Sofia Introduction

City Introduction

Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the center of national politics, economics, and culture. It is located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the western part of the country. Covering a land area of 167 square kilometers, the city stretches over the Iskur River and its branches, with a population of almost 1.2 million.

Sofia is one of the transportation hubs in Europe, the transportation line linking the Adriatic Sea, middle Europe, the Danube River, and the Aegean Sea also passes through here which contributes to its convenient connection with the outside.

Sofia is also a perfect place for tourism. As a well-known flower city, its streets, plazas, and living areas are covered in greenery, there are many green boulevards and gardens dotted within the center of the city which contrast nicely with the light yellow or white buildings around. Walking down the street, you could see many flower shops or booths, citizens of Sofia are fond of planting or giving flowers to friends and families, the most popular kinds are the carnations, tulips, and red roses. From the Sofia plaza, moving forward and within less than a mile, there are 4 gardens along the road.

Sofia is famous for its thermal springs and in central downtown, a Roman bathhouse built during the 5th century is still standing. Except for the thermal springs, Sofia also has many sweet springs and water shops.

Historical Culture

In ancient times, Sofia was called as Serdica, Sredets, etc, the name Sofia comes from the Saint Sofia Church in the 14th century. In 1879, Sofia was officially named as the capital. After Bulgarian declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1908, Sofia then became the capital of Bulgaria.

Religious Belief

Most of the Bulgarian people are Orthodox Christian; a minority of the population is Islam.

Natural Environment

Sofia is situated in western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of the Vitosha Mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by the Balkan Mountains to the north. The valley has an average altitude of 550 meters (1,800 ft). It is surrounded by comparatively high mountains on all sides. Three mountain passes lead to the city, which have been key roads since antiquity, Vitosha being the watershed between Black and Aegean Seas.

A number of low rivers cross the city, including the Vladayska and the Perlovska. The Iskar River in its upper course flows near eastern Sofia. The city is known for its mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the twentieth century.

Climate Characteristics

Sofia has a humid continental climate with four seasons. Under the impact of the Black Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, the average temperature in January is -2 to 2 Celsius; during July it is around 23 to 25 Celsius with few natural disasters. The best travelling time is from July to October.