Sofia Bulgaria most interesting places. Sofia, Bulgaria: description and attractions

One of the emblems of the city of Sofia is a statue of a gilded woman, towering in the very center of the capital above the Serdika metro station. Other symbols include, the rotunda of St. George and so on. And among this venerable public, the statue of Sophia is the youngest and most scandalous. She herself, of course, is not a brawler, but the story of her origin is connected with various “violations” that are remembered to this day. By the way, the statue of Sophia has stood in this place for exactly 16 years; it was installed on December 28, 2000. Who do you think stood in this place before her? Right. Lenin.

The statue of Sophia looks east, and V.I. also looked there. Lenin. On that side stands the huge building of the People's Assembly, on the spire of which there used to be a ruby ​​star, and now a Bulgarian flag.

There are only two complaints about this monument. The first is related to her origin, and the second is related to her appearance, and it is not about beauty. The quality and artistry of the execution are not in doubt.
The problem is that this statue is seen as a pagan allegory of a Christian saint, which, according to some, should “offend the feelings of believers.” We are, of course, talking about St. Sophia, the wisdom of God, whose daughters are Faith, Hope and Love. However, it is known that by “the wisdom of God” Christianity means the word of God, and not a woman. This is probably why the authors did not bother, but simply did what, in their opinion, looks beautiful and contains all the good symbols: in one hand Sophia holds a laurel wreath, symbolizing victory and triumph, in the other she clutches several antique coins in her fist, and on her shoulder a meter-long owl sits - a symbol of wisdom; on the head of the statue is the crown of Tyche - the ancient Greek goddess of fate.

The figure of the woman looks stately and powerful, has a height of 8 m 8 cm and stands on a 12-meter pedestal, the whole composition reaches a height of 26 meters. Initially, it was all black, but a year after installation it was gilded and the face of the statue immediately began to remind someone of an antique gold mask. Also, some people don’t like having beautiful breasts and an “immodest” dress.
The figure of the statue of Sophia weighs five tons and consists of 160 parts. It took 9 months to make it in Iliantsy.

The second scandal is that this entire composition costs about $200,000, and there was no competition for this “government order.” The then mayor Stefan Sofiyanski himself came up with the initiative for this monument and appointed the executors himself. The authors of the statue of Sophia were the sculptures Georgi Chapknov and the architect Stanislav Konstantinov. They voted for it in the community on the day of the city of Sofia - September 17 (Hagia Sophia's day) and initially everyone thought that the sculpture would depict St. Sophia, but it turned out that it did :) Not only that! There are suspicions that the face of the “pagan” Sofia is very reminiscent of the face of the mayor’s wife Alice Sofiyansky. The authors themselves claim that the statue of Sophia has nothing to do with Christianity, but is simply a symbol of the city for all residents of the capital, regardless of whether they are Muslims, Jews or Buddhists. The indignant public considers such a statement an admission of violation of the community’s decision to make the “Hagia Sophia,” because everyone knows that in Sofia “there are negligibly few Muslims, most Jews left the city back in 1948, and talking about the presence of Buddhists here is simply ridiculous.”

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the patriarchal cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It is located on the square of the same name.

The majestic cathedral was erected at the beginning of the twentieth century according to the design of the architect Pomerantsev in honor of the Russian soldiers who died during the liberation of Bulgaria from Turkish rule during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–78.

The cathedral is made of granite and white stone and decorated with cornices, friezes and columns. 12 bells from the bell tower were cast in Moscow.

Italian marble, Brazilian onyx and African alabaster were used in the interior of the church. The frescoes and carvings were made by 32 Russian and 13 Bulgarian artists. The central altar is dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky, southern - St. Boris, who brought Christianity to Bulgaria, the northern one - St. Cyril and Methodius.

In 1964, the Museum of Icons opened in the underground crypt of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, displaying more than 300 icons and frescoes from all over the country from the 9th to the 19th centuries.

Church of Hagia Sophia

The Church of St. Sophia is a functioning Orthodox church, which is located in the heart of the Bulgarian capital Sofia. The temple is one of the valuable examples of early Christian architecture in South-Eastern Europe. Interesting fact is that it was this church that gave the name to the entire Bulgarian city, which later became the capital of the country.

The first temple on this site was built back in 313. A few years later, the wooden temple was replaced by the stone Cathedral of Hagia Sophia, built with the support of Emperor Constantine I. The Serdikian Council was held in the new temple.

During the Turkish yoke, the church was turned into a mosque for some time, and in the 19th century the temple was used by the Ottomans as the center of the city's fire service.

