5/19/2018 Sofia

1/19

Sofia

This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. For otheruses, seeSofia (disambiguation).

Sofia(/sofi/) (Bulgarian: ,pronounced[sfij]( )) is thecapitalandlargest cityofBulgaria. Sofia islocated at the foot of MountVitoshain the western partof the country. It occupies a strategic position at the cen-tre of theBalkan Peninsula.[4] Sofias history spans 2,400years. Its ancient name Serdicaderives from the localCeltictribe of theSerdiwho established the town in the

5th century BC. It remained a relatively small settlementuntil 1879, when it was declared the capital of Bulgaria.

Sofia is the15th largest cityin theEuropean Unionwitha population of around 1.4 million people.

Sofia has been ranked by the Globalization and WorldCities Research Networkas aBeta city.[5] Many of themajoruniversities, culturalinstitutions, andbusinessesofBulgaria are concentrated in Sofia.[6]

1 Names

The name Serdica or Sardica (in Greek ,) was popular in Latin, Ancient Greek andByzantine Greeksources from Antiquity andthe MiddleAges; it was related to the local Celtic[7] tribeoftheSerdi.The name was last used in the 19th century in a Bulgariantext,Service and hagiography of Saint George the New ofSofia: .

Another of Sofias names, Triaditsa ( or), was mentioned in Greek medieval sources.The Bulgarian name Sredets (), which is re-

lated to sreda(middle), first appeared in the 11th-centuryVision of Danieland was widely used in the Mid-dle Ages.

The current nameSofiawas first used in the 14th-centuryVitosha Charter of Bulgarian tsarIvan Shishmanor in aRagusanmerchants notes of 1376; it refers to the famousHoly Sophia Church( ), an ancient church inthe city named after the Christian concept of theHolyWisdom. AlthoughSredetsremained in use until the late18th century, Sofia gradually overcame the Slavic nameinpopularity.[8] During the Ottoman rule it was called Sofyaby the Turkish conquerors of Bulgaria.

The citys name is pronounced by Bulgarians with a stresson the 'o', in contrast with the tendency of foreigners toplace the stress on 'i'. The female given name Sofia is

pronounced by Bulgarians with a stress on the 'i'.

2 Geography

Lake Pancharevoin southern Sofia

Sofias development as a significant settlement owesmuch to its central position in theBalkans. It is situatedin western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of theVitoshamountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by moun-tains on all sides. The valley has an average altitude of550 metres (1,800 ft). Threemountain passeslead to thecity, which have been key roads since antiquity, connect-ing theAdriatic SeaandCentral Europewith theBlackandAegean Seas. A number of low rivers cross the city,including theVladaiskaand the Perlovska. TheIskarRiverin its upper course flowsnear easternSofia. Thecity is known for its 49mineralandthermalsprings. Ar-

tificial and dam lakes were built in the twentieth century.It is 150 kilometres (93 mi) northwest ofPlovdiv,[9]

Bulgarias second largest city, 385 kilometres (239 mi)west ofBurgas[9] and 450 kilometres (280 mi) west ofVarna,[9] Bulgarias major port-cities on the BulgarianBlack Sea Coast. Sofia is located 195 kilometres (121mi) south ofVidinand 310 kilometres (190 mi) south-west ofRuse, the two biggest cities and ports onDanuberiver. The city is less than 200 kilometres (120 mi) fromthe borders with three countries: 55 kilometres (34 mi)fromKalotinaon theSerbianborder, 113 kilometres (70mi) fromGyueshevoon the frontier with theRepublic of

Macedoniaand 183 kilometres (114 mi) from theGreekborder atKulata.

Sofia has an area of 1344 km2.[10]

1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kulatahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greecehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Macedoniahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Macedoniahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyueshevohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalotinahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danubehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Black_Sea_Coasthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Black_Sea_Coasthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varnahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burgashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdivhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hot_springhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spring_(hydrosphere)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Near_Easthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iskar_(river)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iskar_(river)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perlovskahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladaya_Riverhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegean_Seahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Seahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Europehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adriatic_Seahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountain_passhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Valleyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitoshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkanshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pancharevohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Wisdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Wisdomhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia_Church_(Sofia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Ragusahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Shishman_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serdihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medieval_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Businesshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universitieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_city#GaWC_studyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization_and_World_Cities_Research_Networkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalization_and_World_Cities_Research_Networkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Unionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largest_cities_of_the_European_Union_by_population_within_city_limitshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serdihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkan_Peninsulahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitoshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cities_and_towns_in_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_cityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Bulgarian_and_Macedonianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Keyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_Englishhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_(disambiguation)

5/19/2018 Sofia

2/19

2 3 HISTORY

2.1 Climate

Bistritsa River nearPancharevo, Southern Sofia

Sofia has ahumid continental climate(Kppen climateclassificationDfb) with an average annual temperature of10.1 C (50.2 F).

Winters are cold and snowy. In the coldest days temper-atures can drop as low as 15 C (5 F) or even lower,most notably in January and February. Foggy conditionsare frequent, especially in the beginning of the season.On average, Sofia receives a total snowfall of 90 cm (35.4in) and 60 days with snow cover.

Summers are warm and sunny. In summer, the city gen-erally remains slightly cooler than other parts of Bulgaria,

due to its higher altitude. However, the city is also sub-jected to heat waves with high temperatures reaching orexceeding 35 C (95 F) in the hottest days, particularlyin July and August.

Springs andautumns in Sofia arerelativelyshort with vari-able and dynamic weather.

The city receives an average precipitation of 587.1 mm(23.11 in) a year, reaching its peak in late spring and earlysummer whenthunderstormsare common.

3 HistoryMain article:History of SofiaSee also:Timeline of Sofia history

3.1 Antiquity

Sofia was originally aThraciansettlement calledSerdica,orSardica, possibly named after theCeltictribeSerdi.[7]

For a short period during the 4th century BC, the citywas ruled byPhilip of Macedonand his sonAlexander

the Great. Around BC 29, Serdica was conquered by theRomans. It became a municipium, or centre of an ad-ministrative region, during the reign of EmperorTrajan

Interior of the ancientSaint Sophia Churchwhich gave its name

to the city

(98117) and was renamed Ulpia Serdica. It seems thatthe first written mention of Serdica was made byPtolemy(around 100 AD).

Serdica (Sardica) expanded, asturrets, protective walls,public baths, administrative and cult buildings, a civicbasilica, an amphitheatre, theCity Council(Boul), alarge forum, a big circus (theatre), etc. were built.

In the 2nd century AD, it was administrative centre ofRomanMoesia. In the 3rd century, it was the capitalofDacia Aureliana,[14] and when EmperorDiocletiandi-vided the province ofDaciainto Dacia Ripensis (at thebanks of theDanube) andDacia Mediterranea, Serdica

became the capital of the latter. The city subsequentlyexpanded for a century and a half, it became a signifi-cant political and economical centre, more so it be-came one of the first Roman cities where Christianitywas recognized as anofficial religion (underGalerius).ForConstantine the Greatit was 'Sardica mea Roma est'(Serdica is my Rome). In 343 AD, the Council of Sardicawas held in the city, in a church located where the current6th centuryChurch of Saint Sophiawas later built.

The city was destroyed in the 447 invasion of theHuns.[15] It was rebuilt byByzantine Emperor Justinian Iand for a while calledTriaditsaorSredetsby theSlavonic

tribes. During the reign of Justinian it flourished, beingsurrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants canstill be seen today.

3.2 Middle Ages and Ottoman rule

Sofia first became part of theFirst Bulgarian Empiredur-ing the reign ofKhan Krumin 809, after a longsiege.[16]

Afterwards, it was known by theBulgarianname Sre-detsand grew into an important fortress and adminis-trative centre. After the fall of North-eastern BulgariaunderJohn I Tzimiskes' armies in 971, the Bulgarian Pa-

triarch Damyan chose Sofia for his seat in the next year.After a number of unsuccessful sieges, the city fell to theByzantine Empirein 1018, but once again was incorpo-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_I_Tzimiskeshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_languageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Serdica_(809)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Bulgarian_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_peopleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_peopleshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justinian_Ihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Byzantine_emperorshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_II#Wars_with_the_Huns,_Vandals,_and_Persianshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia_Church_(Sofia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Council_of_Sardicahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_the_Greathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeriushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_religionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacia_(Roman_province)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danubehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daciahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocletianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dacia_Aurelianahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moesiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_councilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitheatrehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basilicahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_bathinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turrethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ptolemyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hagia_Sophia_Church_(Sofia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trajanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Romehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Greathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_the_Greathttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_II_of_Macedonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serdihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celtshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thracianshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Sofia_historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderstormshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classificationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classificationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humid_continental_climatehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancharevo

5/19/2018 Sofia

3/19

3.3 Modern and contemporary history 3

Ottoman troops advancing against Austrian forces near Sofia,

1788

rated into therestored Bulgarian Empireat the time of

TsarIvan Asen I.From the 12th to the 14th century, Sofia was a thrivingcentre of trade and crafts. It is possible that it had beencalled by the common population Sofia(meaning wis-dom inAncient Greek) about 1376 after the church ofSaint Sophia. However, in different testimonies it wascalled both Sofia and Sredets until the end of the 19thcentury. In 1382, Sofia was seized by theOttoman Em-pirein the course of theBulgarian-Ottoman Warsaftera long siege. Around 1393 it became the seat of newlyestablishedSanjak of Sofia.[17]

Sofia in mid-19th century

After the failed crusade ofWadysaw III of Polandin1443 towards Sofia, the citys Christian elite was anni-hilated and the city became the capital of theOttomanprovince(beylerbeylik) ofRumeliafor more than fourcenturies, which encouraged many Turks to settle there.In the 16th century, Sofias urban layout and appear-ance began to exhibit a clear Ottoman style, with manymosques, fountains and hamams (bathhouses). Duringthat time the town had a population of around 7,000.

