SEARCH ALL

FACTS & STATISTICS    Advanced view

Encyclopedia > Sofia

Updated 202 days 4 hours 15 minutes ago.

This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. For other uses, see Sofia (disambiguation). Sofia София Flag Seal Position of Sofia in Bulgaria Coordinates: 42°42′N 23°20′E / 42.7, 23.333 Country Bulgaria Province Sofia-City Government  - Mayor Boyko Borisov Area  - City 1,349 km²  (520.9 sq mi) Elevation 550 m (1,804 ft) Population (2007-07-01)  - City 1,270,450  - Density 1,030/km² (2,667.7/sq mi)  - Metro 1,380,406 Time zone EET (UTC+2)  - Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3) Website: sofia.bg Sofia listen (help· info) (Bulgarian: София), is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria, with a population of 1,270,450 (making it the 14th largest city in the European Union), and some 1,380,406 in the metropolitan area, the Capital Municipality.[1] It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha, and is the administrative, cultural, economic, and educational centre of the country. Sofia may refer to: Sofia, the capital and largest city of the Republic of Bulgaria Sofia Province, a province of Bulgaria Sofia Region, a region in northern Madagascar Sofia River, a river in Madagascar SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy Sofia, a playable character in the Battle Arena Toshinden... Image File history File links BG_Sofia_flag. ... Image File history File links BG_Sofia_coa. ... The current edition of the coat of arms of Sofia as a seal The coat of arms of Sofia consists of a shield divided into four. ... Map of Bulgaria with Oblast Sofia. ... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... Since 1999 Bulgaria is divided into 28 oblasts (provinces or regions) that correspond aproximatly to the 28 okrugs that existet before 1987. ... This is a chronological list of mayors of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, since that post was established after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. ... Boyko Metodiev Borisov (Bulgarian: ) (born June 13, 1959) is the current mayor of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 km² and 10,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Population density per square kilometre by country, 2006 Population density map of the world in 1994. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ... Time zones of Europe: Light colours indicate countries not observing daylight saving Eastern European Time (EET) is one of the names of UTC+2 time zone, 2 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... Eastern European Time Central Africa Time Israel Standard Time South Africa Standard Time Central European Summer Time West Africa Summer Time Category: ... Though DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) is one of the names of UTC+3 time zone, 3 hours ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Image File history File links Sofia. ... Not to be confused with capitol. ... This list includes the most up-to-date official census figures or census estimates with regards to the population of the largest cities in the European Union. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In geology, a massif is a section of a planets crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. ... Vitosha (Bulgarian: Витоша  ) is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... One of the oldest capital cities in Europe, the history of Sofia dates back to the 8th century BC, when Thracians established a settlement there. Sofia has had several names in the different periods of its existence, and remnants of the city's millenary history can still be seen today alongside modern landmarks. For other uses, see Europe (disambiguation). ... Thracian peltast, fifth to fourth century BC. Thracian Roman era heros (Sabazius) stele. ... Contents 1 Geography 1.1 Climate 2 History 2.1 Antiquity 2.2 Middle Ages 2.3 Ottoman rule 2.4 Liberated Bulgaria 3 Administration 4 Demographics 5 Culture 5.1 Museums 5.2 Places of special interest 5.3 Tourist attractions 6 Economy 7 Transport and infrastructure 8 Architecture 9 Education 10 Sport 11 Mass media 12 Notable people 13 Sister cities 14 References 15 Notes 16 External links 16.1 Institutions of higher education [edit] Geography Sofia seen from space Sofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. It is situated in western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by mountains on all sides. The valley is the largest one in the country with territory of 1,186 square kilometres (457.9 sq mi) and average altitude of 550 metres (1,804 ft). Three mountain passes lead to the city, which have been key roads since antiquity, connecting the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black and Aegean Seas. Download