"Ever Growing, Never Ageing" this motto is written on Sofia's coat of arms. Sofia is one of the oldest settlements in Europe. For over 7,000 years Sofia has been a meeting place of the four directions of the world. Tribes and peoples came and went, civilizations flourished and declined but the city stayed forever. Historically it has been recorded as Serdica, Triaditsa, Sredets and Sofia. Old Sofia is literally buried beneath a modern facade. Late last century Sofia totaled only 12,000 residents. In 1946 there were 516,000 residents, and today there are some 1,200,000 residents, i.e. 14 % of the country’s population. Drawing a balance, one sees that in the past 100 years the population has multiplied 100 times.

Today Sofia is a modern and busy capital, centre of Bulgaria's political, economic and cultural life. The harmony between the past and the present day lends the city its unique charm. Sofia has the tumult of a capital city and the convenience of a compact centre, where all the main sights can be visited on foot.

Most of Sofia’s streets are dominated by the view of Vitosha Mountain, a huge granite mass with wooded lower slopes. It is treated by the people of Sofia as part of the capital, indeed it can be reached quickly either by car or public transport. There are marked trails for walkers, who can admire wild flowers or an unusual natural phenomenon, the moraine - an apparently dry river made up of massive boulders. Some people bring picnics, but there are also several good hotels and restaurants, and many chalets. There are also good conditions for skiers from December to late spring.

For more information about Sofia and other cities in Bulgaria, visit www.bulgaria.com and www.bulgariatravel.org.  You will be amazed at what these cities have to offer!

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