The town was seized for several weeks by Bulgarianhajduks in 1599. In 1610 theVaticanestablished theSee of Sofiafor Catholics ofRumelia, which existed until

1715 when most Catholics had emigrated.[18] In the 16thcentury there were 126 Jewish households, and there hasbeen a synagogue in Sofia since 967. The town was thecenter of SofyaEyalet(18261864).

3.3 Modern and contemporary history

A 1908 plan of the city

Sofia was taken byRussian forceson January 4, 1878,during theRusso-Turkish War, 187778, and becamethe capital of the autonomousPrincipality of Bulgariain1879, which became theKingdom of Bulgariain 1908.It was proposed as a capital byMarin Drinovand wasaccepted as such on 3 April 1879. After the Liberation

War, the new name Sofia replaced the old one (Sre-dets). By the time of its liberation the population of thecity was 11,649.[19] For a few decades after the liberationthe city experienced large population growth mainly fromother regions of the country.

DuringWorld War II, Sofia wasbombed by Allied air-craftin late 1943 and early 1944. As a consequence ofthe invasion of theSoviet Red Army, Bulgarias govern-ment, which was allied withGermany, was overthrown.

The transformations of Bulgaria into thePeoples Repub-lic of Bulgariain 1946 and into the Republic of Bulgaria

in 1990 marked significant changes in the citys appear-ance. The population of Sofia expanded rapidly due tomigration from the country. Whole new residential ar-eas were built in the outskirts of the city, like Druzhba,Mladost and Lyulin.

4 Cityscape

4.1 Districts

Main article:Sofia districts

Politically, administratively and economically, Bulgariais a highly centralized state, making Sofia a national ad-ministrative unitof its own right. It should not to be

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_districtshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%2527s_Republic_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%2527s_Republic_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazi_Germanyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Armyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Unionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Sofia_in_World_War_IIhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombing_of_Sofia_in_World_War_IIhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_IIhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marin_Drinovhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Principality_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1877%E2%80%931878)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_Russian_Armyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyalethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumeliahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Diocese_of_Sofia_and_Plovdivhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Churchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hajdukhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_bathhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumeliahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subdivisions_of_the_Ottoman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subdivisions_of_the_Ottoman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W%C5%82adys%C5%82aw_III_of_Polandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjak_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian%E2%80%93Ottoman_Warshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottoman_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greekhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Asen_I_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bulgarian_Empire

5/19/2018 Sofia

4/19

4 4 CITYSCAPE

Mall of Sofiain Vazrazhdane

confused withSofia Province, which surrounds but doesnot include the city itself. Besides the city proper, the24 districts of Sofia encompass three other towns and 34

villages.[20] Each of them has its own district mayor whois elected in a popular election.[20] The head of the SofiaMunicipality is its mayor. The assembly members arechosen every four years. The currentmayor of SofiaisYordanka Fandakova.

The following are some of the most culturally and eco-nomically significant districts:

Oborishte (Bulgarian: ) is in the verycenter of the city, where most landmarks andadministrative edifices are located. It is knownfor its predominantly neo-Renaissance and Vien-nese architecture, extensive green belts and yellowcobblestones.

Sredets(Bulgarian: ) neighbours Oborishteand shares some of its specific architecture. It is thesite ofBorisova gradina(Gardens ofBoris) and theVasil Levski National Stadium.

Vazrazhdane(Bulgarian: ) is an eco-nomically active district where many trade centresand banks, along with some light industry manu-facturing companies, are located. One of its main

boulevards is Marie Louise Boulevard,thesiteoftheCentral Sofia Market Hall,TZUMandSt NedelyaChurch.

Mladost(Bulgarian: ) is one of the mostmodern and fast developing areas in Sofia. Its alsoone of the largest districts in terms of population(second only to Lyulin) with its 110,000 inhabitants.It is generally poor in landmarks and administra-tive institutions, but it concentrates the headquar-ters of numerous domestic and international compa-nies, large-scaledepartment stores, official vehicledealerships, andBusiness Park Sofiaat its southern

end. The architecture is a combination of Socialist-era apartment blocks, industrial enterprises and newbuildings, most of which were constructed after

2004. Mladost has excellent transport connectionsto all remaining districts of Sofia.

Vitosha(Bulgarian: ) is located on the footof Vitosha Mountain. It holds a key location as itis the site where theSofia ring road andBulgaria

Boulevard cross. Luxury estates and villa complexesdominate in Vitosha district. It has good connec-tions to both the city centre and the nearby moun-tain resorts. Boyanais the site of the presidentialresidence, theNu Boyana Filmstudios, the NationalHistorical Museum and theBoyana Church.

4.2 Architecture

The outlook of Sofia combines a wide range of archi-tectural styles, some of which are hardly compatible.These vary from Christian Roman architecture and me-

dieval Bulgar fortresses to Neoclassicism and prefabri-cated Socialist-era apartment blocks (panelki). A num-ber of ancient Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarianbuildings are preserved in the centre of the city. Theseinclude the 4th century Rotunda of St. George, thewalls of the Serdica fortress and the partially preservedAmphitheatre of Serdica.

After the Liberation War, knyaz Alexander Battenberginvitedarchitects from AustriaHungarytoshapethenew

capitals architectural appearance.[21] Among the archi-tects invited to work in Bulgaria were Friedrich Gr-nanger, Adolf Vclav Kol, Viktor Rumpelmayerandothers, who designed the most important public build-ings needed by the newly reestablished Bulgarian gov-ernment, as well as numerous houses for the countryselite.[21] Later, many foreign-educated Bulgarian archi-tects also contributed. The architecture of Sofias cen-tre is thus a combination ofNeo-Baroque, Neo-Rococo,Neo-Renaissanceand Neoclassicism,withthe Vienna Se-cession also later playing an important part, but it ismostly typically Central European.

After the Second World War and the establishment of aCommunist governmentin Bulgaria in 1944, the archi-tectural line was substantially altered. Stalinist Gothicpublic buildings emerged in the centre, notably the spa-cious government complex aroundThe Largo, Vasil Lev-ski Stadium, the Cyril and Methodius National Libraryand others. As the city grew outwards, the then-newneighbourhoods were dominated by many concretetowerblocks, prefabricated panel apartment buildings and ex-amples ofBrutalist architecture.

After the abolition of Communismin 1989, Sofia haswitnessed the construction of whole business districts

and neighbourhoods, as well as modern skryscraper-likeglass-fronted office buildings, but also top-class residen-tial neighbourhoods. Capital FortBusiness Center will

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capital_Forthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brutalist_architecturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_blockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_blockhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Largo,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalinist_architecturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communist_statehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Secessionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vienna_Secessionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassicismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance_Revival_architecturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rococohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_Revival_architecturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viktor_Rumpelmayerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_V%C3%A1clav_Kol%C3%A1%C5%99https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Gr%C3%BCnangerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friedrich_Gr%C3%BCnangerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria%E2%80%93Hungaryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander,_Prince_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amphitheatre_of_Serdicahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St._George,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyana_Churchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_Boyana_Filmhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_Boulevard,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_Boulevard,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_ring_roadhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitosha,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Business_Park_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_storehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyulin,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mladost,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nedelya_Churchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Nedelya_Churchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TZUMhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Sofia_Market_Hallhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Louise_Boulevardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vazrazhdanehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasil_Levski_National_Stadiumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_III_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borisova_gradinahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sredets,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cobblestonehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_languagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oborishte,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yordanka_Fandakovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mayors_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Provincehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mall_of_Sofia

5/19/2018 Sofia

5/19

5.1 Arts and entertainment 5

be the first skyscraper in Bulgaria with its 126 m and 36floors. However, the end of the old administration andcentrally planned system also paved the way for chaoticand unrestrained construction, which continues to thepresent day.

4.3 Green areas

Borisova gradina, one of Sofias main parks.

The city has an extensive green belt. Some of theneighbourhoods constructed after 2000 which are denselybuilt-up often lack green spaces. There are four principalparks Borisova gradinain the city centre and theSouth-ern,WesternandNorthernparks. The Southern Park wasunder reconstruction and is now one of the best parks inthe country. Several other smaller parks, among whichtheCity Gardenand theDoctors Garden, are locatedin central Sofia. TheVitosha Nature Park(the oldestnational parkin theBalkans)[22] includes most ofVitoshamountainand covers an area of 266 square kilometres(103 sq mi),[23] with roughly half of it lying within themunicipality of Sofia. Many of the citys residents takeweekly hikes up the mountain, and most do so at least acouple of times a year. There are bungalows as well asseveral ski slopes on Vitosha, allowing locals to take fulladvantage of the countryside and of the mountains with-out having to leave the city.

5 Culture

See also:Tourist attractions in SofiaandList of churchesin Sofia

5.1 Arts and entertainment

Sofia concentrates the majority of Bulgarias leading per-forming arts troupes. Theatre is by far the most pop-

ular form of performing art, and theatrical venues areamong the most visited, second only to cinemas. The old-est such institution is theIvan Vazov National Theatre,

Ivan Vazov National Theatre

which performs mainly classical plays and is situated inthe very centre of the city. A large number of smaller

theatres, such as theSfumato Theatrical Workshop, showboth classical and modern plays.

