Sightseeing in Sofia - what to see. Complete travel guide

Bulgaria's capital, Sofia is a city rich in history, many notable places and spectacular natural landscapes.

In the center of town is located Slaveykov Square, from which diverge beautiful boulevards and avenues in different directions just like sun rays. The city’s downtown is a pedestrian zone, so nothing will prevent tourists and local residents from unhurried walks and enjoying the magnificence of the local nature. There are also several office buildings around the square. These are the real examples of modern architecture.

Those, who like shopping, should go to Vitosha Boulevard, which is considered the main shopping street of the city. In addition to shops and souvenir outlets you will find here several cozy restaurants and cafes. While walking, you'll be truly surprised to see such a large number of monuments right at every step.

St. George Church is the symbol of the "Old Sofia", which was built in the 6th century. During its 15 century-long history the building has been reconstructed many times. In the 16th century it was even converted into a mosque by the Turks. Today the church is decorated with magnificent frescoes, which imprint the most important historical events and images of saints. Alexander Battenberg Square is also the right location for visitors who enjoy seeing architectural places of interest. Church of St. Nicholas is surely the main decoration of this place. The building of the royal palace is located just opposite to the church. The palace is surrounded by gigantic trees and flower beds. This city is also home to one of the main Christian churches - St. Sophia Cathedral. The construction of this building was started by the Romans in the 7th century. Nowadays only the floor of the church decorated with mosaics reminds of those times. The facade and rooms have been rebuilt several times, leading to a unique combination of various architectural trends. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Right in the city, there are several amazing antique attractions. Serdika Amphitheater is one of them. This Roman amphitheater was built in the 3rd century and is considered the largest one among the arenas discovered in Bulgaria. Serdika Amphitheatre is the second largest in size after the famous Colosseum. Ancient ruins were discovered only recently, in 2004, during the construction of the regular hotel. Nowadays, the Roman complex is open to the public.

In the immediate vicinity of Sofia is an interesting religious landmark - the Boyana Church. In 1979 it was listed as a World Heritage Site. The erection of the church took place in the 10th century. For hundreds of years, it has been reconstructed several times. Despite a thorny destiny, many valuable artifacts have been preserved in it. Now visitors can admire the unique frescos of the 11th century and see fragments of medieval paintings. Somehow, the temple managed to survive thousands of years later.

One of the most visited cultural institutions in the city is the Archaeological Museum. It was founded in 1892 and occupies the same building as the Institute of Archeology. The archaeological museum is the oldest in Bulgaria. It keeps one of the world's largest collections of antiquities, found in various parts of the country. The building containing the museum was erected in the 15th century and used to be a mosque initially. It is of great historical value.

The Historical Museum of Bulgaria is situated in a beautiful park. Its opening was held in 1973. Today the exposition of the museum includes more than 600000 unique pieces. For the convenience of visitors, it is divided into several thematic halls. Visitors can enjoy collections of ancient weapons and coins, admire medieval decorations and antique furniture, made by the best masters of the country. Yet, they have an interesting collection of church utensils. Since 2000 the museum occupies a new attractive building.

In the center of Sofia you'll find a picturesque park of Borisov Gradina. It is also a historical object founded in the late 19th century. The park is incredibly beautiful. Today, it represents a wonderful Japanese garden and a pond, a large rose garden, numerous fountains, and sculptures. In the middle of the 20th century, an observatory was opened there.