The Banya Bashi Mosque is the only surviving medieval mosque still in use in Sofia. It was designed by Sinan, the most renowned Ottoman architect, who designed nearly 300 buildings during his lifetime. The mosque was part of a larger bath complex, from which it takes its name. The inscription on the stone arch at […]
When you enter Geo Milev Park today, you might not immediately realise that this is a place that has been waiting for decades to become a true urban oasis. After the war, there was land, space and greenery here… but no vision. The real revival didn’t come until 1968, when Sofia was preparing to host […]
If you climb above the Journalists’ Quarter in Lozenets, hidden from the view of passers-by, you will find the elegant building of the Sofia Theological Seminary. It has stood there for over a century – a temple of knowledge and tranquillity, sheltered from the hustle and bustle of the city. Its foundations were laid in […]
The Boyana Church is famous for its medieval frescoes and is listed as a cultural monument on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. It is located in the Boyana district of Sofia, at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. The church has undergone several construction phases, the first of which dates to the 10th–11th centuries, when a small […]
You simply cannot miss this gleaming church with its gilded domes – the Russian Church of St Nicholas the Wonderworker. The crypt of the church houses the tomb of Archbishop Seraphim Sobolev, who was the head of the Russian Orthodox communities in Bulgaria between 1921 and 1950 and is regarded as a miracle-worker by many […]
The largest synagogue in the Balkans, the Sofia Synagogue was designed by the court architect Friedrich Grunanger. Completed in 1909, regular religious services are held there, with the exception of the period between 1943 and 1944, when most of Sofia’s Jews were deported to the provinces. The deportation of Bulgarian Jews to Nazi camps during […]
Sofia’s Largo, officially known as ‘Independence Square’, is the spot right in the heart of Sofia where you’ll find yourself at the crossroads of the city’s several thousand years of history. Covering an area of around two hundred square metres, you can witness a remarkable blend of cultural, historical, religious and ethnic layers, the unique […]
If there is one place in all of Sofia that is considered its most recognisable symbol, it is the Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church, situated on the capital’s distinctive yellow cobblestones. If you look at a map of Sofia today, you will notice that it is situated almost exactly in the centre of the city, or, […]
For millennia, Bulgaria has been a crossroads of religions and civilisations, renowned for its history of ethnic and religious tolerance. There are few cities where this is as evident as in Sofia. Just a stone’s throw away in the very centre of Sofia stand four places of worship representing the four major religions that are […]
Tsar Ivan Shishman Street is one of Sofia’s liveliest spots. Along the street and in the side streets, you’ll find plenty of local design and accessories, interesting vintage shops, cool bars and intriguing restaurants. We recommend visiting one of the shops selling handmade products or choosing a spot for a tasty bite to eat in […]
