Sostrai Sofia - 20 of the most interesting places

The capital of Bulgaria is rich in memorable places, museums, churches, in the aggregate of the national domain of Bulgaria, the symbol of their ethnic identity. Most cultural centers are compact, within walking distance from each other. Some of Sofia's attractions remained beyond the feature of the modern city - within the medieval defensive walls, but regular transport links are established. The National Cultural Park (the ancient "Keynets" of the city) is intentionally not being built up, because in aggregate with the uniquely surrounding nature, the vintage churches, museums and forts make up a single historical and cultural landscape. We will tell about the most important attractions of Sofia.

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As if gentle hands, the two wings of the monumental building of the presidential palace surround the former Baptistery of Konstantin Great. In the 4th century, the Baptistery Fike cleaned the ancient Bulgarians before the adoption of the Orthodox faith, so the "shine" is among other symbols of the Bulgarian statehood: the honorable guard, Hotel Sheraton Sofia-Balkan, near the National Archaeological Museum. The shrine is tiny, the height of the dome is 13.7 m. But for the Baptistery, such dimensions are too large.

You can imagine the scale of buildings that surrounded from all sides the preserved rotunda during the heyday of the Byzantine Empire! Turks, destroying the city in the XIV century, founded Gul-Jamasa mosque, taking Christian frescoes. The first restoration of 1915 made it possible to open the world of rotunda fresco. Services are carried out everyday. Rotunda takes tourists in a pious form (shorts, tops do not pass) from 11 to 17 hours. Morning prayer begins at 8, the evening ends at 18 hours. We are desirable voluntary donations.

Alexander Nevsky Temple

From the highest place of Sofia, twenty-seven bells calls on the host of the main temple of Bulgaria. The construction of a symbol of the victory of Orthodoxy immediately after the Russian-Turkish war in 1979 is conceived. The first drawings performed Russian architect A. Pomerances. The construction was carried out for 8 years, ended in 1912. The results of the First World War almost wicked the essence of the monument: for some time the temple was named after SV.SV. Cyril and Methodius. But after the referendum of 1924, the chief altar was re-consecrated in honor of Alexander Nevsky.

The height of the bell tower is 53 m, the Square of the Cathedral is 3170 MI. It accommodates 5000 praying. 82 Icons, 273 Frescoes of the temple created artists P. Myesouedov, V. Vasnetsov, A. Vakhrameev, A. Kiselev, A. Corin, N. Bruni, V. Bolotnov, H. Tachev, and others. The Cathedral of the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky "With excursion service (for 10 lv per person) from 10.00 to 17.00, except for Tuesdays. The cathedral itself works from 07.00 to 18.00, the entrance is free.

Amphitheater Angry

Located in the Museum "Coppressure of the middle of the middle". The multi-layer degree of the ancient Greek city of the angry is represented in an ultra-modern exhibition complex - under glass domes and in the form of canned fragments of walls, ancient cobbled streets. The most valuable exhibits are the foundations of the fortress from the pink dlinge the time of the Byzantium and the laying of multi-colored cobblestones, marble granite blocks of the Ellinsky period, as well as the remnants of Greek colonnade and colorful archaic wall paintings.

The museum began its existence in 2004, when they cleared the territory under the Arena Hotel. Then the amphitheater was discovered comparable to sizes with the coliseum. All the surviving exhibits of the angry arena are included in the halls and design of the hotel, because constantly available.

Boyan church

The Boyan Church is 8 km from Sofia. Could get lost among later attacks, if it were not for the frescoes of the XI - XIII centuries. 240 figures and 89 plots are dedicated to the lives and acts of Nikol Wonderworker and Panteleimon Healer. Figures are original: not according to the canon, they am striking with the portrait similarity of historical characters, transferred to the emotions frozen in facial expressions. Interestingly realistic image of vegetables, fruits (on the fresco "Last Supper").

The main part of the XI century was completed in the XIII century Sevastocrator Kaloyan. New paintings applied on top of the previous colorful layer. Outside, the facades of the Kaloyan Church are decorated with ceramics. Two-storey Kaloyanov Church - Tomb of Bulgarian boyars. In the XIX century, the church once became completed. Three battle limits are located on the ring of the medieval defensive wall of Sofia. The entrance is paid - 5 euros. It works daily from 9.30 to 17 hours.