high resolution version (3060x2092, 1726 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (3060x2092, 1726 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Vitosha (Bulgarian: Витоша  ) is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... The Sofia Valley (Bulgarian: Софийска котловина, transliterated as Sofiyska kotlovina, or Софийско поле, Sofiysko pole) is a valley in central western Bulgaria, bordering Stara Planina to the northeast, the Viskyar, Lyulin, Vitosha and Lozenets mountains to the southwest, the Vakarel Mountain to the southeast and the low Slivnitsa Heights to the northwest. ... A satellite image of the Adriatic Sea. ... Central Europe The Alpine Countries and the Visegrád Group (Political map, 2004) Central Europe is the region lying between the variously and vaguely defined areas of Eastern and Western Europe. ... For other uses, see Black Sea (disambiguation). ... Look up Aegean Sea in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A number of low rivers cross the city, including the Vladayska and the Perlovska. The Iskar River in its upper course flows near eastern Sofia. The city is known for its numerous mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the last century. Vladayska river (Bulgarian: Владайска река) is a tribuary to the Iskar river which originates in Vitosha, passes through several neighbourhoods of Sofia and joins the Iskar river east of the city. ... Perlovksa reka (Bulgarian: ) is a small river in the Sofia Valley, western Bulgaria which is only 17,8 km long. ... The Iskar (Bulgarian: Искър; Latin Oescus) is, with a length of 368 km, the longest river thar runs solely in Bulgaria, and a right tributary of the Danube. ... Mineral water is water containing minerals or other dissolved substances that alter its taste or give it therapeutic value. ... A hot spring or a hydrothermal spring is a place where warm or hot groundwater issues from the earth on a regular basis for at least a predictable part of the year, and is significantly above the ambient ground temperature (which is usually around 55–57 °F or 13–14... It is located 150 km (90 miles) northwest of Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city, 390 km west of Burgas, 472 km (294 miles) west of Varna, Bulgaria's major port-cities on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. The city is situted at less than 200 kilometres (124 mi) from the borders with three countries: 55 kilometres (34 mi) from Kalotina on the Serbian border, 113 kilometres (70 mi) from Gyueshevo on the frontier with the Republic of Macedonia and 183 kilometres (114 mi) from the Greek border at Kulata. “km” redirects here. ... Plovdiv (Bulgarian: ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, with a population of 341,873([1]). It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria, as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Upper (or Northern) Thrace, famous for its... Burgas (Bulgarian: , sometimes transliterated as Bourgas) is the second-largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast with population 205,821. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... This article is about the city in Bulgaria. ... The Bulgarian Black Sea Coast covers the whole eastern border of Bulgaria. ... Kalotina (Bulgarian: ) is a village in Dragoman municipality, Sofia Province, in westernmost central Bulgaria. ... Not to be confused with Republika Srpska. ... Gyueshevo (Bulgarian: ) is a village in Kyustendil municipality, Kyustendil Province, in western Bulgaria. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Kulata (Bulgarian: , the tower) is a village in Petrich municipality, Blagoevgrad Province, in southwestern Bulgaria. ... [edit] Climate Sofia has a moderate continental climate with high temperature amplitudes. The hottest month is August while January is the coldest. Up to 1936 the average annual temperature was +10.0 °C (50 °F) and since then it has risen with +0.5 °C (+1 °F).[2] The city receives around 650 millimetres (25.6 in) annual precipitation with summer maximum and winter minimum. Sofia generally remains less hot in summer than other parts of Bulgaria, due to the high altitude of the valley its situated in, although temperatures can still reach 40 °C on occasions. Regions containing a continental climate exist in portions of Northern Hemisphere continents, and also at higher elevations in certain other parts of the world. ... Climate table Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) 2.2 4.9 9.8 15.7 22.3 26.7 29.7 30.0 24.0 16.6 9.6 4.1 15.1 Mean minimum night time temperature (°C) −4.9 −2.9 0.3 4.8 9.0 12.1 13.8 13.4 10.4 5.7 1.2 −2.7 5.0 Mean total rainfall (mm) 28 31 38 51 73 75 63 51 38 35 48 40 571 Mean number of rain days 10 10 10 12 14 13 10 8 7 7 9 11 121 Source: World Weather Information Service Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... Celsius is, or relates to, the Celsius temperature scale (previously known as the centigrade scale). ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... [edit] History Main article: History of Sofia The history of Sofia, Bulgarias capital and largest city, spans thousands of years from Antiquity to modern times, in which the city has always been a commercial, industrial, cultural and economic centre of its region and the Balkans. ... [edit] Antiquity The Church of Sv. Georgi is among the oldest Christian temples in the Balkan peninsula dating back to 4th century Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, named after the Thracian tribe Serdi. Around 500 BC another tribe settled in the region, the Odrysi, known as an ethnos with their own kingdom. For a short period during the 4th century BC, the city was possessed by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 421 KB) St. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 421 KB) St. ... The St. ... For other uses, see Christian (disambiguation). ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... Thracian peltast, fifth to fourth century BC. Thracian Roman era heros (Sabazius) stele. ... The Odrysian kingdom was a union of Thracian tribes that endured between the 5th century BC and the 3rd century BC. Area included in this kingdom ranged from Romania to northern Greece and Turkey. ... Philip II of Macedon (Macedonia) (382 BC - 336 BC), King of Macedon (ruled 359 BC - 336 BC), was the father of Alexander the Great (Alexander III of Macedon) and Philip III of Macedon. ... For the film of the same name, see Alexander the Great (1956 film). ... Around AD 29, Sofia was conquered by the Romans and renamed Ulpia Serdica. It became a municipium, or centre of an administrative region, during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117). Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... This article is about the Roman Emperor. ... The first written mention of Serdica was made by Ptolemy (around 100 AD). This article is about the geographer, mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy. ... The city expanded, as turrets, protective walls, public baths, administrative and cult buildings, a civic basilica and a large amphitheatre called Bouleutherion, were built. When Emperor Diocletian divided the province of Dacia into Dacia Ripensis (on the banks of the Danube) and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea. The city subsequently expanded for a century and a half, which caused Constantine the Great to call it "my Rome". Corbelled corner turrets at Newark Castle, Port Glasgow. ... St. ... The Colosseum in Rome, Italy. ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus (c. ... Dacia, in ancient geography the land of the Daci, named by the ancient Greeks Getae, was a large district of Southeastern Europe, bounded on the north by the Carpathians, on the south by the Danube, on the west by the Tisa, on the east by the Tyras or Nistru, now... This article is about the Danube River. ... Constantine. ... Serdica was of moderate size, but magnificent as an urban concept of planning and architecture, with abundant amusements and an active social life. It flourished during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, when it was surrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants can still be seen today. This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... This article is about the Roman emperor. ... The city was destroyed by the Huns in 447 but was rebuilt by Justinian and renamed Triaditsa. The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads. ... A fresco depicting Desislava, a 13th century patron of the church Sofia has been a centre of Christianity since the times of the Roman Empire Frescoes from the Boyana Church: Desislava This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Frescoes from the Boyana Church: Desislava This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2304x3072, 3095 KB) Church in Sofia, Bulgaria Source: Photo Pascal Reusch File links The following pages link to this file: Sofia Portal:Bulgaria Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2304x3072, 3095 KB) Church in Sofia, Bulgaria Source: Photo Pascal Reusch File links The following pages link to this file: Sofia Portal:Bulgaria Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner used to create or... [edit] Middle Ages The Boyana Church is among the most precious monuments from the Bulgarian Empire Sofia first became part of the First Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Khan Krum in 809 after a long siege. [3] Afterwards, it was known by the Slavic name Sredets and grew into an important fortress and administrative centre. After the fall of North-eastern Bulgaria under John I Tzimiskes's armies in 971, the Bulgarian Patriarch Damyan chose Sofia for his seat in the next year. After a number of unsuccessful sieges, the city fell to the Byzantine Empire in 1018, but once again was incorporated into the restored Bulgarian Empire at the time of Tsar Ivan Asen I. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 657 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 17:45, 22 юли 2006 . ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixels Full resolution (2272 × 1704 pixel, file size: 657 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) 17:45, 22 юли 2006 . ... Frescoes from the Boyana Church: Desislava The church of Boyana is a medieval Bulgarian church situated on the outskirts of Sofia. ... Imperial Emblem (under the Shisman Dynasty) Bulgarian Empire c. ... Imperial Emblem Bulgarian Empire at its greatest extent c. ... Krum (died April 13, 814) was a Khan of Bulgaria, of the Dulo clan, from 802 to 814. ... Combatants First Bulgarian Empire Byzantine Empire Commanders Krum Unknown Strength Unknown c. ...  Countries where a West Slavic language is the national language  Countries where an East Slavic language is the national language  Countries where a South Slavic language is the national language The Slavic languages (also called Slavonic languages), a group of closely related languages of the Slavic peoples and a subgroup... Ioannes, protected by God and the Virgin Mary. ... Byzantine redirects here. ... Imperial Emblem (under the Shisman Dynasty) Bulgarian Empire c. ... Ivan Asen I (also Ioan Asen I, in English John Asen I), ruled as emperor (tsar) of Bulgaria 1189-1196. ... From the 12th to the 14th century, Sofia was a thriving centre of trade and crafts. It was renamed Sofia (meaning "wisdom" in Greek) in 1376 after the Church of St. Sofia. However, it was called both "Sofia" and "Sredets" until the 16th century, when the new name gradually replaced the old one. The basilica St. ... [edit] Ottoman rule Sofia was conquered by the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Murad I in 1382. After the campaign of Władysław III of Poland in 1443 towards Sofia, the city's Christian elite was annihilated and became the capital of the Ottoman province (beylerbeylik) of Rumelia for more than 4 centuries, which encouraged many Turks to settle there. From 16th century Sofia's appearance changed to Oriental town with many mosques, fountains, hamam (baths). During that time the town had a population of around 7,000 which rose to 55,000 in the mid 17th century. The town was seized for several weeks by Bulgarian haiduks in 1599. Ottoman redirects here. ... Sultan Murad I (มู้หลัดที่หนึ่ง) Murad I (nick-named Hüdavendigâr, the God-liked one) (1319 (or 1326) – 1389) was the ruler of the Ottoman Empire from 1359 to 1389. ... WÅ‚adysÅ‚aw III of Varna. ... Map of Rumelia as of 1801 Rumelia (turkish: Rum: Roman El: Land Rumeli: Lands of Rome), the area that was the East Roman or Byzantine Empire, a name commonly used, from the 15th century onwards, to denote the part of the Balkan Peninsula subject to the Ottoman Empire. ... The term the Orient - literally meaning sunrise, east - is traditionally used to refer to Near, Middle, and Far Eastern countries. ... Haiduc (Romanian language), hajduk (Serbian or Croatian), aiducco (Italian), haïdouk (French), haidut (Bulgarian) are names given in the Balkans to an individual who was more than just a thief, something like a Robin Hood. ... In 1610 the Vatican established the See of Sofia for Catholics of Rumelia, which existed until 1715 when most Catholics had emigrated[4]. In 16th century there had been 126 Jew households. The Jews had a synagogue since 967. The Roman Catholic (arch)bishopric of Sardica, with its episcopal see in the present Bulgarian capital Sofia, is in modern times only a titular see. ... Map of Rumelia as of 1801 Rumelia (turkish: Rum: Roman El: Land Rumeli: Lands of Rome), the area that was the East Roman or Byzantine Empire, a name commonly used, from the 15th century onwards, to denote the part of the Balkan Peninsula subject to the Ottoman Empire. ... [edit] Liberated Bulgaria Sofia was liberated by Russian forces in 1878, during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, and became the capital of the autonomous Principality of Bulgaria in 1879, which became Kingdom of Bulgaria in 1908. The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 had its origins in the Russian goal of gaining access to the Mediterranean Sea and dominating Constantinople (Istanbul) and the adjacent Turkish Straits. ... The Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 provided for an independent Bulgarian state, which spanned over the geographical regions of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. ... The Treaty of San Stefano of March 3, 1878 provided for an independent Bulgarian state, which spanned over the geographical regions of Moesia, Thrace and Macedonia. ... During World War II, Sofia was bombed by Allied aircraft in late 1943 and early 1944, as well as later occupied by the Soviet Union. Bulgaria's regime, which allied the country with Nazi Germany, was overthrown and Sofia became capital of the Communist-ruled People's Republic of Bulgaria (1944–1989). Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Bulgarian capital of Sofia suffered a series of Allied bombing raids during World War II, from late 1943 to early 1944. ... Nazi Germany, or the Third Reich, commonly refers to Germany in the years 1933–1945, when it was under the firm control of the totalitarian and fascist ideology of the Nazi Party, with the Führer Adolf Hitler as dictator. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... [edit] Administration The city of Sofia is one of 28 Provinces of Bulgaria (not to be confused with Sofia Province, which surrounds but does not include the city). Besides the city of Sofia, the capital province encompasses three other cities and 34 villages, being split into a total of 24 municipalities. Each municipality has a head person who is elected by the municipal assembly. The head of the county is its mayor. The assembly members are chosen every four years. The current mayor of Sofia is Boyko Borisov. Since 1999 Bulgaria is divided into 28 oblasts (provinces or regions) that correspond aproximatly to the 28 okrugs that existet before 1987. ... Sofia Province is a province (oblast) of Bulgaria. ... This is a chronological list of mayors of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, since that post was established after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. ... Boyko Metodiev Borisov (Bulgarian: ) (born June 13, 1959) is the current mayor of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... Municipalities of Sofia City: The municipalities of Sofia Name Unemployment (2004, %) Population (Sub)Urban/Town Bankya 10,4 9,186 Town Vitosha 3,5 42,953 Suburban Vrabnitsa 4,6 47,417 Urban Vazrazhdane 5,3 47,794 Urban Izgrev 3,1 33,611 Urban Ilinden 4,5 37,256 Urban Iskar 3,9 69,896 Urban Krasna polyana 9,2 65,442 Urban Krasno selo 3,7 72,302 Urban Kremikovtsi 5,8 23,599 Suburban Lozenets 3,3 45,630 Urban Lyulin 5,4 120,897 Urban Mladost 4,2 110,852 Urban Nadezhda 3,8 77,000 Urban Novi Iskar 4,5 26,544 Town Ovcha kupel 3,8 47,380 Urban Oborishte 2,8 36,000 Urban Pancharevo 5,3 24,342 Suburban Poduyane 4,5 85,996 Urban Serdika 3,6 52,918 Urban Slatina 4,1 65,772 Urban Studentski grad 2,9 50,368 Urban Sredets 4,0 41,000 Urban Triaditsa 3,7 65,000 Urban TOTAL 4,5 1,270,450 [5][6] Image File history File links Sofia_Capital_map_Taushanov. ... Image File history File links Sofia_Capital_map_Taushanov. ... Bankya (Bulgarian Банкя) is a town in Western Bulgaria. ... Front view of the National Historical Museum edifice Dragalevtsi Monastery Vitosha (Bulgarian: ) is one of the 24 municipalities in Sofia, situated in the southern parts of the City on the foot of the Vitosha mountain. ... Vrabnitsa (Bulgarian: ) is a municipality in the City of Sofia, located in the western part of the Sofia region. ... A bank in Vazrazhdane Vazrazhdane (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality in the centre of Sofia. ... Izgrev (Bulgarian: ) is one of the 24 municipalities in the City of Sofia. ... Ilinden (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality of Sofia, located in the western parts of the City. ... Iskar (Bulgarian: ) is a municipality located in the eastern parts of Sofia. ... Krasna Polyana (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality in the western parts of Sofia. ... Krasno selo (Bulgarian: ) is a municipality and neighbourhoood of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located in the western part of the city. ... Kremikovtsi (Bulgarian: ) is an industrial municipality of Sofia, Bulgaria. ... A residential quarter in Lozenets Lozenets (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality located in the southern parts of the City of Sofia. ... Lyulin (Люлин) is the largest residential complex in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... Mladost (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality in Sofia. ... Nadezhda (Bulgarian: , meaning Hope) is an urban municipality located it the north-western parts of Sofia with an area of 19,300 decares. ... Location of Novi Iskar rayon Novi Iskar (Нови Искър, New Iskar) is a town in western Bulgaria, located in Sofia City Province and the Capital Municipality. ... Ovcha Kupel (Bulgarian: ) is a