Now the temple is active and archaeological investigations are carried out in it from time to time, since it was built on the site of a necropolis and other ancient stone tombs.

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National History Museum

Museum of Bulgarian History, Culture, Ethnography. It was founded in 1973 and is now located in the Boyana government residence. A rich collection created on the basis of many years of research in the field of archeology, ethnography, as well as collections of art, books, photographs, household items, church utensils, and jewelry. The permanent exhibition of the museum illustrates the history of the Bulgarian state from the Neolithic era to the present day.

The National History Museum has a huge collection of 650,000 exhibits and is one of the largest historical museums in Europe. The main exhibition is divided into 6 periods: Stone Age, Thrace, Greek period, Roman period, Bulgarian kingdoms, Bulgarian Renaissance, 20th century.

One of the richest treasuries on the Balkan Peninsula is the National Historical Museum, opened in 1973 by government decision. Its first exhibition was presented in honor of the 1300th anniversary of the Bulgarian state in 1984. Currently, it stores about 700 thousand various cultural monuments that represent the history of the Bulgarian lands. Unfortunately, only about 10% of all valuables are presented in the exhibition halls.

The main exhibition of the museum is located in five halls, which are dedicated to ancient Thrace, primitive society, the Middle Ages, the Bulgarian lands in the 15th–19th centuries and the Third Bulgarian State, from 1878 to the present day. The collection on primitive society includes various weapons made of flint and bone, as well as idol figurines, pottery and jewelry.

Particularly popular is the hall with a collection dedicated to ancient Thrace, where priceless treasures known all over the world are kept - Rogozenskoye, Panagyurskoye and Letnitskoye, as well as a treasure discovered near the village of Duvanlii. Here you can see numerous funerary decorations and gifts that were found during the exploration of a huge number of burial mounds throughout Bulgaria.

Parliament House

Absolutely every country has a specific political system. It is simply impossible to find exceptions in such cases. Regardless of what kind of political regime has been introduced in the country, in every country there is the same building in which deputies will sit. If you go to the beautiful capital sunny Bulgaria- Sofia, then, walking along the streets of the city, sooner or later we will be able to see such a building - the Sofia Parliament building.

As for the description of the building, many note that it can easily be considered any landmark of small Sofia. Moreover, if you happen to stay in the capital for some time, you will not have any difficulties choosing hotels from whose windows you can see this architectural building. It will seem especially beautiful at night, when the building’s extraordinary lighting turns on.

If you are passionate about history, then you will be pleased to learn the extraordinary history of the parliament building in Sofia.

Banya Bashi Mosque

The Banya Bashi Mosque is located in Sofia. It was created by the famous engineer and architect Mimara Sinan. At the time of its construction, the Turks ruled the city, and it was they who controlled the city. The construction of the mosque was completed in 1576.

Interestingly, it got its name from the phrase “banya bashi,” which literally means “many baths.”

This cultural monument is unique in that it was built over thermal springs, the creator of which was nature itself. You can see a small amount of steam right inside the mosque. It rises from specially created holes in the ground and passes near the walls of the mosque.

The building is also famous for its dome, which has a fifteen-meter diameter, as well as its minaret, which looks straight into the sky.

Now Banya Bashi Dzhamiya is the only working mosque in all of Sofia. It is the mosque that is considered a monument left by the Ottoman Empire.

Banya Bashi Mosque

The Banya Bashi Mosque is a magnificent structure built on the initiative of benefactor Efendi Kada Seifullah in Sofia, Bulgaria. This is one of the oldest mosques in Europe, its construction was completed in 1567. The name of the structure is associated with the expression “Bashi Bath,” which literally translates as “many baths.” The peculiarity of the mosque is that it is built above a natural thermal resort. You will be able to see how the steam passes through the vents installed at the base of the walls of the structure. The Banya Bashi Mosque is also famous for its large dome and minaret. Currently it is the only one functioning in the city.

The Banya Bashi Mosque is a unique architectural creation that reflects the specifics of Ottoman architecture of the 16th century. The structure was erected from brick and stone by the great architect Sinan. There are small towers at the corners of the mosque. The walls and arches of the prayer hall are made of cut stone and the pillars are made of solid stone and have a beautiful matte color. The arch located above the entrance door is also made of stone, and the central dome is covered with thin tin plates. Every year this building attracts many tourists and pilgrims from all over the world.

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National Opera and Ballet Theater

The National Opera and Ballet Theater in Sofia is an old and very famous theater in Europe, which has experienced a lot in its lifetime. This majestic building at number 30 is not difficult to find in the Bulgarian capital - it is located on Prince Dondukov Boulevard.