Saint Sophie Cathedral

The temple of the wisest in the wise city - tautology is not - erected in 343 for the Auditian Cathedral. 537 left a destructive trail. After the invasion of the barbarians, the Basilica of God's wisdom was restored by Emperor Justinian I Great as a place for the meetings of the Bishopath. From the XIII century, the Tsari Bulgarian is started to call, using the word Sofia instead of the previous name of the angry. At the end of the XIX century, Ottomans used the building as a warehouse of fire supervision, after the earthquake of 1858, not daring to use for a mosque as before. A bad sign - said. But 1878 put everything in its place - Russian victories returned to the Balkans of the Earth, temples and faith.

The earthquake destroyed the mosaic floors of the oldest acting Orthodox church of the planet. However, the restorers of the 90s secured the sacralism of the place, placing the grave of the unknown soldier with the fire, a stone lion to the glory of King Boris III, a monument to the writer Ivan Vazov and Square of the Russian Red Cross. Moreover, underground necropolis with gallery and crypts was found under the basilica. Log in there - 6 LV. From April 15 - to October 1 (in the summer) opened from 9.00 to 19.00. In winter - from 9.00 to 17.00.

Russian Church of St. Nicholas

The Church of the Nicholas-Wonderworker Mirlijsky is located on the Boulevard of the Tsar of the liberator in the center of Sofia. It was built as a symbol of victory over the Turks on the site of a market mosque. Approaching the church, the visitor marchs at the foundation of the Russian Orthodox Church abroad, at 1400 MI, transferred to the Russian Synod back in 1882. The temple was laid in September 1907. Supervised the project architect M. T. Preobrazhensky.

He asked the structure of the "pseudorussky" style using techniques of wooden and stone architecture to Petrov times. From a white carved stone under the tie-up green roof, the porch seems to be welcomed by a lick of the miracle, laid out on the front of Bright Maitolia. The entrance to the current temple is free, consistent with the watches of worship: at 9 o'clock - liturgy, at 10, 10:30 and 11 - prayers, at 17 o'clock - Akafesta. It is necessary to strictly observe a renunal view. Donations voluntary.

Cathedral of the Holy Week

Zompava Lights Week (Bulgarian) is named after the Holy Great Martyr Kiriaki Nikomidia, called the Balkans of the Holy Week. For a long time, the temple was wooden. Based on the turn of the first and second millennium. It is significant in that he served as the tomb of the Serbian king Stefan II Milutina (from the 1460s G.G.). Before the fire of 1856, the temple was called the Church of the Holy King.

From 1856 to 1867, a new building is erected on the site of the burnt. The size of the construction is impressive: 35.5 m x 19 m. The complex accommodates the bell tower on 8 bells (3 added later). The final appearance of the church was formed by 1898, but the frescoes inside ended only in 1971 - 1973. The temple has the status of the Cathedral. Sunday service is carried out accompanied by a male choir. You can not remove free. Fee for photography - 5lv. Opened at 9:00, the end of service at 18:00.

Sofia synagogue

The largest synagogue in southeastern Europe was built in 1909 at Queen Ferdinand I. The project was created by the Austrian architect F. Grunager. Style - eclectic: "Vienna Secession" with Mauritanian (in the arches of the facades). Building height 31 meters, area 659 MI, the main chandelier weighs 2 tons. Florentine mosaic has preserved on the halls, decoration with exquisite wooden carvings. Here are the thematic excursions "Jewish communities of Bulgaria", "Holocaust and rescue of Jews." The synagogue works every day, except Saturday and Sunday, and not on holidays - the days of Hanukkah, Easter, are excluded. Open from 09:00 to 13:30 and from 14:00 to 16:30. For a ticket, visitors pay 2 lv.

Archaeological Institute and Museum

The Museum of the Nam Ban (National Archeological Institute Museum of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences) occupies the building of the former Mosque Buyuk-Jamia, built in 1474. This is the main research and development center of Bulgaria in the field of ethnography, archeology, material values \u200b\u200band typography. Functions since 1949. The presented exposures are narrated to Thracian tribes, Etrusca, demonstrates fry masks from gold and copper of the Thracian kings, as well as artifacts of the times of the dominion of ancient Rome.

