WHY VISIT SOFIA
Sofia is certainly not one of the capitals that are visited first: it does not have the remains of Rome, the charm of Paris, or the architectural beauty of other Eastern capitals such as Prague or Budapest. But it is fascinating because it is a borderland that has seen and surpassed many, including the fact that it has changed its name 8 times.
There is, therefore, a bit of confusion around: walking through the wide avenues can happen to cross the remains of the old symbols of the communist regime a few meters from the walls of old Serdica, the Roman Sofia and a few meters a mosque or a Turkish bath transformed into a museum. Sometimes the confusion also takes local politicians, as happened with the statue of St. Sophia.
Obviously this is the charm of the Bulgarian capital, in addition to low prices. The city has many things to see and many to forget.
WHAT TO SEE IN SOFIA
Top attractions not to be missed are:
- Cathedral Saint Alexandar Nevski
- Ivan Vazov National Theater
- Saint Nikolas Russian Church (Tsurkva Sveta Nikolai)
- Saint Nedelja Church
- Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church
- Saint Sofia Church
- The Rotunda of St George (Sveti Georgi)
- Boyana Church
- Sveta Petka Samardjiyska
- Borisova Gradina
- Sofia University Saint Kliment Ohridski
- Vitosha Boulevard
- Central Sofia Synagogue (Tsentralna Sofiiska Sinagoga)
- Sofia History Museum
- Museum of Socialist Art
- Monument to the Deity All-Holy Sofia
- Statue of Slaveikovs
- The Presidency Building
- Central Market Hall (Tsentralni Hali)
Following instead some hidden spots of the city that only locals know!
- Snail Home (Bulevard Simeonovsko Shose 187)
- Berlin Wall in the park in front of the National Palace of Culture
- The sky bar of the National Archives
WHEN TO GO TO SOFIA
The best period to visit Sofia is from May to September.
Following a list of main events and typical festivals and celebrations of Sofia.
HOW TO REACH AND MOVE IN SOFIA
The main airport is the Sofia Airport
download the transportation map
WHAT TO DO IN SOFIA
typical dishes of Sofia are:
- Tarator (cold soup made from cucumber, walnuts and yoghurt).
- Shopska Salata (huge salad starter with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, and white cheese).
- Kavarma (individual casseroles of pork or veal, onions, and mushrooms).
- Surmi (stuffed vine or cabbage leaves stuffed with meat).
- Kebapche (small, strongly spiced, minced meat rolls).
- Banitsa (pastry usually filled with sirene, a feta-like white cheese).
- Kebabche (an elongated piece of grilled minced meat).
- Musaka (casserole of potatoes, eggs, and minced pork meat).
- Lyutenitsa (a thick relish of tomatoes and peppers to be spread on bread or toasts).
- Shkembe Chorba (spicy, thick tripe soup).
- Tatator (light and refreshing, cold yogurt-based soup of cucumbers, garlic, dill, and sometimes walnuts).
- Mekitsi (roasted bread with egg and cheese).
typical souvenirs of Sofia are:
- Rosewater and rose oil
- Icons
- Kukeri masks
- Ceramics
- Kilims
- Bells
- Copper items
- Woodcarving
- Wool
- Jewelry
- Hand made tablecloth, napkins, and dollies
- typical food
The main theatre in Sofia is the Sofia Opera and Ballet.