The Bulgarian Opera began its history in 1908, but it was decided to build a building for the opera only in 1921. At this time, the project was ready, but construction of the building began only in 1947. Construction was completed in 1953.

The inside of the theater is large and spacious. It seems even larger than the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. The Sofia Theater building has several halls and stages, and the largest stage is located at a depth of about 13 meters. This hall can accommodate 948 people.

Now the theater is very popular among tourists and local residents. There are quite long queues at the ticket office.

The most popular attractions in Sofia with descriptions and photographs for every taste. Choose best places to visit famous places in Sofia on our website.

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Sofia – largest city and the capital of Bulgaria, located in the western part of the country. The city is considered one of the oldest in all of Europe, because a settlement existed on the territory in the 3rd century BC. Throughout history, periods of prosperity and complete ruin alternated.

By now, Thracian, Bulgarian, Ottoman and Roman monuments coexist with modern buildings. The city is located more than 250 monuments history and architecture, so we can highlight the most interesting objects among them. It's no wonder that Sofia attracts many people for active trips.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a cathedral belonging to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The religious landmark was built at the beginning of the 20th century in honor of the Russian soldiers who died liberating Bulgaria from Turkish rule during the war in the late 1870s.

Features of the cathedral:

• The façade is based on white stone and granite.
• Cornices, columns, and friezes are used to decorate the building.
• The interior is refined with Italian marble, Brazilian onyx, and African alabaster.

The building surprises with its beauty. In addition, since 1964, the Museum of Icons has been operating in the underground crypt, which displays more than 300 icons and frescoes with different countries peace.

Location: St. Alexander Nevski Square.

The monument is dedicated to the emperor Alexander II From Russia. It was the Russian emperor who liberated and gave freedom to Bulgaria, which had previously been subordinate to the Ottomans.

The monument has existed since 1907. This architectural object is recognized as the best by the Italian sculptor Arnold Zocchi. It should be noted that the monument was created based on the principles of the Renaissance. In addition, at the top there is an equestrian statue of the emperor, just below is the army, and at the very foot is a bronze wreath. As a result, the monument perpetuates the memory of the Romanian soldiers who died in the war, and is not only dedicated to the Tsar Liberator.

The Russian church is considered one of the most grandiose in the whole city. It has existed since 1912. In addition, it was built under the leadership of the architect Preobrazhensky after receiving the appropriate order from Russian emigrants in Sofia.

The church was built taking into account the principles of the pseudo-Russian style, decorating the building with five domes. In the premises you can find ancient frescoes.

Among the Russian religious sites in Sofia, only the Russian Church of St. Nicholas works.

The church was built during the era of the Roman Empire. The religious site is made in the form of a low building with a dome, which represents the foundation of the oldest Bulgarian temple.

The Rotunda originally appeared in the 4th century. After the arrival of the Turks, the church was given over to the building of a mosque. At the end of the 19th century, the Rotunda was finally returned to the Orthodox Church. Nowadays, services are held regularly in the church.

Location: “Prince Alexander Dondukov” Boulevard - 2.

In the central part of Sofia there is Vitosha Boulevard, which is a tourist and pedestrian area. The only transport along the boulevard is trams and private cars, so there is practically no traffic flow.

On both sides there are boutiques, cafes and restaurants, and museums. Near the Serdika metro station there is a statue of Hagia Sophia.

Throughout its history, the church has survived fire, earthquake and even terrorist attack.

The current building was built in XIX century on the foundations of a church that completely burned down in 1856. The date of construction of the first church is unknown, but it is believed that a significant event took place in the 10th century.

The architectural style of the religious landmark is difficult to describe. The main differences are:

• An arch-shaped canopy symbolizing the entrance.
• Antique stained glass windows created on the basis of colored glass.
• A high dome, complemented by miniature windows.
• Belfry.

The mixture of styles is explained by the repeated reconstruction of the building. The interior of the church is typical of an Orthodox religious building.

Location: Sveta Square Week - 20.

One of the existing Orthodox churches is the Church of St. Sophia. It was this religious landmark that gave the name to the city, which is the capital of Bulgaria.

The construction of the first temple dates back to 313. A few years later, instead of a wooden church, they managed to build a stone cathedral. However, the religious site was converted into a mosque during the Turkish yoke. In the 19th century, the Ottomans used the temple as a center for the city's fire service. Today the temple is active, but archaeological research is sometimes carried out there.

Location: st. "Paris" - 2.

The National Archaeological Museum is located in the building of a medieval mosque. The museum has been operating since 1905.

The Archaeological Museum is divided into several halls:

• Central.
• Ancient.
• Medieval.
• Special, intended for temporary exhibitions.