municipality located in the south-western parts of Sofia. ... Oborishte (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality located in the centre of the capital Sofia. ... Pancharevo (Bulgarian: ) is a suburban municipality located in the south-eastern parts of the Capital Municipality. ... Poduyane (Bulgarian: Подуяне, Подуене) is a residential complex in Sofia, Bulgaria the capital of Bulgaria. ... The back side of the Central Bus Station Serdica (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality located in the northern parts of the capital Sofia. ... Sky City Mall Slatina (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality located in the eastern parts of the capital Sofia. ... Studentski grad (Студентски град, Student city) is the student campus area for most universities in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and also one of the 24 municipalities of Sofia. ... Hotel Sofia Sredets (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality located in the very centre of the capital Sofia. ... Front view of NDK Triaditsa (Bulgarian: ) is an urban municipality located in the southern parts of Sofia. ... [edit] Demographics Historical populations Census Pop.  %± 1887 20856 - 1892 30928 +48.3% 1900 46593 +50.6% 1920 154025 +230% 1946 530168 +244% 2001 1177577 +122% 2006 1203680 +2.2% New Housings According to 1999 data,[7] the whole Capital Municipality, with a population of 1,326,377 as of June 2006, had a population density of 917.8, by far the highest in the country. The city itself has a population of 1,203,680.[1] Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2816 × 2112 pixel, file size: 1. ... The ratio of women per 1,000 men was 1,114 and the rate of population ageing was 100.3. The birth rate per 1000 people was 7.9 and steadily declining in the last 15 years, the death rate reaching 12.2 and growing. The population was declining by 4.3 per cent. However, considerable immigration to the capital from poorer regions of the country, as well as urbanization, are the reason Sofia's population is in practice increasing. 5.7 people of every one thousand were married and the infant mortality rate was 11 dead babies per 1,000 born alive, down from 18.9 in 1980. Population ageing or population aging (see English spelling differences) occurs when the median age of a country or region rises. ... The unemployment is significantly lower than in other parts of the country — 2.45% of the active population in 1999 and declining, compared to 8.97% for the whole of Bulgaria as of August 14, 2006 (also on the decrease).[8] The large share of unemployed people with higher education, 27% as compared to 7% for the whole country, is a characteristic feature of the capital. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... When Sofia was declared capital in 1879 it was the fifth-largest city in the country after Plovdiv, Ruse, Varna and Shumen. Plovdiv remained the most populous town in Bulgaria till 1892 when Sofia took the lead. Plovdiv (Bulgarian: ) is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia, with a population of 341,873([1]). It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria, as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Upper (or Northern) Thrace, famous for its... A ruse is an action or plan which is intended to deceive someone. ... This article is about the city in Bulgaria. ... Shumen (Bulgarian: ; Turkish: ) is a city in the northeastern part of Bulgaria, capital of Shumen Province. ... [edit] Culture The Church of St Sophia, built in the middle of the 6th century under Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, gave the city its name Sofia is one of the oldest capital cities in Europe, blending its past and present in a remarkable architectural style. Historic landmarks include the 10th century Boyana Church (one of the UNESCO World Heritage protected sites), the Alexander Nevski Cathedral (one of the world's largest Orthodox churches), and the early Byzantine Church of St Sophia. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 594 KB) Photo by Petar Iordanov, September 2005 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2304x1728, 594 KB) Photo by Petar Iordanov, September 2005 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Church of St. ... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... This article is about the Roman emperor. ... Frescoes from the Boyana Church: Desislava The church of Boyana is a medieval Bulgarian church situated on the outskirts of Sofia. ... A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a specific site (such as a forest, mountain, lake, desert, monument, building, complex, or city) that has been nominated and confirmed for inclusion on the list maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, composed of 21 State... The St. