Cities
Sofia History
Sofia is a city with 7000 years of history and it is unique for Europe, being one of the most ancient settlements. The population of the region is predetermined by the presence of warm mineral springs. Remnants from the stone and bronze era can be discovered in the city even nowadays. During the 8th century B.C. the Thracian tribe of the serdi founded the city of Serdica, while during the 5th - 1st century B.C. the region was populated by the tribe of the Odryses. Later, the city was possessed by both Philip the Macedon and Alexander the Great for a short time. During the year 29 A.D., Serdica was conquered by the Roman legions and at the time of Emperor Trajan (98-117) it became a municipium (a central city) of Lower Dacia under the name of Ulpia Serdica. Towers, fortress walls, bathhouses, bulevterion (city council), as well as other administrative and religious buildings were erected in the city. In the beginning of the IV century, Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337) turned the city into his residence and called Serdica “My Rome”. The Council of Serdica took place here in 343 A.D., 18 years later than the first ecumenical Council of Nicaea. 318 bishops from the whole Roman Empire took participation in it. The Council of Serdica is considered predecessor of the great schism of 1054 A.D., which finally split the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Some of the buildings in which the Council of Serdica took place and which the bishops used as dwellings still exist today. During the 5th - 6th century, during the Migration period, the city suffered invasions from different Barbarian tribes. After the establishment of Danube Bulgaria in 681, its rulers became interested in Serdica, but it was not before the time of Khan Krum, in 809, that it was included within the territory of the country. The name of the city became Sredets, which means “centre” in Slavic language. The city had this name till 1018, when, after the fall of Bulgaria under Byzantine rule, it was renamed to Triaditsa, which means “between the mountains” and it became the centre of the administrative area – tema. After the liberation from Byzantine rule it was included in the territory of the country again and it was named Sofia. The most popular legend about the name of the city says that it is named after the “St Sophia” church, which is present even today. During that time Sofia was attacked many times by the Magyars, Serbians and Crusaders. Despite this, it grew and became a centre of crafts and trade and new buildings and churches were constructed.
Sofia fell under the Ottoman rule in 1382, which changed the appearance of the city – the Christian temples were dilapidated and mosques, baths, trade centres and administrative buildings were constructed. The location of the city as a crossroad on the Balkans made it a centre of the sancak – a territorial unit within the Ottoman Empire. During the 17th century it became the largest market in the region. In the 18th century a road passing through it was constructed, which connected Europe with Middle East. The city was often attacked and destroyed by karcali (gangs of bandits). During the Bulgarian Revival period Vasil Levski (a leader of the preparation of the rebellion for the liberation of Bulgaria) established the revolutionary committee here and considered Sofia one of the centres of the future rebellion.
Sofia was liberated from the Ottoman rule on 4th of January 1878. The strategic location of the city made it suitable for a capital and it was officially proclaimed for a capital on 4th of April, 1879. The population increased almost ten times in just several years, the Turkish streets were replaced by paved streets; administrative buildings, churches, schools, kindergartens and modern sewage were constructed and telegraphs and telephone lines were developed. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sofia started its connection to electricity, while at the same time most European cities used gas for lighting. At the time of Boris III, unique buildings in the modern, secession, Bauhaus and neoclassic style were built. During the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, Sofia became an arena of workers' strikes, political meetings and demonstrations, but also a centre of culture, science and art. The Second World War partly destroyed the city centre. The changes in political life after 1944 also reflected on the capital appearance – the construction was urban and Stalinist style at that time. During the 70s about 700 old buildings in the centre of Sofia were proclaimed for architecture monuments,
which saved them from the destruction that took place during the expansion of socialist construction. These included the former royal palace, the Military club, Bulgarian Academy of Science, the buildings around the Central Market Hall, Lion's bridge on the streets "Pirotska" and "Ekzarh Yosif". After years of studies, the areas of antique Serdica and medieval Sredets became an architecture and historical reserve. Sofia became the largest industrial centre in the country. After the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria in 1989, a large part of the production and population, the political and cultural elite and the country capital started to concentrate here. Today's Sofia is constantly changing, preserving its cultural-historical heritage and is real modern European city with an ancient culture.