The museum displays cultural and archaeological exhibits.

Location: st. “Sborna” - 2.

Building National Palace culture has only existed since 1981. Nowadays it is considered an architectural monument of the Soviet era.

The Palace of Culture includes 16 large halls and more than 50 medium and small rooms. The halls are used for the following purposes:

• Exhibitions.
• Congresses.
• Concerts.
• Movie shows.
• Auctions.
• Birthdays of government members.
• Festivals.

There is a park complex around the building, from where a panorama of Mount Vitosha opens up.

Location: Bulgaria Boulevard, 1463.

Boyana Church, consisting of three chapels, is included in the list World Heritage UNESCO. The eastern part has existed since the 10th century. At the beginning of the 13th century, a 2-story part of the church was added to the building. The third church was built only at the beginning of the 19th century, but it does not shine with luxury.

The Boyana Church became famous thanks to its murals, which were made in an original way.

Location: Boyansko Lake - 3.

The gallery began work in 1934, but was moved to its current location only in 1946 after the end of the monarchy.

In the gallery you can see exhibits of Bulgarian fine art, medieval painting, icons, and sculptures.

Location: Prince Alexander I Square 1.

Independence Square is located in the central part of Sofia. The main government buildings are located here:

• Parliament.
• Government House.
• Presidential residence.

Installed in the center of the square beautiful fountain. Even in the hot season, people love to stroll around the landscaped square, enjoying the shady corners, comfortable benches, and fountain.

One of the most popular places in Bulgaria is Slaveykov Square. The first mentions appeared in 1515, but then there were only a coffee shop, a mosque and two police stations. The square acquired its current appearance only in the 1920s.

The museum center has been operating since 1973. The collection was created thanks to research in the field of ethnography and archeology.

The exhibition includes:

• Art objects.
• Books.
• Photos.
• Church items.
• Jewelry.
• Household things.

The exhibition reveals the features of the development of Bulgaria, from the Neolithic era to the 21st century.

The total number of exhibits reaches 650 thousand, therefore the museum is considered one of the largest in all of Europe. The exhibition is divided into six periods: Stone Age, Thrace, Greek and Roman periods, Bulgarian kingdoms, Bulgarian revival, 20th century.

Location: Vitoshko Lale street - 16.

The ruins of the Roman Amphitheater in Sofia are accessible to tourists. Travelers can see not only ruins, but also coins and ceramic objects that were found during excavations.

The construction of the amphitheater dates back to the 3rd – 4th centuries, but it was subsequently destroyed. Until the time of destruction, gladiator fights with wild animals were regularly held here.

The museum center opened in 2011 and is a branch of the National Art Gallery. The exhibition represents the end of the communist past in Bulgaria, which made it possible to transition to a democratic future. It should be noted that Bulgaria was the latest to open a museum dedicated to the communist past. The museum displays exhibits promoting communism.

Location: Lachezar Stanchev - 7.

Sofia is not only the capital, but also one of the most interesting cities throughout Bulgaria. Everyone has the right to enjoy a trip to the capital of Bulgaria and understand not only the city of Sofia, but the whole country.

Sights of Sofia. The most important and interesting sights of Sofia - photos and videos, descriptions and reviews, location, websites.

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Banya-Bashi Mosque

Sofia, Princess Maria Louise Boulevard, 25

The Sofia Banya-Bashi Mosque is definitely one of the oldest in Europe, although it is difficult to name the exact date of its construction today. However, in the arch above the mosque there is a stone with an unreadable inscription and numbers.

For children

Children's Museum "Museiko" in Sofia

Sofia, st. Professor Boyan Kamenov, 3

Science can be turned into a game, say the creators of the children's museum and science center Muzeiko, which opened in Sofia. To do this, it is enough to break all the sacred museum rules and allow everything that is prohibited in museums: touching, smelling, experimenting with exhibits and playing with them.

Sofia is a city so ancient, with such a rich history that there is, of course, something to see here. This is evidenced by the ancient fortress of Serdika. It was built on the site of present-day Sofia at the beginning of the first millennium AD by the Romans: the city of Serdica later became the capital of Thrace, a Roman province. For a long time, the ruins were hidden from view, studied and restored (for example, a fragment of the amphitheater was dug up by accident only in 2004). But today, guests of the city can completely freely admire the remains of the fortress walls and structures, as well as the restored churches, the eldest of which is already about 1,700 years old.