Visitors can familiarize themselves with the results of the excavation at the site of the first evident capital of Filipopol, with the foot of the Mount of Shipka, from the places of the ancient Bulgarian capitals Plovdiv and Veliko-Tarnovo. The heyday period of Byzantium is shown by fragments of Mosaics from Istanbul, ceramic kitchenware and the objects of the cult of precious metals.
Work time - from 10:00 to 18:00, without days off. Entrance - 10 Levs.

Historical Museum of Bulgaria

Since 2000, the main exposition of the National Historical Museum of Bulgaria is represented in the building of the Government Residence "Boyana". The heart of the presentable building is the halls with a golden treasure from Panagurishte (IV - III century. In. BC). Golden dishes encrushed by gems, weapons, decorations, armor and furniture - only 650 items - became the main ownership of the museum. Casket found on December 8, 1949.

In the summer (April - October), the museum works from 9.30 to 18 hours, in the winter (November - March) - from 9:00 to 17:30. Entrance tickets for individual visitors are 10 lv, for schoolchildren and students - 1 LV. Groups of 25 visitors are launched with periodicity every 20 minutes. Overview One-hour excursion is free. Each last Monday of the month is a free entrance to everyone. By ticketing a museum you can visit the Boyan Church.

Museum of Natural History

NPM - National National Animated Museum (Bulge) was created in 1889 by Prince Ferdinand. Located in a 4-hour building. On the first floor there are exhibits of inanimate nature, including gigantic fossils and minerals. The second floor is exposed to the natural wealth of the country. The exhibition is stuffed with modern mammals can be viewed at 3rd. The fourth floor exhibition recreates the scenes from the life of predators in the forests of America and Asia.

Two diorams are presented: "Black Sea ichthyofauna" and "Coral Reef of Cuba Island". The museum operates under the auspices of the Academy of Sciences Bulgaria, is the largest meeting of this kind in the Balkans. NPM takes from Monday to Sunday 10:00 - 18:00, except weekends and holidays. Last launch - at 17:00. Ticket price: adults - 5 LV, children under five - 1 LV, pensioners - 2 LV.

Museum of military history

The National Museum of Military History enters the structure of the Ministry of Defense of Bulgaria, has covered areas - 5 thousand MI, an open-air exposition occupies 40 thousand MI. One of the 3rd of the first museums - created in 1916. Artillery guns, rockets, tanks, airplanes are presented.

In the Museum galleries are the collections of Prince Alexander I Battenberg (1879-1886), Prince Ferdinand I (1887-1918) and Tsar Boris III (1918-1943), as well as showcases of awards, differences, banners and military uniforms. Opening hours: from 10 to 18 hours all days from Wednesday on Sunday. The cost of the visit: children under 7 years old - free. Students and pensioners - 2 lv.

National Palace of Culture

The palace recognized as the best in the world (2005 - the nomination "Best Congress Center"), occupies a huge area: 15 thousand sq.m. There are 15 halls and 50 other premises, including restaurants, auctions, exhibition galleries. The first room was taken by Herberta von Karaian, José Carreras, Ricardo Mutty, Yuri Bashmet, Emir Kusturitsa, Montserrat Caballe, etc.

The National Palace of Culture is able to accommodate 8 thousand people at the same time. In the halls and the exterior decoration used metal plastic, the interiors are richly decorated with a woodwood, wood carvings, tapestries, wall painting and sculptures. A luxurious park area overlooking Mount Vitosh attracts holidaymakers during the day and night. In the night tanth cafe is cool, thanks to light-music fountains.

Ban-Bashi Mosque

One of the oldest mosques of Europe, the main religious construction of Sofia Muslims. Built at the end of the XVI century above the exit of thermal waters in the center of Sofia (the word "bath" is translated as a font). Pool for ablutions in the courtyard, it is so far. The rest of the Banya-Bashi is a classic mosque: the lead dome overlaps the square in terms of the structure, with a minaret-tower and six small domes along the walls adjacent to the left and right to the minaret.

The main hall is decorated with multi-colored tiles and suras from the Quran. They are written by a gilded knage on a turquoise background. Holds 700 praying. The second floor is designed for women. Namazu (prayers) are performed repeatedly, starting with the predestal dawn, end at midnight. Shoes before entering. Tourists are offered bathrobes. Donations - in free form.