Sofia is a city with 7000 years of history and it is unique for Europe, being one of the most ancient settlements. The population of the region is predetermined by the presence of warm mineral springs. Remnants from the stone and bronze era can be discovered in the city even nowadays. During the 8th century B.C. the Thracian tribe of the serdi founded the city of Serdica, while during the 5th - 1st century B.C. the region was populated by the tribe of the Odryses. Later, the city was possessed by both Philip the Macedon and Alexander the Great for a short time. During the year 29 A.D., Serdica was conquered by the Roman legions and at the time of Emperor Trajan (98-117) it became a municipium (a central city) of Lower Dacia under the name of Ulpia Serdica. Towers, fortress walls, bathhouses, bulevterion (city council), as well as other administrative and religious buildings were erected in the city. In the beginning of the IV century, Emperor Constantine the Great (306-337) turned the city into his residence and called Serdica “My Rome”. The Council of Serdica took place here in 343 A.D., 18 years later than the first ecumenical Council of Nicaea. 318 bishops from the whole Roman Empire took participation in it. The Council of Serdica is considered predecessor of the great schism of 1054 A.D., which finally split the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches. Some of the buildings in which the Council of Serdica took place and which the bishops used as dwellings still exist today. During the 5th - 6th century, during the Migration period, the city suffered invasions from different Barbarian tribes. After the establishment of Danube Bulgaria in 681, its rulers became interested in Serdica, but it was not before the time of Khan Krum, in 809, that it was included within the territory of the country. The name of the city became Sredets, which means “centre” in Slavic language. The city had this name till 1018, when, after the fall of Bulgaria under Byzantine rule, it was renamed to Triaditsa, which means “between the mountains” and it became the centre of the administrative area – tema. After the liberation from Byzantine rule it was included in the territory of the country again and it was named Sofia. The most popular legend about the name of the city says that it is named after the “St Sophia” church, which is present even today. During that time Sofia was attacked many times by the Magyars, Serbians and Crusaders. Despite this, it grew and became a centre of crafts and trade and new buildings and churches were constructed.
Sofia fell under the Ottoman rule in 1382, which changed the appearance of the city – the Christian temples were dilapidated and mosques, baths, trade centres and administrative buildings were constructed. The location of the city as a crossroad on the Balkans made it a centre of the sancak – a territorial unit within the Ottoman Empire. During the 17th century it became the largest market in the region. In the 18th century a road passing through it was constructed, which connected Europe with Middle East. The city was often attacked and destroyed by karcali (gangs of bandits). During the Bulgarian Revival period Vasil Levski (a leader of the preparation of the rebellion for the liberation of Bulgaria) established the revolutionary committee here and considered Sofia one of the centres of the future rebellion.
Sofia was liberated from the Ottoman rule on 4th of January 1878. The strategic location of the city made it suitable for a capital and it was officially proclaimed for a capital on 4th of April, 1879. The population increased almost ten times in just several years, the Turkish streets were replaced by paved streets; administrative buildings, churches, schools, kindergartens and modern sewage were constructed and telegraphs and telephone lines were developed. At the beginning of the 20th century, Sofia started its connection to electricity, while at the same time most European cities used gas for lighting. At the time of Boris III, unique buildings in the modern, secession, Bauhaus and neoclassic style were built. During the 30s and 40s of the 20th century, Sofia became an arena of workers' strikes, political meetings and demonstrations, but also a centre of culture, science and art. The Second World War partly destroyed the city centre. The changes in political life after 1944 also reflected on the capital appearance – the construction was urban and Stalinist style at that time. During the 70s about 700 old buildings in the centre of Sofia were proclaimed for architecture monuments,
which saved them from the destruction that took place during the expansion of socialist construction. These included the former royal palace, the Military club, Bulgarian Academy of Science, the buildings around the Central Market Hall, Lion's bridge on the streets "Pirotska" and "Ekzarh Yosif". After years of studies, the areas of antique Serdica and medieval Sredets became an architecture and historical reserve. Sofia became the largest industrial centre in the country. After the fall of the communist regime in Bulgaria in 1989, a large part of the production and population, the political and cultural elite and the country capital started to concentrate here. Today's Sofia is constantly changing, preserving its cultural-historical heritage and is real modern European city with an ancient culture.