TheNational Opera and Balletis a combinedoperaandballet collective, established in 1891. However, it didnot begin performances on a regular basis until 1909.Some of Bulgarias most famous operatic singers, such asNicolai GhiaurovandGhena Dimitrova, have made theirfirst appearances on the stage of the National Opera andBallet.Bulgaria Halland Hall 1 of theNational Palace ofCultureregularly hold classical concerts, performed bothby foreign orchestras and theSofia Philharmonic. Thecity has played host to many world-famous musical acts

includingAC/DC,Sting,Elton John,Madonna,GeorgeMichael, Metallica, Tiesto, Kylie Minogue, DepecheMode,Rammstein,Rihanna,RoxetteandLady Gaga.

Bulgarias largest art museums are located in the centralareas of the city. TheNational Art Galleryholds a col-lection of works mostly by Bulgarian authors, while theNational Gallery for Foreign Artdisplays exclusively for-eign art, mostly from India, Africa, China and Europe.Its collections encompass diverse cultural items such asAshanti Empiresculptures,Buddhistart,Dutch GoldenAge painting, works byAlbrecht Drer, Jean-BaptisteGreuzeandAuguste Rodin, among others. Thecrypt

of the Alexander Nevsky cathedral holds a collection ofEastern Orthodox icons from the 9th to the 19th century.Other museums are theNational Historical Museumwitha collection of more than 600,000 items; the NationalPolytechnical Museumwith more than 1,000 technolog-ical items on display; theNational Archaeological Mu-seumand theMuseum of Natural History.

Cinema is the most popular form of entertainment. In re-cent years, cinematic venues have been concentrating intrade centres andmalls, and independent halls have beenclosed.Mall of Sofiaholds one of the largestIMAXcin-emas in Europe. Most films are American productions,

although European and domestic films are increasinglyshown. Odeon (not part of theOdeon Cinemaschain)shows exclusively European and independent American

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odeon_Cinemashttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMAXhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mall_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shopping_mallhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Natural_History_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Polytechnical_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Polytechnical_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Historical_Museum_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crypthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auguste_Rodinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Greuzehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste_Greuzehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Golden_Agehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_Golden_Agehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_Empirehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Gallery_for_Foreign_Arthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Art_Gallery_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Gagahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxettehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rihannahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rammsteinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Modehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depeche_Modehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kylie_Minoguehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiestohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallicahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michaelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Michaelhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_(entertainer)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elton_Johnhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sting_(musician)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AC/DChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Philharmonichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Palace_of_Culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Palace_of_Culturehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_Hallhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghena_Dimitrovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolai_Ghiaurovhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Opera_and_Ballethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sfumato_Theatrical_Workshophttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Vazov_National_Theatrehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_attractions_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitoshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitoshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balkanshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_parkhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitoshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctors%2527_Gardenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_Garden_(Sofia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borisova_gradinahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_belthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borisova_gradina

5/19/2018 Sofia

6/19

6 5 CULTURE

The National Opera and Ballet

films, as well as 20th century classics. Bulgarias oncethriving film industry, concentrated in theBoyana Filmstudios, has suffered a period of decay after 1990. A rel-ative revival of the industry began after 2001. After theacquisition of Boyana Film byNu Image, several moder-ately successful productions have been shot in and aroundSofia, such as The Contract, The Black Dahlia, Hitman

andConan the Barbarian. The Nu Boyana Film studioshave also hosted some of the scenes for The Expendables2.

The city houses many cultural institutes such as the Rus-sian Cultural Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, theHungarian Institute, the Czech and the Slovak CulturalInstitutes, the Italian Cultural Institute, the French Cul-tural Institute,Goethe Institut,British Council,InstitutoCervantes, and theOpen Society Institute, which regu-larly organise temporary expositions of visual, sound andliterary works by artists from their respective countries.

Some of the biggest telecommunications companies, TV

and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and web por-tals are based in Sofia, including theBulgarian NationalTelevision,bTVandNova TV. Top-circulation newspa-

pers include24 Chasa,TrudandKapital Daily.

5.2 Tourism

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Sofia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Bul-garia alongside coastal and mountain resorts. Among itshighlights is theAlexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of thesymbols of Bulgaria, constructed in the late 19th cen-tury. It occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100sq ft) and can hold 10,000 people. The city is alsoknown for theBoyana Church, aUNESCOWorld Her-itage site. TheSS. Cyril and Methodius National Li-braryhouses the largest national collection of books anddocuments (1,714,211 books and some 6 million otherdocuments)[24] and is Bulgarias oldest cultural institute.

Sofia holds Bulgarias largest museum collections, whichattract tourists and students for practical studies. TheNational Historical MuseuminBoyanadistrict has a vastcollection of more than 650,000 historical items datingfrom Prehistory to the modern era, although only 10,000of them are permanently displayed due to the lack ofspace.[25] Smaller collections of items related mostly tothe history of Sofia are in theNational ArchaeologicalMuseum, a former mosque located between the edificesof the National Bank and the Presidency. Two naturalsciences museums theNatural History MuseumandtheEarth and Man display minerals, animal species(alive and taxidermic) and rare materials. The Ethno-graphic Museum and theNational Museum of MilitaryHistoryare other places of interest, holding large collec-tions of Bulgarian folk costumes and armaments, respec-tively.

Vitosha Boulevard, also called Vitoshka, has numer-ous fashion boutiques andluxury goodsstores. Sofiasgeographic location, in the foothills of the weekend re-treatVitoshamountain, further adds to the citys specificatmosphere.

5.3 Sports

A large number of sports clubs are based in the city. Dur-ing the Communist era most sports clubs concentrated

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitoshahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_coordinate_systemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxury_goodhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitosha_Boulevardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Military_History_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Military_History_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxidermyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_and_Man_National_Museumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Museum_of_Natural_History_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Archaeological_Museum_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyanahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Historical_Museum_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS._Cyril_and_Methodius_National_Libraryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS._Cyril_and_Methodius_National_Libraryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCOhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyana_Churchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Nevsky_Cathedral,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Nevsky_Cathedral,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dneven_Trudhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24_Chasahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Television_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BTV_(Bulgaria)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_National_Televisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_National_Televisionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_Society_Institutehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instituto_Cervanteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instituto_Cervanteshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Councilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goethe-Instituthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expendables_2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Expendables_2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conan_the_Barbarian_(2011_film)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hitman_(2007_film)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Dahlia_(film)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Contract_(2006_film)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu_Imagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boyana_Film

5/19/2018 Sofia

7/19

7

A moment from theEternal derby of Bulgarian football- CSKA

(red) against Levski (blue) in February 2011

on all-round sporting development, therefore CSKA,Levski,LokomotivandSlaviaare dominant not only infootball, but in many other team sports as well. Basket-ball and volleyball also have strong traditions in Sofia. Anotable localbasketball teamis twiceEuropean Champi-ons CupfinalistLukoil Akademik. TheBulgarian Vol-leyball Federationis the worlds second-oldest, and it wasan exhibition tournament organised by the BVF in Sofiathat convinced theInternational Olympic Committeetoinclude volleyball as anolympic sportin 1957.[26] Ten-nis is increasingly popular in the city. Currently there aresome ten[27] tennis courtcomplexes within the city in-cluding the one founded by formerWTAtop-ten athleteMagdalena Maleeva.[28]

Sofia applied to host theWinter Olympic Gamesin 1992and in 1994, coming 2nd and 3rd respectively. The citywas also an applicant for the2014 Winter Olympics, butwas not selected as candidate. In addition, Sofia hostedEurobasket 1957and the1961and1977 Summer Uni-versiades, as well as the1983and1989 winter editions.In 2012, it hosted theFIVB World Leaguefinals.

The city is home to a number of large sports venues,including the 43,000-seat Vasil Levski National Sta-dium which hosts international football matches, andLokomotiv Stadium, the main venue for outdoor musi-

cal concerts. Armeets Arenaholds many indoor eventsand has a capacity of up to 19,000 people depending onits use. The venue was inaugurated on July 30, 2011, andthe first event it hosted was a friendly volleyball matchbetween Bulgaria and Serbia. There are twoice skatingcomplexes theWinter Palace of Sportswith a capac-ity of 4,000 and theSlavia Winter Stadiumwith a ca-pacity of 2,000, both containing two rinks each.[29] Avelodromewith 5,000 seats in the cityscentral parkiscurrently undergoing renovation.[30] There are also var-ious other sports complexes in the city which belong toinstitutions other than football clubs, such as those of theNationalSportsAcademy,the Bulgarian Academy of Sci-

ences, or those of different universities. There are morethan fifteen swimming complexes in the city, most ofthem outdoor.[31] Nearly all of these were constructed as

competition venues and therefore have seating facilitiesfor several hundred people.

There are twogolf coursesjust to the east of Sofia inElin Pelin(St Sofia club) and inIhtiman(Air Sofia club),and a horseriding club (St George club).

Sofia was set to bid for the2016 Winter Youth Olympicsbut didn't submit a bid citing they filled the requirementsset by theIOC. The Bulgarian Olympic Committee haveexpressed interest in potentially bidding for the 2020Winter Youth Olympics[32]

6 Demographics

The construction boom in Sofia lasted until 2009 and saw the

construction of many new apartment buildings, such as this one

in Borovo.

According to 2012 data,[33] the city has a populationof 1,241,396 and the whole Capital Municipality of1,309,634.[34]

The ratio of women per 1,000 men was 1,102. Thebirthrateper 1000 people was 12.3 per mille and steadily in-creasing in the last 5 years, thedeath ratereaching 12.1per mille and decreasing. The natural growth rate dur-ing 2009 was 0.2 per mille, the first positive growth rate

in nearly 20 years. The considerable immigration to thecapital from poorer regions of the country, as well as ur-banisation, are among the other reasons for the increasein Sofias population. 4.8 people of every one thousandwere wedded in 2009 (only heterosexual marriage is pos-sible in Bulgaria) and the infant mortality rate was 5.6 per1,000, down from 18.9 in 1980.

