The Republic of Bulgaria

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Sofia is the administrative capital and the cultural centre of Bulgaria and the biggest town in the country. The foundations of the city have been laid about 7,000 years ago in the foot of the Vitosha Mountain. Nowadays Sofia is a cosmopolitan city with a population of more than 1 mln. people. The capital is a centre of the political life of Bulgaria, it has a well-developed cultural life and favourable business climate. It offers conditions for holding international conferences, symposia, seminars or fairs. There exist a lot of museums and art galleries, theatres, concert halls and cinemas, opera and operetta theatres.

Plovdiv is the second biggest city in Bulgaria. It is located in the Upper Thracian Valley, along the coasts of the Maritsa River. Founded by Philip II of Macedonia with the name of Philipopolis in 4 B.C. over the former Thracian settlement of Pulpudeva. Later the city was invaded by the Romans and called Trimontium. In the documents of the Ottoman Empire it is known as Filibe. It became the capital of Eastern Rumelia after the Liberation of the Principality of Bulgaria in 1878.

The old part of Plovdiv is declared an architectural and historical reserve. The houses of the late Revival can be outlined in architectural aspect. The city is famous with the holding of the Plovdiv International Fair twice a year, as well as with the recognition won by the Plovdiv Philharmonic Orchestra at the International and Bulgarian stage.

Varna is the third largest city in Bulgaria. It is situated at the Black Sea coast, at the Varna Gulf, near the resort complex of Zlatni Pyasatsi (Golden Sands). In ancient times it used to be a Greek colony – Odessos, and in 15th century it joined Vladislav III Varnenchik’s Christian army it its battle against the Ottoman troops. Archaeological and architectural monuments from the Eneolith, Antiquity and Middle Ages have been preserved – a basilica and churches.