Park Borisova Gradda

30 hectares of green plantings, flower beds and lawns with Lake Maria-Louise in the center - the fruit of fantasy and painstaking work of Bulgarian and invited gardeners. Created in 1894. Includes two main alleys, cycling, tennis courts, a boat station and hire rental.

Style - English, but in the park used and the motives of Japan. There is a pond with a lotus, a greenhouse-rosary with 1500 varieties of roses. Tsar Boris Park is a favorite place of citizens. In several cafes offer delicious foods, therefore you can go for a whole day. Free admission.

Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet Theater

The opera troupe created in 1890 began in the 20s of the 20th century a full-fledged theater with a repertoire, consisting of works of Italian, Czech and Russian composers. Abbreviated name - Sofia Opera. Success "Bargs" Leonkavalo, the first Bulgarian opera works: "Beggar" Emanuel Manolov, "Alexander" Georgy Atanasov, Tahir Rogovitsa Kizi Hadzhigorgiyev.

The blooming of Bulgarian ballet school behaves from the statement of Andrei Petrov "CEELY" (1928). A successfully established ensemble of choir, orchestra, scenery, costumes and dancers of the National Opera and Ballet Theater and Bulgarian Ballet makes it possible to set any levels. Theater is often toured and accepts guests. The pompous building of the theater at 948 places (in the main hall) was commissioned in 1953. The entrance to the evening performance at 19 o'clock - from 15 LV, on day children's (at 10 or 11 hours) - from 10 LV.

Statue of St. Sophia

The 26-meter statue, erected between the Orthodox Church, the synagogue and the Catholic church, disappeared from the face of the Earth as a result of Anglo-American bombing, stands on the site of the non-existing medieval Western gates. Residents of the capital of Bulgaria worship this place also in memory of the defendant of Sofia Kiro Geosh, who tortured by Ottomans. Address - ul. Trapezian, 4-a.

The gold-plated monument is dedicated to the city, an independent development path and is not a statue of CV. Sofia, who has repeatedly drawn attention by the author is the sculptor George Chepkenov. The glance is fixed to the Palace of the National Assembly. The head is crowned with the crown of the ancient Greek destiny of the night, and with his hands take off the wise owl. Until 1991, the place was held by a monument to Lenin, demolished as a result of "decamsmunization".

Monument to the Tsar liberator

Equestrian statue of the Russian king Alexander II snaps on the granite pedestal. Made in bronze - as a tribute to the Bulgarian for the overthrow of Turkish yoke in 1878. Bronze wreath in front of the monument - a gift to Romania. The opening of the monument occurred in the presence of Prince Ferdinand I and the son of Alexander II - the Grand Prince Vladimir Alexandrovich Romanova on August 30, 1907.

The statue and multifiguric massive cornice cast under the leadership of the Florentine sculptor Arnoldo Dzocca. This is one of his best works. The height of the monument is 12 m. The statue is placed on the square in front of the Palace of the National Assembly.

Boyan waterfall

The 16-meter pillar of water jets and splashes is the flight of the Boyana River, falling into the Lake of the same name. Waterfall can be seen in the spring from the surrounding area of \u200b\u200bSofia, named by the river. Three paths of the 5-ticklete path lead to an unpretentious miracle: one - along the river, the other - along the lake, and the third starts at the Boyan Church.

The effectively frozen water mass of the waterfall looks in winter: it seemed to froze in the cold on the fly. Sparkling stalactites of water are located in close proximity to the small mountain hotel. All three trails pass mainly through the flat locality, but at the end - the descents are very cool.

Mountain array of Vitosh

The mountain of black-ie (2290 m) is covered with snow cover until the end of April. 150 days a year skiers dominate on her slopes. 56% of the laid tracks - amateur level. Only 12% - extreme. In the summer, the hiking climb on the highest mountain and the two thousandths running towards it.

The tourist development of the black peak began quite recently - in 1895. In the century, the Array of Vitosha has gained a developed infrastructure: numerous climbers trails and cycling routes are presented, bases, campgrounds are built. The funicular raises from Aleco Station (1810 m). For 4 lev, the 30-Tigradus May heat can be changed to the cool atmosphere of alpine meadows. There in the shade - plus 10 ° C.

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