According to the 2011 census, Sofias population wasmade up of 96.4% ethnicBulgarians; among minoritycommunities, about 18,300 (1.6%) officially identifiedthemselves as Roma,[35] 6,500 (0.6%) as Turkish and1.4% belonged to other ethnic groups or did not self-

declare.The unemployment is lower than in other parts of thecountry 2.45% of the active population in 1999 and

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turks_in_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_in_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarianshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infant_mortalityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortality_ratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_ratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birth_ratehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Winter_Youth_Olympicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Winter_Youth_Olympicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IOChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Winter_Youth_Olympicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ihtimanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elin_Pelinhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golfhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Academy_of_Scienceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Academy_of_Scienceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Sports_Academyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borisova_gradinahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velodromehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavia_Winter_Stadiumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Palace_of_Sportshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_skatinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armeets_Arenahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lokomotiv_Stadium_(Sofia)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasil_Levski_National_Stadiumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasil_Levski_National_Stadiumhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIVB_World_Leaguehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1989_Winter_Universiadehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Winter_Universiadehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Summer_Universiadehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1977_Summer_Universiadehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961_Summer_Universiadehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EuroBasket_1957https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Winter_Olympicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_Olympic_Gameshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_Maleevahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%2527s_Tennis_Associationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennis_courthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volleyball_at_the_Summer_Olympics#Historyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Olympic_Committeehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Volleyball_Federationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Volleyball_Federationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PBC_Lukoil_Academichttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euroleague#Champions_1958-2008https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euroleague#Champions_1958-2008https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basketballhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFC_Slavia_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFC_Lokomotiv_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levski_Sofia_(sports_club)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PFC_CSKA_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eternal_derby_of_Bulgarian_football

5/19/2018 Sofia

8/19

8 8 TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURE

declining, compared to 7.25% for the whole of Bulgariaas of 1 July 2007.[36] The large share of unemployed peo-ple with higher education,27%ascomparedto7%forthewhole country, is a characteristic feature of the capital.

Sofia was declared the national capital in 1879. One year

later, in 1880, it was the fifth-largest city in the coun-try after Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse and Shumen. Plovdivremained the most populous Bulgarian town until 1892when Sofia took the lead.

7 Economy

Edifice of the Bulgarian National Bank

Sofia is the economic heart of Bulgaria and home to mostmajor Bulgarian and international companies operatingin the country, as well as theBulgarian National Bankand theBulgarian Stock Exchange. The city and its sur-roundingYugozapadenNUTS II planning region have aPPS GDP of 18,400,[37] which makes it the most de-veloped region in the country. In 2008, the average percapita annual income was 4,572 leva ($3,479).[38] Forthe same year, the strongest sectors of the citys econ-omy in terms of annual production were manufacturing

($5.5 bln.), metallurgy ($1.84 bln.), electricity, gas andwater supply ($1.6 bln.) and food and beverages ($778mln.).[39] Economic output in 2011 amounted to 15.9 bil-lion leva, or $11.04 billion.[40]

After World War II and the era of industrialisation un-der socialism, the city and its surrounding areas expandedrapidly and became the most heavily industrialised regionof the country.[41] The influx of workers from other partsof the country became so intense that a restriction policywas imposed, and residing in the capital was only possi-ble after obtaining Sofianite citizenship.[41] However, af-ter the political changes in 1989, this kind of citizenship

was removed.Increasingly, Sofia is becoming an outsourcing des-tination for multinational companies, among them

IBM,Hewlett-Packard,SAP,Siemens,Software AG.[42]

Bulgaria Air, PPD, the national airline of Bulgaria, hasits head office on the grounds ofSofia Airport.[43] From2007 to 2011, the city attracted a cumulative total of$11,6 billion inforeign direct investment.[40]

Up until 2007 Sofia experienced rapideconomic growth.In 2008, apartment prices increased dramatically, with agrowth rate of 30%.[44] In 2009, prices fell by 26%.[45]

8 Transport and infrastructure

Sofia Metrotrain atMusagenitsa Metro Station

With its developing infrastructure and strategic location,Sofia is a major hub for international railway and auto-mobile transport. Three of the tenPan-European Trans-port Corridorscross the city:IV,VIIIandX.[46] All ma-jor types of transport (exceptwater) are represented inthe city. TheCentral Railway Stationis the primary hubfor domestic and international rail transport. Sofia has186 kilometres of railway lines.[40] Sofia Airporthandledsome 3.47 million passengers in 2011. [47]

Public transport is well-developed with bus (2,380km (1,479 mi) network),[48] tram (308 km (191mi)) network,[49] and trolleybus (193 km (120 mi)network),[50] lines running in all areas of the city,[51] [52]

although some of thevehicles are in a poor condition. The

SofiaMetro becameoperationalin 1998, andnow has twolines and27 stations.[53] Asof2012,thesystemhas31km(19 mi) of track. Six new stations were opened in 2009,two more in April 2012, and eleven more in August 2012.Construction works on the extension of the first line areunderway and it is expected to reach the airport by 2014.A third line is currently in the late stages of planning andit is expected that its construction starts in 2014. This linewill complete the proposed subway system of three lineswith about 65 km (40 mi) of lines. [54] The master planfor the Sofia Metro includes three lines with a total of 63stations.[55] In recent years themarshrutka, a private pas-senger van, began serving fixed routes and proved an effi-

cient and popularmeans of transportby being faster thanpublic transport but cheaper than taxis. As of 2005 thesevans numbered 368 and serviced 48 lines around the city

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_of_transporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshrutkahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Metrohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trolleybuses_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_tram_systemhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_buses_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Public_Transporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Airporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Railway_Station,_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_transporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-European_Corridor_Xhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-European_Corridor_VIIIhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-European_Corridor_IVhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-European_corridorshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-European_corridorshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musagenitsa_Metro_Stationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Metrohttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_growthhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreign_direct_investmenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Airporthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_Airhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siemenshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SAP_AGhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett-Packardhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBMhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_corporationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outsourcinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yugozapadenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Stock_Exchange_%E2%80%93_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_National_Bankhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shumenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruse,_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varnahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plovdivhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_education

5/19/2018 Sofia

9/19

9

and suburbs.[46] There are around 13,000taxi cabsoper-ating in thecity. [56] Low fares in comparison with otherEuropean countries, make taxis affordable and popularamong a big part of the city population.

Tsarigradsko shose, one of the busiest boulevards in Sofia

Private automobile ownership has grown rapidly in the1990s; more than 1,000,000 cars were registered in Sofiaafter 2002. The city has the 4th-highest number of auto-mobiles per capita in the European Union at 546.4 vehi-cles per1,000 people.[57] The municipalitywasknown forminor and cosmetic repairs and many streets are in a poorcondition. This is noticeably changing in the past years.There are different boulevards and streets in the city witha higher amount of traffic than others. These includeTsarigradsko shose, Cherni Vrah, Bulgaria, Slivnitsa andTodor Aleksandrov boulevards, as well as the citys ring

road, where long chains of cars are formed at peak hoursandtraffic jamsoccur regularly.[58] Consequently trafficandair pollutionproblems have become more severe andreceive regular criticism in local media. The extensionof the underground system is hoped to alleviate the citysimmense traffic problems.

Sofia has an extensive district heating system basedaround fourcombined heat and power(CHP) plants andboiler stations. Virtually the entire city (900,000 house-holds and 5,900 companies) is centrally heated, usingresidual heat fromelectricity generation(3,000MW) andgas- and oil-fired heating furnaces; totalheat capacityis

4,640 MW. The heat distribution piping network is 900km (559 mi) long and comprises 14,000 substations and10,000 heated buildings.

9 Education

Sofia concentrates a significant portion of the nationalhigher educationcapacity, including 109,000 universityand college students[59] and 22 of Bulgarias 51 higher ed-ucation establishments.[60] These include four of the fivehighest-ranking national universities - Sofia University

(SU),University of Architecture, Civil Engineering andGeodesy, theTechnical University of Sofia, Universityof National and World Economyand theUniversity of

Students practicing with electronic devices at theTechnical Uni-

versity of Sofia

Mining and Geology.[61] Sofia University was foundedin 1888.[62] More than 20,000 students[63] study in its16 faculties.[64] A number of research and cultural de-partments operate within SU, including its own publish-ing house,botanical gardens,[65] a space research centre,aquantum electronicsdepartment,[66] and aConfuciusInstitute[67] Rakovski Defence and Staff College, theNational Academy of Arts, andSofia Medical Universityare other major higher education establishments in thecity.[61]

Secondary education institutions are numerous and in-clude vocational and language schools. The elitesecondary language schools provide education in a se-lected foreign language. These include the First EnglishLanguage School, Sofia High School of Mathematics,91st German Language School, 164th Spanish LanguageSchool, and 9th French Language School. Some of themprovide a language certificate upon graduation, while the9th French Language School has exchange programs witha number oflycesinFranceandSwitzerland, such as theParisian Collge-lyce Jacques-Decour. TheAmericanCollege of Sofia, a private secondary school which devel-oped from a school founded by American missionaries in1860, is among the oldest American educational institu-tions outside of the US.[68]

Other institutions of national significance, such as theBulgarian Academy of Sciences(BAS) and theSS. Cyriland Methodius National Library are located in Sofia.BAS is the centrepiece of scientific research in Bulgaria,employing more than 4,500 scientists in various insti-tutes, including theBulgarian Space Agency.