Speaking about churches, one cannot fail to mention that there are a great many of them in Sofia. And each has its own story, interesting and old. The most striking and famous church in the Bulgarian capital is, of course, the temple-monument of Alexander Nevsky. This is a monumental building, so impressive and beautiful that it can be considered the main attraction not only of Sofia, but of the entire country. The cathedral, built in honor of the liberation of Bulgaria from the Ottoman Turks, can accommodate up to five thousand believers at a time, and its interior is no less beautiful than its exterior.

Vitosha, in itself considered one of the most interesting attractions of Sofia, is a very picturesque mountain with snow-capped peaks, near which the eponymous mountain is located. national park.

The Church of St. Sophia, which is very close by, is much less impressive and does not give the impression of pomp and pomp. But it inspires great respect and awe: the church is about 1400 years old, and it has never ceased to fulfill its function as an Orthodox church.

The Russian Embassy Church, consecrated in honor of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, is also noteworthy. This is the only Russian Orthodox Church in Sofia, and is distinguished by its characteristic architecture with domes topped with gilded domes. Inside the church, in the crypt, the relics of Archbishop Seraphim (Sobolev), known as the Wonderworker of Sophia, are kept. And another church, Boyanskaya, named after the village, is famous for its unique interior paintings. The first part of the church with three chapels was built in the 11th century, and the earliest frescoes date back to the same time. In total, almost 90 paintings can be seen inside the church, depicting 240 individual characters. Together they represent the most extensive and valuable collection of medieval wall paintings in Bulgaria.

Outdoor recreation

Boyana Church stands at the foot of Vitosha Mountain, which in itself is considered one of the most interesting attractions in Sofia. This is a very picturesque mountain with snow-capped peaks, near which the national park of the same name is located. On Vitosha there are many ski resorts and walking routes. If you don’t want to go that far, then there are wonderful places for outdoor recreation in Sofia itself. For example, this is the main city park Borisov Gradina. Once upon a time, three eminent gardeners had a hand in it, each of whom brought something of their own to the landscapes of the park. Today the park is not very well-groomed, bushes and trees have grown thickly, forming shady alleys with the ruins of old buildings, but this only adds a specific wild charm to it.

Museums of Sofia

Those wishing to experience culture and history should visit several Sofia museums. First of all, perhaps, the National Historical Museum of Bulgaria. It has more than extensive funds, in which it is especially interesting archaeological finds, the oldest of which date back to the Stone Age. In total, the museum’s collection contains more than 650 thousand artifacts.

The church was built at the end of the 10th, beginning of the 11th century and is included in the UNESCO heritage list. The church gained major fame for its murals, which are a unique collection of medieval paintings.

Rila Monastery

The Monastery of St. Ivan of Rila is the largest and most famous Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is located in the southwestern part of the Rila Mountains, 117 km south of the capital Sofia, in the valley of the Rylska River at an altitude of 1147 m above sea level. Included in the UNESCO list.

Sights of Sofia

Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe. At the same time, it is one of the youngest European capitals.

On central square city, the bulk of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the largest in the Balkans, is one of the main sights of Sofia. The neo-Byzantine magnificent church was erected in 1882 in honor of Russian soldiers who laid down their lives in the battles for the independence of Bulgaria. The interior is decorated with Italian marble, Brazilian onyx, African gold, and decorated with mosaics, frescoes and carvings. On the lower floor of the temple there is a collection of religious art - the most valuable ancient icons brought from Greek and Bulgarian monasteries.

Not far from the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the Hagia Sophia, after which the capital city of Bulgaria was named. The main Sofia monument of Christianity was built back in the 4th century AD. For many centuries, it played the role of the religious center of the city: the Council of Sedrik was held here in 334, and the see of the local bishop was located here in the Middle Ages. Emperor Constantine the Great had a hand in the construction of the cathedral.

At the foot of Mount Vitosha, on the outskirts of the city, stands the 13th century Boyana Church - another religious landmark of Sofia. Unique wall frescoes from the 13th century have been preserved inside. The church ensemble is made of brick and is distinguished by the severity and asceticism so characteristic of medieval Bulgarian churches.

Mosques that have survived from the time of Ottoman rule are the Black Mosque of the 16th century and the Banya Bashi Mosque of the 16th century.

WITH historical heritage Sofia and Bulgaria can be found in the National historical museum, which has archaeological, historical and ethnographic departments. For those interested in art, head to the National Gallery of Art. The museum's exhibition includes works by Bulgarian artists and sculptors, ranging from the Renaissance to the mid-20th century.

Main natural sights of Sofia- Vitosha National Park and Borisova Gradina City Park. Natural park Vitosha is a protected area with forests, caves, rivers and a waterfall, where you can spend active time: in winter - alpine skiing and snowboarding, in the summer - trekking and hiking, at any time of the year - a pleasant and relaxing holiday in nature.