the meat dish - about 15 leva.
Beer lovers will certainly love the Dondukov restaurant, where you can also have a hearty and inexpensive lunch. There are always a lot of people here, but the atmosphere is light and pleasant.
In the center of the city, on Khan Krum Street, there is a wonderful establishment "Gastrobar 6", which specializes in home cooking. In addition to Bulgarian national dishes, they also offer Italian dishes such as pasta and risotto.