10 Notable residents

Notable people born in Sofia:

Aurelian(ca. 215-275), Roman emperor[69]

Georgi Asparuhov(19431971), football player

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Asparuhovhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurelianhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Space_Agencyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS._Cyril_and_Methodius_National_Libraryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS._Cyril_and_Methodius_National_Libraryhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Academy_of_Scienceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_College_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_College_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coll%C3%A8ge-lyc%C3%A9e_Jacques-Decourhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerlandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Medical_Universityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Academy_of_Artshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rakovski_Defence_and_Staff_Collegehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institutehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institutehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quantum_electronicshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_gardenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Mining_and_Geologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Mining_and_Geologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_National_and_World_Economyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_National_and_World_Economyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_University_of_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Architecture,_Civil_Engineering_and_Geodesyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Architecture,_Civil_Engineering_and_Geodesyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Universityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Higher_educationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_masshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_generationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat-only_boiler_stationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogenerationhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toplofikatsiya_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traffic_jamhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsarigradsko_shosehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cityhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxicab

5/19/2018 Sofia

10/19

10 10 NOTABLE RESIDENTS

Irina Bokova, director-general ofUNESCO

Michael Bar-Zohar (b. 1938), historian, formerKnessetmember

Irina Bokova(b. 1952), politician, director-generalofUNESCO

Boris III(18941943),Tsar of Bulgaria

Albena Denkova(b. 1974), ice skater, world cham-pion

Nina Dobrev, (b. 1989), actress

Galerius(ca. 260-311), Roman emperor[70]

Kristalina Georgieva (b. 1953), politician,European Commissionerin the second college oftheBarroso Commission

Maria Gigova(b. 1947), three-foldrhythmic gym-nasticsWorld champion

Moshe Gueron(b. 1926),cardiologypioneer

Assen Jordanoff(18961967), aviation pioneer

Matey Kaziyski(b. 1984), volleyball player

Ivet Lalova(b. 1983), athlete

Shmuel Levi(18841966), Israeli painter

Nina Dobrev, actress

Matey Kaziyski, volleyball player

Borislav Mikhailov(b. 1963), football player andBulgarian Football Unionpresident,UEFAexecu-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFAhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Football_Unionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borislav_Mikhailovhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matey_Kaziyskihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Dobrevhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shmuel_Levihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivet_Lalovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matey_Kaziyskihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assen_Jordanoffhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiologyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moshe_Gueronhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythmic_gymnasticshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhythmic_gymnasticshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maria_Gigovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barroso_Commissionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Commissionerhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristalina_Georgievahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galeriushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Dobrevhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albena_Denkovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bulgarian_monarchshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boris_III_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCOhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irina_Bokovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knessethttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Bar-Zoharhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UNESCOhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irina_Bokova

5/19/2018 Sofia

11/19

11

tive committee member

Valeri Petrov(1920-2014), writer

Evgenia Radanova(b. 1977), ice skater

Anna-Maria Ravnopolska-Dean(b. 1960), harpist

Simeon II (b. 1937) formerTsar of BulgariaandPrime Minister of Bulgaria

Antoaneta Stefanova (b. 1979), chess player andWomens World Chess Champion

Tzvetan Todorov(b. 1939), philosopher and writer

Rangel Valchanov(1928 - 2013), film director

Ralitsa Vassileva(b. 1967), journalist

Alexis Weissenberg(19292012), pianist

Lyudmila Zhivkova(19421981), art historian andpolitician

11 International relations

See also:List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria

11.1 Twin towns Sister cities

Sofia istwinnedwith:

11.2 Cooperation agreements

In addition Sofia has cooperation agreements with:

Budapest, Hungary

Paris,France[75]

Lisbon, Portugal[76]

12 Honour

Serdica PeakonLivingston Islandin theSouth ShetlandIslands,Antarcticais named after Serdica.

13 See also

List of churches in Sofia

List of malls in Sofia

List of tallest buildings in Sofia

Sofia Province

14 References

[1] Sofia through centuries. Sofia Municipality. Retrieved2009-10-16.

[2] Veyrenc, Charles Jacques (1981). Bulgaria. McGraw-

Hill/Contemporary. p. 79. "...Here, probably aboutthe 5th century B.C., the Serdi tribe founded the city ofSerdica.

[3] http://www.grao.bg/tna/tab02.txt

[4] Rogers, Clifford (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Me-dieval Warfare and Military Technology 1. Oxford Uni-versity Press. p. 301.ISBN 9780195334036.

[5] Sofia,The Times. Retrieved March 23, 2011

[6] Internet Hostel Sofia, Tourism in Sofia. Retrieved Jan,2012

[7] The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 3, Part 2: TheAssyrian and Babylonian Empires and Other States of theNear East, from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries BCbyJohn Boardman, I. E. S. Edwards, E. Sollberger, and N.G. L. Hammond, ISBN 0-521-22717-8, 1992, p. 600:In the place of the vanished Treres and Tilataei we findthe Serdi for whom there is no evidence before the firstcentury BC. It has for long being supposed on convincinglinguistic and archeological grounds that this tribe was ofCeltic origin

[8] -, . (2002). : . (inBulgarian). : . pp. 169170.ISBN 954-

642-168-5.OCLC 57603720.

[9] Distances between cities in Bulgaria, City of Sofia.Guide Bulgaria. Retrieved 2008-05-25.

[10] District Sofia-city. Guide Bulgaria. Retrieved 19 Febru-ary 2012.

[11] http://climatebase.ru/station/15614/?lang=en

[12] http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2012&month=12&stat=2064&sty=1960&endy=2012&prm_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%96%D0%98

[13] http://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=buxx0005&lang=en

[14] Wilkes, John (2005).Provinces and Frontiers. In Bow-man, Alan K.; Garnsey, Peter; Cameron, Averil. TheCambridge ancient history: The crisis of empire, A.D. 193-

337. The Cambridge ancient history12. Cambridge Uni-versity Press. p. 253.ISBN 978-0-521-30199-2.

[15] A New Classical Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biog-raphy, Mythology and ... - Sir William Smith, CharlesAnthon - Google

[16] Theophanes Confessor. Chronographia, p.485

[17] Godisnjak. Drustvo Istoricara Bosne i Hercegovine, Sara-jevo. 1950. p. 174. " . 1393.

http://books.google.com/?id=-4wxAQAAIAAJ&dq=%25D1%2581%25D0%25BE%25D1%2584%25D0%25B8%25D1%2598%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B8+%25D1%2581%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D1%259F%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BA&q=%2522%25D0%25A1%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D1%259F%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BA+%25D0%25A1%25D0%25BE%25D1%2584%25D0%25B8%25D1%2598%25D0%25B0+%25D0%259E%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D1%2598+%25D1%2598%25D0%25B5+%25D1%2581%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D1%259F%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BA+%25D0%25BE%25D1%2581%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD+%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE+%25D0%25B3.+1393.%2522#search_anchorhttp://books.google.bg/books?id=FjIaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA803&dq=serdica+roman+capital&hl=bg&sa=X&ei=3Po-UbP8Dc33sgbIioHQBw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=serdica%2520roman%2520capital&f=falsehttp://books.google.bg/books?id=FjIaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA803&dq=serdica+roman+capital&hl=bg&sa=X&ei=3Po-UbP8Dc33sgbIioHQBw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=serdica%2520roman%2520capital&f=falsehttp://books.google.bg/books?id=FjIaAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA803&dq=serdica+roman+capital&hl=bg&sa=X&ei=3Po-UbP8Dc33sgbIioHQBw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=serdica%2520roman%2520capital&f=falsehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-521-30199-2https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://books.google.com.au/books?id=MNSyT_PuYVMChttp://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=buxx0005&lang=enhttp://www.climatedata.eu/climate.php?loc=buxx0005&lang=enhttp://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2012&month=12&stat=2064&sty=1960&endy=2012&prm_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%25D0%259F%25D0%259E%25D0%259A%25D0%2590%25D0%2596%25D0%2598http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2012&month=12&stat=2064&sty=1960&endy=2012&prm_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%25D0%259F%25D0%259E%25D0%259A%25D0%2590%25D0%2596%25D0%2598http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2012&month=12&stat=2064&sty=1960&endy=2012&prm_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%25D0%259F%25D0%259E%25D0%259A%25D0%2590%25D0%2596%25D0%2598http://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2012&month=12&stat=2064&sty=1960&endy=2012&prm_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%25D0%259F%25D0%259E%25D0%259A%25D0%2590%25D0%2596%25D0%2598http://climatebase.ru/station/15614/?lang=enhttp://www.guide-bulgaria.com/SW/Sofia-cityhttp://guide-bulgaria.com/Distances.aspxhttps://www.worldcat.org/oclc/57603720https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OCLChttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/954-642-168-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/954-642-168-5https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0521227178http://www.internethostelsofia.hostel.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Timeshttp://bcg.thetimes.co.uk/Europe/Bulgaria/Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780195334036https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Standard_Book_Numberhttp://books.google.com/?id=mzwpq6bLHhMC&pg=RA2-PA301&dq=sofia+center+of+the+balkan+peninsula#v=onepage&q=sofia%2520center%2520of%2520the%2520balkan%2520peninsula&f=falsehttp://books.google.com/?id=mzwpq6bLHhMC&pg=RA2-PA301&dq=sofia+center+of+the+balkan+peninsula#v=onepage&q=sofia%2520center%2520of%2520the%2520balkan%2520peninsula&f=falsehttp://www.grao.bg/tna/tab02.txthttp://www.sofia.bg/en/display.asp?ime=sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia_Provincehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_shopping_malls_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_churches_in_Sofiahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antarcticahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shetland_Islandshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Shetland_Islandshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livingston_Islandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serdica_Peakhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parishttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapesthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twin_towns_and_sister_citieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyudmila_Zhivkovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis_Weissenberghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralitsa_Vassilevahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rangel_Valchanovhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzvetan_Todorovhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%2527s_World_Chess_Championshiphttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoaneta_Stefanovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Prime_Ministers_of_Bulgariahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Bulgarian_monarchshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simeon_Saxe-Coburg-Gothahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna-Maria_Ravnopolska-Deanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evgenia_Radanovahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valeri_Petrov

5/19/2018 Sofia

12/19

12 14 REFERENCES

[18] This article incorporates text from a publication now inthepublic domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913).Sardica. Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Com-pany.

