Sofia

: This is a page about the capital of Bulgaria. For other uses, see Sophia.

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The city of Sofia (Bulgarian: ?????), at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, has a population of 1,208,930 (2003), and is the biggest city and capital of the Republic of Bulgaria. It is located in the Western part of Bulgaria at the foot of the mountain massif Vitosha and it is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country.

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On a site inhabited as early as the 8th century B.C., Sofia is the second oldest capital city in Europe. It has been given several names in the course of history, and the remnants of the old cities can still be seen today.

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Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement named Serdica, named after the Thracian tribe of Serdi. It was captured by Rome in AD 29. When Diocletian divided the province of Dacia into Dacia Ripensis on the shores of the Danube and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea. It was destroyed by the Huns in 447. The city was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and renamed Triaditsa. Sofia was first captured by the Bulgarians in 809. Afterwards it was known as Sredets, the name given to it by the Slavs. It was renamed Sofia (meaning "wisdom" in Greek) in 1376. Sofia was taken by the Ottomans in 1382 and became the capital of the Turkish province of Rumelia. Sofia was liberated by the Russians in 1878, and became the capital of the independent Bulgaria in 1879. During World War II the Russians occupied Sofia and Bulgaria after the pro-German government was overthrown.

Bulgarian: The word Bulgarian can mean:...

Vitosha: Vitosha (Bulgarian: ??????) is mountain massif, at the foot of which Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is situated. Vitosha is one of the symbols of Sofia and the closest site for hiking, alpinism and skiing. Convenient bus lines and rope ways render the mountain easily accessible. Vitosha has the out...

Mountain: A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. A mountain is generally much higher and steeper than a hill, but there is considerable overlap, and usage often depends on local custom. Some authorities define a mountain as a peak with a topographic prominence ...

Sofia related Images and Photos (experimental)

Sofia Coppola

Sofia Coppola

Green Iguana at Exotic Animal Exhibition Sofia Bulgaria

Elderly Man Passes a National Flag Painted on Front of a Polling Station in Bulgarian Capital Sofia