What To See In Sofia

The yellow pavement (zhaltite paveta)

The yellow pavement is the most typical symbol of the city. The yellow mile is in the very heart of Sofia. It starts at the President office.

Going by the Archeological Museum – one of the most interesting collections of Thracian, Greek and Roman monuments and gold, the former Communist Party House and the National Bank, it takes to the former Royal Palace, now the National Art Gallery.And the really unique National Ethnological Museum.On the other side of the street is the classical Bulgaria Grand Hotel with its Vienese style cafe. One of the main sights is the Russian church – a magnificent example of a Byzantine style cathedral, surrounded by picturesque garden. Then the yellow pavement goes by the Millitary club (Voenen Klub) with some of the most famous bars and restaurants in the city with an ancient tomb in the backyard garden. On the same side of the street you see the beautiful neoclassical buildings of the Italian and Austrian embassy and the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The pavement gets wider forming the Parliament (Narodno Sabranie) square with the famous Tsar Liberator monument with Radisson Blu Hotel and the some restaurants. At the end of the Yellow pavement you find the resored Yablaski house – a beautiful neo-baroque palazzo, also a famous club where all the famous DJs and bands have their shows. On the crossroads you see the Sofia University building and the central underground (metro) station in its subway. There you find the Sofia tourist information center.

Alexander Nevski Cathedral and the St. Sofia Chrch

On the most highly positioned place in Sofia, next to the yellow pavement and the Parliament, the main temples of the city are to be found.

The golden domed Alexander Nevski Cathedral is one of the most impressive monuments of Orthodox Christianity. It is one of the biggest in Europe. In its crypt you will find the Iconographic Museum – an absolutely marvelous and unique place to visit. There you can buy Orthodox chant CDs and DVDs. On the same square is the St. Sofia church after which the city is named. It is a typical basilica surrounded by a garden with 2 monuments – the St. George monument and the national poet Ivan Vazov monument, made of a Vitosha mountain rock. At the back of the church is the Sofia Municipality building and Moscovska Street with some of the most beautiful art deco houses of the Bulgarian elite before WWII some of the now working as cafes and restaurants. There is only one modern time building – the EU mission. Across the street is the International Art Gallery with some Matisse, Dega and Rodin masterpieces.

The National Theater

The national theater is one of the most beautiful neo-baroque buildings in Sofia.Opened in 1907, it was destroyed by the Anglo-American bombardments over Sofia in 1943-44. It was restored after WWII. It has a beautiful garden, called Gradskata gradina with fountains. There you find the impressive Defense Ministry and Justice Ministry buildings, many banking offices, the City Gallery showing modern art, some nice open-air cafes and the classy Grand Hotel Sofia.

Sveta Nedelya

Sveta Nedlya Square is one of the main places in Sofia and there you find the crossroads of the acting metro1 and the future metro 2 diameter (starting 2012). Named after the cathedral it is some kind of religious center of the city. 300 m away you have the great cathedral and the Theology Department of Sofia University, the Banya Bashi Mosque in the neighborhood and the Synagogue next to the Halite shopping mall. Next to the square you have also the TZUM department store. Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan is situated on the very Sveta Nedelya Square. In its backyard the most ancient building in Sofia is positioned. It is the St. George rotunda from the 4th century. It was made by the emperor Constantine. He is famous for saying: Sofia’s the Rome of mine.

Vitosha Boulevard and the NDK

Vitosha Boulevard takes its start from Sveta Nedelya Square. It is the main shopping area in the city with some high end boutiques and nice cafes. The street goes straight to the Vitosha mountain that is overviewed from all the city’s central points. The main building on the Vitosha Boulevard is the National Palace of Culture, called shortly by the locals NDK. It was rated No.2 congress center in Europe. The palace is the place most big concerts and other events take place. It is surrounded by a big park. A pedestrian bridge unites the NDK Park with the South Park, the prestigious Lozenets residential area and the Hilton Sofia hotel.

Borisovata Gradina and the Ariana lake

The favourite relax zone of Sofia is the main park, called Borisovata Gradina. It starts at the famous Orlov Most (Eagles Bridge) – the former Eastern gate of the city. There is the Ariana Lake. It is surrounded by modern style cafes and restaurants. On its banks is the National Stadium Vassil Levski with the National Sports Museum. Bulgaria is a small country, but it is a great power in sports with many Olympic champions. The stadium is in the Borisovata Gradina Park. It is famous for the Alley of the Greats. It is a complex of some alleys with little monuments of all the significant persons in Bulgarian history – generals, poets, revolutionaries. In the park is also the Army stadium, some tennis courts, carting and football playgrounds.

The Vitosha Mountain and the Lyulin Mountain spa resorts

Sofia is surrounded by the big Vitosha and Lulin mountains. Vitosha is more alpine style with maximal hight of 2090 m. Only 10 km from the very center you find wonderful ski sport facilities in winter and climbing, walking, biking all year long. In the low part of the mountain are Boyana, Dragalevtsi and Simeonovo residential areas where the rich and famous live. In Boyana two of the most attractive places to be in Sofia are to be found. First, the National History Museum. It is situated in the former presidential residence. There you find the most ancient gold in the world and some very rare and precious Thracian, Greek and Roman pieces of treasures. Another famous sight to visit is the Boyana Church. The monument is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Program for its pre-Renaissance frescoes. Lyulin mountain is famous for its spa resorts. Bankya and Gorna Banya, both at a 15 minutes distance from the city center, are some of Bulgaria’s healthiest places for their clean air and mineral water springs.

Sofia’s Sveta Gora

One of the hidden treasures of Sofia is The Small Sveta Gora or The Little Jerusalem. This is the name of a tiny zone with some 14 Orthodox monasteries. They are situated in picturesque mountain villages next to the city of Sofia. Some of them overlook the big and the beautiful Pancharevo Lake on the Iskar River. 

Article Source : http://www.sofia.bg/en/display.asp?ime=style