[19] (Bulgarian) , (2006). . 125 . 18792004 . .ISBN 978-954-617-011-8

[20] District Mayors. Sofia Municipality. Retrieved 2009-12-26.

[21] Collective (1980). Encyclopedia of Figurative Arts in Bul-garia, volume 1. Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.pp. 209210.

[22] National parks in the world(in Bulgarian). journey.bg.Retrieved 2008-05-24.

[23] Vitosha Mountain. www.vitoshamount.hit.bg. Re-trieved 2014-04-29.

[24] , Cyrl and Methodius National Li-brary (in Bulgarian)

[25] , National Historical Museum (in Bulgarian)

[26] BVA-News. www.balkanvolleyball.org. Archivedfromthe originalon 2008-02-20. Retrieved 2008-05-11.

[27] Sofia municipality Tennis courts. www.sofia.bg. Re-trieved 2008-05-11.

[28] " ". www.maleevaclub.com. Re-trieved 2008-05-11.

[29] Skate rinks in Sofia. kunki.org. Retrieved 2008-05-11.[30] Journey.bg History of the Sofia velodrome. jour-

ney.bg. Retrieved 2008-05-11.

[31] Swimming pools in Sofia (including Spa centers)".tonus.tialoto.bg. Retrieved 2008-05-11.

[32] 2020 Winter Youth Olympics#Bra.C8.99ov.2C Romania

[33] Census of population and households in the Republic ofBulgaria in 2012. Nsi.bg. pp. 15, 16. Retrieved 2012-02-26.

[34] All municipalities in the District of Sofia Cityat citypop-

ulation.de

[35] This statistic should not necessarily be taken at face valuedue to conflicting data such as for the predominanlyRoma neighbourhood of Fakulteta, which alone has apopulation of 45,000. , mediapool.bg, 11 December2007 (Bulgarian)

[36] "- 16 " (in Bulgarian). Aktualno.com.2006-08-14. Retrieved 2006-10-15.

[37] Regionalgross domesticproduct (PPS per inhabitant), by

NUTS 2 regions. Eurostat. Retrieved 17 October 2013.[38] "Sofia in Figures 2009, p.53. Retrieved on 20 March

2012.

[39] Sofia in Figures, p.106

[40] Sofia (capital)". National Statistical Institute regionalstatistics. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.

[41] The capitals changing face, The Sofia Echo

[42] Invest in Sofia

[43] "Contacts.Bulgaria Air. Retrieved on 10 May 2010.

[44] Bulgaria Housing Market Favors Buyers but Far Awayfrom Collapse. www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2009-02-08.

[45] Bulgaria Residential Property PricesDown by 26%in Q4y/y. www.novinite.com. Retrieved 2010-01-30.

[46] Sofia infrastructure from the official website of the Mu-nicipality(Bulgarian)

[47] Sofia Airport News. www.sofia-airport.bg. Re-trieved 2012-02-05.

[48] History of the bus network in Sofia. Sofiatraffic.bg. Re-trieved 2012-08-30.

[49] Historyof the tramway network in Sofia. Sofiatraffic.bg.Retrieved 2012-08-30.

[50] History of the trolleybus network in Sofia. Sofiatraf-fic.bg. 1941-02-14. Retrieved 2012-08-30.

[51] Public transport Sofia official website(in Bulgarian).www.sumc.bg. Retrieved 2008-05-24.

[52] Transport Company Bulgaria official website(in Bul-garian). www.dak-transport.com. Retrieved 2009-08-21.

[53] " - (BulgarianNational Television - News)"(in Bulgarian). www.bnt.bg.Retrieved 2012-09-02.

[54] Metropolitan Sofia Web Place. www.metropolitan.bg.Retrieved 2008-05-24.

[55] General Scheme. Metropolitan.bg. Retrieved 2013-03-12.

[56] National Federation of the Taxi Drivers in Bulgaria. Re-

gional Member Sofia. nftvb.com. Retrieved 2008-05-24.

[57] Sofia in Figures, p.26

[58] Fines for bad repairwork 'Dnevnik' newspaper. www.dnevnik.bg. Retrieved 2008-05-24.

[59] http://www.nsi.bg/spageen.php?SHP=66

[60] Accredited Higher Schools in Bulgaria. Ministry of Ed-ucation, Youth and Science. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

[61] Bulgarian universities. Webometrics Ranking of World

Universities. Retrieved 19 October 2013.[62] Official website of the Sofia university History. Sofia

University. Retrieved 19 October 2013.

https://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/history/foundinghttp://www.webometrics.info/en/Europe/Bulgaria%2520http://www.mon.bg/left_menu/registers/vishe/registar_eng.htmlhttp://www.nsi.bg/spageen.php?SHP=66http://www.dnevnik.bg/show/?storyid=372682http://nftvb.com/sofia.htmhttp://nftvb.com/sofia.htmhttp://www.metropolitan.bg/en/progress/scheme/http://www.metropolitan.bg/index_bg.htmlhttp://bnt.bg/bg/news/view/83680/nov_lych_na_metrotohttp://bnt.bg/bg/news/view/83680/nov_lych_na_metrotohttp://www.dak-transport.com/http://www.skgt-bg.com/http://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/istoriia-na-gradskiia-transport/56/history-of-trolleybus-transporthttp://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/istoriia-na-gradskiia-transport/51/history-of-sofia-tramshttp://www.sofiatraffic.bg/en/transport/istoriia-na-gradskiia-transport/59/istoriia-na-avtobusniia-transporthttp://www.sofia-airport.bg/pages/news.aspx?lm01=106&p=1http://www.sofia.bg/pressecentre/images/OPR1part-4.pdfhttp://www.sofia.bg/pressecentre/images/OPR1part-4.pdfhttp://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=112254http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=112254http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=101086http://www.novinite.com/view_news.php?id=101086https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgaria_Airhttp://www.air.bg/en/contactshttp://www.investineu.com/content/invest-sofia/http://sofiaecho.com/2004/09/16/631302_the-capitals-changing-facehttp://www.nsi.bg/regstaten.php?RST=44http://sofia.bg/en/Sofia_in_Figures2009.pdfhttp://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tgs00005&plugin=1http://epp.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/tgm/table.do?tab=table&init=1&language=en&pcode=tgs00005&plugin=1http://bulgaria.actualno.com/news_74069.htmlhttp://bulgaria.actualno.com/news_74069.htmlhttp://www.mediapool.bg/show/?storyid=134487http://www.mediapool.bg/show/?storyid=134487http://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=19&a1=376&a2=377&a3=378#conthttp://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=19&a1=376&a2=377&a3=378#conthttp://www.nsi.bg/otrasal.php?otr=19&a1=376&a2=377&a3=378#conthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Winter_Youth_Olympics#Bra.C8.99ov.2C_Romaniahttp://tonus.tialoto.bg/article.php?id=2277http://journey.bg/bulgaria/bulgaria.php?guide=1916http://kunki.org/page.php?9http://www.maleevaclub.com/http://www.sofia.bg/templkomp.asp?ime=TENISK%257D&title=%25D1%25F2%25EE%25EB%25E8%25F7%25E5%25ED%2520%25EA%25EE%25EC%25EF%25E0%25F1&pathtitle=sport&opis=%25D1%25EF%25EE%25F0%25F2http://www.balkanvolleyball.org/News.htmhttps://web.archive.org/web/20080220025206/http://www.balkanvolleyball.org/News.htmhttp://www.historymuseum.org/collection.phphttp://www.nationallibrary.bg/cgi-bin/e-cms/vis/vis.pl?s=001&p=0029&n=&vis=http://www.vitoshamount.hit.bg/http://journey.bg/bulgaria/bulgaria.php?&gtype=21https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bulgarian_Academy_of_Scienceshttp://sofia.bg/en/display.asp?ime=councilhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789546170118https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopediahttp://oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Sardicahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_domain

5/19/2018 Sofia

13/19

13

[63] Sofia University aims to attract more foreign students(in Bulgarian). Akademika. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 19October 2013.

[64] University Faculties. Sofia University. Retrieved 19October 2013.

[65] Independent structures of SU. Sofia University. Re-trieved 19 October 2013.

[66] Faculty of Physics structure. Sofia University. Re-trieved 19 October 2013.

[67] University Centres. Sofia University. Retrieved 19 Oc-tober 2013.

[68] American College of Sofia Website - History

[69] Saunders, Randall Titus (1992). A biography of the Em-peror Aurelian (AD 270-275). Ann Arbor, Michigan:UMI Dissertation Services. pp. 1067.

[70] Eutropius. Breviarivm historiae romanae, IX, 22

[71] Karde Kentleri Listesi ve 5 Mays Avrupa Gn Kutla-mas [via WaybackMachine.com]" (in Turkish). AnkaraBykehir Belediyesi - Tm Haklar Sakldr. Archivedfromthe originalon 14 January 2009. Retrieved 2013-07-21.

[72] Twinning Cities: International Relations(PDF).Munic-ipality of Tirana. www.tirana.gov.al. Retrieved 2009-06-23.

[73] Twinning Cities: International Relations. Municipalityof Tirana. Tirana.gov.al. Retrieved January 25, 2008.