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Coptic Orthodox Pope · Roman Catholic Pope Archbishop of Canterbury · Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      Faith... The Church of St. ... Sofia is the see of an Eastern Orthodox and of a Roman Catholic diocese. Eastern Orthodoxy (also called Greek Orthodoxy and Russian Orthodoxy) is a Christian tradition which represents the majority of Eastern Christianity. ... The Roman Catholic Church, most often spoken of simply as the Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with over one billion members. ... Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... Ivan Vazov National Theatre The fountain in front of the National Theatre More modern architecture is represented by the Bulgarian National Opera and Ballet, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the Rakovski Str theatre district, Slaveykov Square's outdoor book market, and the NDK, which is Southeastern Europe's largest cultural and congressional centre. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 3527 KB) Ivan Vazov National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 3527 KB) Ivan Vazov National Theatre, Sofia, Bulgaria. ... The Ivan Vazov National Theatre (Народен театър Иван Вазов) is Bulgarias national theatre and one of the important landmarks of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The National Opera and Ballet (Bulgarian: ) is a national cultural institution in Bulgaria that covers opera and ballet. ... The Ivan Vazov National Theatre (Народен театър Иван Вазов) is Bulgarias national theatre and one of the important landmarks of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... Slaveykov Square (Площад Славейков) is one of the most popular squares in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... Front view The National Palace of Culture (Национален дворец на културата, usually just НДК, NDK), located in Sofia, Bulgaria, is one of the largest multifunctional congress centres in Southeastern Europe. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... Sofia has also a huge nightlife scene with many different night clubs, live venues, pubs, mehani (Bulgarian traditional taverns), and restaurants. Many of the famous Bulgarian music groups were established in Sofia such as Shturtzite, Hipodil, Epizod and FSB. The city hosts many of the major world music acts that play shows in Bulgaria such as Depeche Mode, Iron Maiden, Marilyn Manson, Eros Ramazotti, DJ Tiesto, Transglobal Underground, Judas Priest and Wu-tang Clan to name a few. Musicians performing at an Ankara meyhane. ... Shturtzite is a Bulgarian rock music group. ... Hipodil Hipodil (bg: Хиподил) is a Bulgarian rock band, founded 1988 in Sofia by four classmates from the Sofias mathematics gymnasium. ... Epizod is a Bulgarian rock band, founded 1983 in Sofia. ... An influential Bulgarian art-rock/funk/pop band. ... Depeche Mode (pronounced ) are an electronic music group that formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex, England. ... This article is about the band. ... This article is about the person. ... Eros Ramazzotti (born October 28, 1963), is an Italian singer and songwriter. ... ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Judas priest (curse). ... Wu-Tang redirects here. ... [edit] Museums Sofia houses numerous museums, notably the National Historical Museum, the Bulgarian Natural History Museum, the Museum of Earth and Men, the Ethnographic Museum, the National Museum of Military History, the National Polytechnical Museum and the National Archaeological Museum. In addition, there are the Sofia City Art Gallery, the Bulgarian National Gallery of Arts, the Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art as well as numerous private art galleries. The National Historical Museum (Национален исторически музей, Natsionalen istoricheski muzey) in Sofia is Bulgarias largest museum. ... The National Museum of Natural History (Bulgarian: , Natsionalen prirodonauchen muzey; abbreviated НПМ, NMNH) of Bulgaria is a museum of natural history located in Sofia, the capital of the country. ... The entrance to the Earth and Man museum The Earth and Man National Museum (Bulgarian: , romanized Natsionalen muzey „Zemyata i horata“) is a mineralogical museum in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... The National Museum of Military History (Национален военноисторически музей, Natsionalen voennoistoricheski muzey) is a Bulgarian museum based in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, and dedicated to military history. ... Front view of the historic building of the National Archaeological Museum Side view The National Archaeological Museum (Bulgarian: , Natsionalen arheologicheski muzey) is