[74] Yerevan - Partner Cities. Yerevan Municipality OfficialWebsite. 20052013 www.yerevan.am. Retrieved2013-11-04.

[75] Friendship and cooperation agreements. Paris.fr. Re-trieved 12 October 2013.

[76] Acordosde Geminao, de Cooperao e/ou Amizade daCidade de Lisboa [Lisbon - Twinning Agreements, Co-operation and Friendship]. Camara Municipal de Lisboa(in Portuguese). Retrieved 2013-08-23.

15 Further reading

Gigova, Irina. The Cityand the Nation: Sofias Tra-jectory from Glory to Rubble in WWII,Journal ofUrban History, March 2011, Vol. 37 Issue 2, pp155175; the 110 footnotes provide a guide to theliterature on the city

Sofia in Figures 2009, annual report of theNationalStatistical Institute

15.1 In Bulgarian

Sofia 130 Years Capital(in Bulgarian).

16 External links

Official website

Online guide to Sofia

Official Site of Sofia Public Transport SofiaatDMOZ

Archival images of Sofia

Virtual Guide to Ancient Serdica

More than 25 live webcams from Sofia

Pictures from Vitosha mountain

http://www.world-nomad.com/vitosha-peak/http://weather-webcam.eu/all-cams-from-sofia-vsicki-online-kameri-ot-sofia-bg-kartahttp://www.ulpiaserdica.com/index_en.htmlhttp://www.stara-sofia.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DMOZhttps://www.dmoz.org/Regional/Europe/Bulgaria/Provinces/Sofia_Cityhttp://www.sumc.bg/en/http://www.inyourpocket.com/Bulgaria/Sofia/http://www.sofia.bg/en/index_en.asphttp://www.alphabank.bg/130https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Statistical_Institutehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Statistical_Institutehttp://sofia.bg/en/Sofia_in_Figures2009.pdfhttp://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionaishttp://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionaishttp://www.cm-lisboa.pt/municipio/relacoes-internacionaishttp://www.paris.fr/english/paris-a-city-with-an-international-profile/international-action-cooperation/friendship-and-cooperation-agreements/rub_8139_stand_29940_port_18784http://www.yerevan.am/3-233-233.htmlhttp://www.tirana.gov.al/http://www.tirana.gov.al/http://www.tirana.gov.al/common/images/International%2520Relations.pdfhttp://www.ankara-bel.gov.tr/AbbSayfalari/hizmet_birimleri/dis_dairesi_baskanligi/avrupa_gunu_kutlamasi.aspxhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090114033014/http://www.ankara-bel.gov.tr/AbbSayfalari/hizmet_birimleri/dis_dairesi_baskanligi/avrupa_gunu_kutlamasi.aspxhttps://web.archive.org/web/20090114033014/http://www.ankara-bel.gov.tr/AbbSayfalari/hizmet_birimleri/dis_dairesi_baskanligi/avrupa_gunu_kutlamasi.aspxhttp://www.thelatinlibrary.com/eutropius/eutropius9.shtml#22http://www.acs.bg/Home/About_ACS/History.aspxhttps://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/centreshttps://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/faculties/faculty_of_physics2/structurehttps://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/independent_structureshttps://www.uni-sofia.bg/index.php/eng/the_university/facultieshttp://akademika.bg/2013/06/%25D1%2581%25D0%25BE%25D1%2584%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B8%25D1%258F%25D1%2582-%25D1%2583%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B5%25D1%2580%25D1%2581%25D0%25B8%25D1%2582%25D0%25B5%25D1%2582-%25D0%25B8%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0-%25D0%25B4%25D0%25B0-%25D0%25BF%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B2%25D0%25BB/

5/19/2018 Sofia

14/19

14 17 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

17 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

17.1 Text

SofiaSource:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia?oldid=634271067Contributors:Mav, Zoe, Olivier, Infrogmation, Lexor, Sannse, Delir-ium, , Bogdangiusca, Djnjwd, Tobias Conradi, Lfh, Kroum, WhisperToMe, AHands, Maya, Bbugg, Tpbradbury, Itai, Paul-L,Bevo, Warofdreams, Wetman, PuzzletChung, Chuunen Baka, Robbot, Moncrief, Ianb, Academic Challenger, Hippietrail, Bkell, Hadal,Profoss, Cyrius, Carnildo, MPF, Arved, Ngruev, Meursault2004, Snowdog, Mboverload, Gugilymugily, Avala, Bobblewik, Pgan002,Andycjp, Quadell, Lesgles, Untifler, Balcer, Johnfkoen, Joyous!, Shabanski, Mike Rosoft, D6, ChrisRuvolo, CALR, EugeneZelenko,Discospinster, Rich Farmbrough, Qutezuce, Delyan, Wikiacc, Silence, Kostja, Kassabov, Rajev, Bender235, Dcabrilo, Violetriga, Fenice,VMORO, Zscout370, MBisanz, El C, Kwamikagami, Kross, Zeledi, Bobo192, Foobaz, Hawklord, Man vyi, Nk, Scotthatton, Pschemp,Obradovic Goran, Pearle, Jumbuck, Red Winged Duck, Anthony Appleyard, Hektor, Brosen, Wtmitchell, Velella, Adarshpandit, EvilMonkey, Jguk, Drbreznjev, Deror avi, Bastin, Isfisk, Thryduulf, Philipstoev, Woohookitty, Carcharoth, Robwingfield, WadeSimMiser,Tabletop, Male1979, Hughcharlesparker, BD2412, Kbdank71, Sjakkalle, Moosh88, Adamacious, Sdornan, MZMcBride, Ligulem, Thewub, Matt Deres, Sabinpopa, Asphinx, Madcat87, FlaBot, Ian Pitchford, SchuminWeb, Ground Zero, CalJW, Ielsner, RexNL, Riso,Chobot, Soul assassin, Guliolopez, Bgwhite, Dnadan, Roboto de Ajvol, YurikBot, Wavelength, Paffka, Quentin X, RobotE, Extraordi-nary Machine, Jimp, Un sogno modesto, TodorBozhinov, Blackworm, RussBot, Mithridates, TwilaStar, RadioKirk, Valkov, Ugur Basak,Big Brother 1984, Megistias, NawlinWiki, TEB728, Wiki alf, Dijxtra, Duran, Rjensen, CrazyC83, Aldux, Moe Epsilon, RL0919, Al-

bertR, Alex43223, Bota47, Closedmouth, Pb30, Chanheigeorge, Cassini83, Fram, ArielGold, Curpsbot-unicodify, Katieh5584, Kung-fuadam, Mardus, Anonimu, Caponer, Vanka5, SmackBot, Battle Ape, David Kernow, CopperMurdoch, Unyoyega, Sue Anne, Nickst,Zyxw, Feens, Donama, Hmains, Betacommand, Polaron, Flexxx, Nbraykov, MK8, Preslav, MalafayaBot, Viewfinder, DHN-bot, Cassan,AKMask, D-Rock, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Vasilken, OrphanBot, MJCdetroit, Ww2censor, Greenshed, Khoikhoi, Downwards,Khukri, Johncmullen1960, RandomP, Ligulembot, Evlekis, Pkeets, Ceoil, Ohconfucius, The undertow, SashatoBot, Nathanael Bar-AurL., Mukadderat, FunkyFly, BraikoT, Sambot, Alexandermcnaughton, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, Blinutne, Dhaliwal, Green Gi-ant, Aleenf1, Syrcatbot, , Cortezz, Stwalkerster, Apcbg, JuniorBG, InTheFlesh?, AxG, TastyPoutine, Dr.K., Andrwsc,MTSbot, Jose77, NeroN BG, Hectorian, Iridescent, PetaRZ, Courcelles, Chicho Ficho, Tawkerbot2, Internedko, HDCase, J Milburn,Radi83, Daggerstab, CmdrObot, Van helsing, Georgi Genchev, Kerne, LoshoKuche, Kylu, Rv, Chmee2, Pyrope, AndrewHowse, Cyde-bot, Ntsimp, Mblumber, , Future Perfect at Sunrise, Turpster, Yuzz, Eu.stefan, Tkynerd, Julian Mendez, Jel mih, Mathpianist93,Thijs!bot, Epbr123, Wikid77, Deianstoyanov, Marek69, Woody, Edal, Evanescenceboy, LaughingSkull, DemonX, Futurebird, Escarbot,Oreo Priest, Raupp, Neumannk, Derzsi Elekes Andor, Euratlas, TimVickers, Malcolm, Kapustin, Sluzzelin, JAnDbot, Husond, MER-C, Epeefleche, SAMbo, Martinkunev, Hut 8.5, GGreeneVa, Frankie816, Cameltrader, SunnieBG, .anacondabot, El Greco, Bongwarrior,VoABot II, Eliade, Transcendence, Chavdarbg, Adrianski, FDD19, Groser, Corky Butchek, MetsBot, Glen, DerHexer, Msgrjosh, Mar-tinBot, Bissinger, R'n'B, CommonsDelinker, Lilac Soul, Gligan, J.delanoy, BigrTex, DandyDan2007, Dwart, Phible, Brest, Reedy Bot,Mannschaftskapitn, Lantonov, Elkost, Abhijitsathe, Austin512, Naniwako, Skier Dude, Warut, Christopher Kraus, Erdeniss, Pdcook,

Petardimitrov, Useight, Gpetrov, Idioma-bot, Xnuala, Black Kite, VolkovBot, Tourbillon, AlnoktaBOT, Ph8l, Ilieva, Kinneytj, Lasombrabg, Philip Trueman, TXiKiBoT, JudeFawley, Rei-bot, Lf89, ElinorD, CoJaBo, Laveol, Nam3, JhsBot, LeaveSleaves, Bleaney, Madhero88,Uannis, Ditta43, Yk Yk Yk, Synthebot, Trojan51, Le Fou, AlleborgoBot, SalJyDieBoereKomLei, EmxBot, Nkfor, SieBot, g er Almar,Phe-bot, ForeignerFromTheEast, Ploutarchos, Jingiby, Triwbe, Editore99, Mr. Neutron, Byrialbot, Harry, AcerStan, KPH2293, Benon-iBot, Thm13857, IdreamofJeanie, OKBot, Phaseitem, SiefkinDR, Madenham, Paulinho28, Pmia, Li4kata, KensingtonBlonde, Tbeditor,Stone555, Denisarona, Markrushmore, ImageRemovalBot, Athenean, ClueBot, PipepBot, Fyyer, Arachnidzone, Spartakus79, Saddhiyama,Drmies, Chech Explorer, Angilari, Pareshdesh, CounterVandalismBot, Imperium Europeum, Pudelek, Vannisher, Timothyleerussell, Nosuch user, Jusdafax, Estirabot, Rhododendrites, Sun Creator, MacedonianBoy, Sun4life, Kaiba, Aleksd, Bald Zebra, IvanBogoev, Der-Borg, Yoman82, Avidius, T06kata, DumZiBoT, XLinkBot, Joseph031164, BodhisattvaBot, MagnusA, Mishobg12, SilvonenBot, PL290,T kanemska, JinJian, Nellyellow, Klako, Jhendin, Stealman, Mich1993, Bare Neck, V.shrike, UltioUltionis, AkhtaBot, SI31, Fieldday-sunday, Pryde 01, Dimezzz, Rmiltchev, CarsracBot, Debresser, ChenzwBot, Vovan7349, Doniago, Genchev, Fireaxe888, Ronron101010,Tassedethe, Numbo3-bot, ppelmos, Bigzteve, Tide rolls, IvoBrasil, Filip MKD, Lightbot, Sofia23tippi, M sotirov, Xenobot, Fryed-peach,Wickiss0, , Luckas-bot, Yobot, Sofiacityguide, II MusLiM HyBRiD II, Amirobot, THEN WHO WAS PHONE?, Dzo-chithin, GvmBG, MacTire02, AnomieBOT, Vinyra, Piano non troppo, Ulric1313, Materialscientist, Citation bot, ArthurBot, LovesMacs,LilHelpa, TrueColour, MauritsBot, Xqbot, Valkov h, Stoichkov8, AudeBot, Prinzesa, Macfloyd, SummerBG, Ghj84li83, The Z UKBG,KrisBogdanov, Balkanregion, Almabot, J04n, GrouchoBot, Bgpatriot, Foreverprovence, RibotBOT, Nedim Ardoa, Kufalka, Aspirina,Asparukh., Captain-n00dle, FrescoBot, SofiaSoGood, LucienBOT, Rezwalker, Komalantz, Tomica, HJ Mitchell, Lovetrance, M2545,SargentIV, Rgvis, M4arnold, DrilBot, July666, Pinethicket, Plevenchanin, LittleWink, Jonesey95, Emanuilsabotinov, Nicksss93, C filev,Fixer88, Jujutacular, Dangelobg, Turian, KevThei, Bikerboy-93, MrPanyGoff, FoxBot, TobeBot, Smr117, Kosiosl, Lotje, Vrenator, Ja-fargholi, Greg Pandatshang, Cowlibob, Nemoilloyd, Petar ppk, , Diannaa, Tbhotch, Reach Out to the Truth, Merdeluynomierda,Bahnfrend, Sargdub, DRAGON BOOSTER, Antidiskriminator, Yakamoz51, CalicoCatLover, Kralowec, Sbrianhicks, EmausBot, Johnof Reading, WikitanvirBot, CharlieSofia, GoingBatty, RenamedUser01302013, Maso123, Slightsmile, Jim Michael, Chefeca, Cadiboy,Pkulczycki, Subtropical-man, Kiwi128, H3llBot, Tim2007viatge, Erianna, EricWesBrown, Sfoske70, Apronbuddy, Vivisexionist, Nitrob-ulgarine, Donner60, Xiaoyu of Yuxi, Tigerdoom, Hazard-Bot, Puechredon, Quake44, Mjbmrbot, Seliora, DDragonNk-Visual, ClueBotNG, Kreuzkmmel, Dfine2, Movses-bot, Stepkay8, MusicGeek101, Pepo1229, Scapegoat413, Pensionero, Widr, Nickygg, Vlonkov, Civil-colorsadrhsgh, Blood657, Pataki.soma, Helpful Pixie Bot, Kr1st1deejay97, Vitalsignsdfgag, Orderstandgstyetedt, Stepstreesfsdgdfg, Gau-rav Pruthi, Titodutta, Dwarvenaxe, Munnery, Pine, Blabyl, Protectorman, Slav74, AvocatoBot, Matipupi, Knightserbia, Altar, Tropcho,Citedhoursrgd, Blamertbhr, Mapsonia, Mateom28, OPolkruikenz, George7Varna, Gwickwire, Clearworthtyj, Wilwhymurmoe, Aisteco,Hurrytakenkgit, Lieutenant of Melkor, Navalpathth, JeanPirs, Brickmotortyui, ThismajorUSA, MeanMotherJr, Antikaramitevorg, Go-han999222, Sadsaque, Smileguy91, Gayboy2001, Lora1307, Cyberbot II, Mario lem73, Andreas Hasanai, Blood8657, Kaloianm, Ceco31,InsideSofia, Khazar2, 4farrar4, 4idaho, Dexbot, SantoshBot, Hmainsbot1, Webclient101, Svubit, Speedstar1, Copytoneso, Ssbbplayer,

Lugia2453, VoliBear, Nortimer, Sg.andreev, SnrRailways, Faizan, Looppushh, Timurr online, Gogo303, Iliangospodarqpetrov, Farrar4,Splendidsounds, The Anonybot, Jakec, MWRBlood, Juliancho90, Tsvd89, Theworldgymnast1, Softexalty, Cizlini, Null Drei Null, Sve-toslavv, EmmaSmithG, JanHusCz, Monkbot, Vtravel, Gustavus Adoulphus, Kvantikos afros, Stolichanin, SigmaEridani and Anonymous:880

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sofia?oldid=634271067

5/19/2018 Sofia

15/19

17.2 Images 15

17.2 Images

File:2011_MuchMusic_Video_Awards_-_Nina_Dobrev.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/2011_MuchMusic_Video_Awards_-_Nina_Dobrev.jpgLicense:CC-BY-SA-2.0 Contributors: Flickr: 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards - NinaDobrevOriginal artist:Vervegirl Canada

File:AlexanderNevskyCathedral-Sofia-6.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ad/AlexanderNevskyCathedral-Sofia-6.jpg License:GFDLContributors:Own workOriginal artist:Plamen Agov (user:MrPanyGoff)

File:Arms_of_Bucharest.svgSource:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Arms_of_Bucharest.svgLicense:CC-BY-SA-3.0Contributors:File:Stema municipiu bucuresti.svgOriginal artist:Zorlot

File:BG_Sofia_coa.svgSource:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/BG_Sofia_coa.svgLicense:CC-BY-2.5Contribu-tors:? Original artist:?

File:BG_Sofia_flag.svg Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/BG_Sofia_flag.svg License: CC-BY-2.5 Con-tributors:? Original artist:?

File:Bistritsa_river2.JPG Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Bistritsa_river2.JPG License:Public domainContributors:Own workOriginal artist:Kralowec

File:Blason_La_Fert-Gaucher.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/ba/Blason_La_Fert%C3%A9-Gaucher.svg License:Public domainContributors:? Original artist:?

File:Blason_de_Dublin.svg Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Blason_de_Dublin.svg License:GFDLCon-tributors:dessin personnel (own work) Original artist:Spedona

File:Blason_de_Madrid.svg Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Blason_de_Madrid.svg License:GFDL Con-tributors:Own workOriginal artist:SanchoPanzaXXI

File:Blason_paris_75.svg Source:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Blason_paris_75.svg License:CC-BY-SA-3.0Contributors:? Original artist:?

File:Blason_ville_si_Ljubljana_(Slovnie).svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/72/Blason_ville_si_Ljubljana_%28Slov%C3%A9nie%29.svg License: GFDL Contributors: Own work, based upon Uradni list (Official Gazette), No.32/2012Original artist:User:DancingPhilosopher

File:Borisova_gradina___024.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Borisova_gradina_%D0%91%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D0%B3%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B0_024.JPGLicense:CC-BY-SA-3.0Contributors:Self-photographedOriginal artist:Apostoloff

File:Borova_Sofia_20090405_005.JPG Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2a/Borova_Sofia_20090405_005.JPGLicense:CC-BY-SA-3.0Contributors:Self-photographedOriginal artist:Apostoloff

File:Bulgaria_location_map.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/Bulgaria_location_map.svg License:

CC-BY-SA-3.0Contributors:file:Bulgarias Planning Regions (2009).svgbyOriginal artist:NordNordWest File:Bulgarian-Academy-of-Sciences_4.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/

Bulgarian-Academy-of-Sciences_4.jpg License:CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors:Own work Original artist:Plamen Agov(user:MrPanyGoff)

File:BusinessParkSofia_view2.jpg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/BusinessParkSofia_view2.jpg Li-cense:CC-BY-SA-3.0Contributors:Own workOriginal artist:Cadiboy

File:Coa_Hungary_Town_Budapest.svg Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Coa_Hungary_Town_Budapest.svgLicense:Public domainContributors:Own workOriginal artist:Madboy74