an archaeological museum in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... The National Art Gallery edifice, the former royal palace of Bulgaria Closer view of the east wing The National Art Gallery (Bulgarian: , Natsionalna hudozhestvena galeriya) is Bulgarias national gallery and houses over 50,000 pieces of Bulgarian art. ... The Neoclassic National Gallery for Foreign Art edifice Another view The National Gallery for Foreign Art (Bulgarian: , Natsionalna galeriya za chuzhdestranno izkustvo) of Bulgaria is a gallery located on St Alexander Nevsky Square in the capital city of Sofia and serves as the countrys national institution for foreign (i. ... [edit] Places of special interest The city also offers many places of special interest such as the Sts. Cyril and Methodius National Library (which houses the largest national book collection and is Bulgaria's oldest cultural institute), the Sofia State Library, the British Council, the Russian Cultural Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, the Hungarian Institute, the Czech and the Slovak Cultural Institutes, the Italian Cultural Institute, the French Cultural Institute, Goethe Institut, Instituto Cervantes, and the Open Society Institute. Families with children can enjoy Sofia Land, the nearly nine-acre amusement park adjacent to the Sofia Zoological Garden (founded in 1888) as well as the Museum of Natural History. A front view of the library building The SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library (Народна библиотека „свети свети Кирил и Методий“) is the national library of Bulgaria, situated in the capital city of Sofia. ... Sofia Land (София Ленд) is an amusement park in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... A crowned elephant, the symbol of Sofia Zoo Sofia Zoo in the capital city of Sofia is both Bulgarias largest and oldest zoological garden, being founded on 1 May 1888 through a royal decree. ... Sofia currently enjoys a booming film industry as the filming ground of several international film productions. Vitosha Boulevard, also called Vitoshka — ranked as the world's 22nd most expensive commercial street — represents numerous fashion boutiques and luxury goods stores and features exhibitions by world fashion designers. Sofia's geographic location, situated in the foothills of the weekend retreat Vitosha mountain, further adds to the city's specific atmosphere. Vitosha Boulevard Vitoshka, as seen from near NDK, with the St Nedelya Church in the distance. ... Vitosha (Bulgarian: Витоша  ) is a mountain massif, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences building Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 2101 KB) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria. ... The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (abbreviated BAS, in Bulgarian: Balgarska akademia na naukite, abbreviated BAN) is the National Academy of Bulgaria, established in 1869. ... The former royal palace at Battenberg Square, now the National Art Gallery Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2560 × 1920 pixel, file size: 3. ... The National Art Gallery at Battenberg Square 1 Prince Alexander Battenberg Square (площад „Княз Александър Батенберг“), often called simply Battenberg Square (площад „Батенберг“) is the largest square of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. ... The National Art Gallery edifice, the former royal palace of Bulgaria Closer view of the east wing The National Art Gallery (Bulgarian: , Natsionalna hudozhestvena galeriya) is Bulgarias national gallery and houses over 50,000 pieces of Bulgarian art. ... National Palace of Culture Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 3054 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sofia National Palace of Culture Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Front view The National Palace of Culture (Национален дворец на културата, usually just НДК, NDK), located in Sofia, Bulgaria, is one of the largest multifunctional congress centres in Southeastern Europe. ... The Neoclassical old Royal Printing Office built in 1882–1884 is today the National Gallery for Foreign Art Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 3458 KB) National Gallery for Foreign Art, Sofia, Bulgaria. ... The Neoclassic National Gallery for Foreign Art edifice Another view The National Gallery for Foreign Art (Bulgarian: , Natsionalna galeriya za chuzhdestranno izkustvo) of Bulgaria is a gallery located on St Alexander Nevsky Square in the capital city of Sofia and serves as the countrys national institution for foreign (i. ... The architecture in Sofia centre is an unique mixture of Western and Central European Architecture. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (600x800, 124 KB) Тази фотография е