JOURNEY TO SERDIKA: SOFIA
- berfinozelsel
- Jul 15, 2024
- 14 min read
SOFIA TRAVEL GUIDE
It is a dynamic capital built at the foot of the Vitosha Mountain, full of Orthodox churches, museums, mosques, communist architecture, popular galleries and restaurants, and also has thousands of years of history. Even though it is not a big metropolis, it maintains its modernity. Sofia, home to many of Bulgaria's best museums, galleries, restaurants and clubs, will make you want to extend your holiday too ☺. During the excavations of the metro line named Serdica 2, the city of Serdica, which has Roman ruins dating back 2000 years, was unearthed. While examining these ruins, B.C. You will travel to the 5th century. We went to Sofia with our own vehicle, approximately 6 hours from Istanbul.
HISTORICAL AND TOURISTIC BUILDINGS TO VISIT AND SEE IN SOFIA
I will start with a travel route suggestion, and in the following parts of the article, you can find photographs of every important building to be visited.
You can start your trip from the Sveta Nedelya church, then examine the ruins of the city of Serdika at the Serdica II metro station and visit the Banya Bashi Mosque. When you look towards the Sveta Nedelya Church from the point where the Banya Bashi Mosque is located, you will see a huge mountain behind it, the name of this mountain is Vitosha Mountain. Vitosha Boulevard, the liveliest street in the city, takes its name from this mountain. The square where the mosque is located is called the tolerance square because there are MOSQUE, SYNAGOGUE and ORTHODOX CHURCH in this square, and 4 religions live in a tolerant way, so it is named this way. After wandering around this square, you can visit the Central Mineral Baths building and drink water from the thermal water fountains around the building. It is said that the water in these fountains is good for many health problems.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral ( Свети Александър Невски) :
Built in the 1880s, it is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals, with room for 10,000 people. It is the second largest cathedral in the Balkans after St. Sava Cathedral in Belgrade. The dome of the cathedral is completely covered with gold and when illuminated with spotlights in the evening, it creates a magnificent view. The marble of the cathedral was brought from Munich, the metal parts were brought from Berlin, and the mosaics were brought from Venice. Entrance to the cathedral is free.
This huge, awe-inspiring church, one of the symbols of not only Sofia but also Bulgaria, was built between 1882 and 1912 in memory of the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for Bulgaria's independence during the Russo-Turkish War (1877-78).
The cathedral is named after the Russian prince Saint Alexander Nevsky. The church designed by Russian architect, Alexander Pomerantsev; It was built in the neo-Byzantine style preferred in Russia at that time, and was decorated with mosaics and gold-plated domes. The incense-scented interior is adorned with naturalistic murals, hanging chandeliers, and elaborate onyx and alabaster thrones.
The bell tower has 12 bells weighing 23 tons!
Serdika Archaeological Complex:
Located right above the Serdika metro station, the open-air museum displays the ruins of the Roman city Serdica, which was once located in this region. Ancient Roman ruins were found during the excavations carried out between 2010 and 2012 during the construction of the metro. This complex consists of 8 streets, baths, a medieval basilica, 6 large buildings and houses dating from the 4th to the 6th centuries. Largo completely covers the bottom of the square. 1st and 3rd in the complex. It is possible to see it in buildings dating back to the 1st century.
Banya Bashi Mosque:
It is also called Kadı Seyfullah Efendi Mosque. It was built under Ottoman protection and is still open for worship today. It was designed by Mimar Sinan and built in 1576. The ancient city Serdika, which is the first settlement of Sofia in history, is also located. There are also three main religious houses of worship in the square where the mosque is located. Sveta Nedelya Orthodox Church, Sofia Synagogue and Banya Bashi Mosque; These three buildings are located in the center of the city of Sofia, therefore this square was called 'Tolerance Square'. When you stand in the square and look across, you will come across the magnificent structure of Vitosha Mountain.
Sveta Nedelya Church:
Completed in 1863, this magnificent domed church is one of the city's most important landmarks and is famous for its rich, Byzantine-style murals. The church was targeted in an unsuccessful bomb attack aimed at assassinating Tsar Boris III on April 16, 1925, and its dome was damaged and restored. The square where it is located is the city center, so you can start planning your trip from here.
Vitosha Boulevard:
A touristic street closed to traffic with restaurants and cafes. You can drink your coffee and relax here. The restaurant where we had the best food during our entire Balkan holiday is located on this street. 'What should we eat?' You can find its name under the title.
This place is full of stylish boutiques and designer stores, and your walk along the street will be accompanied by views of the snow-capped Vitosha Mountain. Art Nouveau style buildings line the street. Stop by here to catch up on the pace of local life and people-watch.
Saint Sophia Monument:
The monument to St. Sofia is located at one end of Nezavisimost square (Largo), as the patron saint of the city. Sofia; It means wise and St. Sophia holds an owl, the symbol of wisdom, in one hand and a laurel crown, the symbol of eternity, in the other hand. The monument is one of the symbols of the city with a height of 22 meters. The statue of Lenin, which was previously in the square, was removed and replaced.
Hagia Sophia or St. Sofia church ( Света София) :
Sveta Sofia is one of the oldest churches in the capital and gave its name to the city. The underground museum houses an ancient Necropolis with 56 tombs and the remains of four other churches.
Prof. In his research between 1910 and 1911, Bogdan Filov found ruins indicating that it was built in AD 311. During the second Bulgarian kingdom, St. Sophia served as a bishop's temple and gave its name to the city of Sofia in the 14th century. The basilica was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman period. In 1930 the building was reconstructed and since then the basilica has been functioning as an Orthodox church, which was its original purpose.
It is located right next to the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral and entrance is free. They hid the bell of this church ☺ we found it during our trip, if you look carefully, you will find it.
Regional History Museum:
Central Mineral Baths It is also referred to as. This building contains common bathrooms used by the public and is now used as a museum. There is an entrance fee. There are fountains with mineral water flowing on the left side of the building and across the road. Be sure to drink water from here, it is said to be good for many health problems. But we must say that the water smells of sulfur.
Located in the old Central Mineral Baths from the Ottoman period, Sofia's history from prehistory to the present is fully exhibited here. The museum spans two floors and contains rooms dedicated to the Bulgarian royal families of the 19th and 20th centuries. These rooms offer a glimpse into the luxurious lives they live. There is even Marie Antoinette's horse carriage here. Entrance is 6 BGN. Sofia thermal fountains: https://www.sofiahistorymuseum.bg/bg/
Sveti Georgi Rotunda Church:
This small circular Roman building, dating back to the 4th century, is the oldest preserved structure in Sofia and stands intact among other Roman ruins. The red brick building was built in the 4th century on the site of what is believed to be an even older pagan temple. Originally a bathhouse, the interior of the building is painted with magnificent murals dating between the 6th and 14th centuries. There are a total of five layers of ornate frescoes that were painted over when the church was converted into a mosque during the Ottoman rule. These were only uncovered during the restoration of the church in the 20th century.
With the idea of 'IF THEY CAN'T SEE, THEY WILL NOT BELIEVE', the church was surrounded by large buildings during the communist period, making it difficult to see from the outside. To find the church, go to ul. Enter through the opening in Sâborna.
The rotunda and ruins are surrounded by modern government buildings and are housed in a large courtyard that is open to the public. https://www.svgeorgi-rotonda.com/index.php/bg/
Nezavisimost square / Largo Square:
There are still standing examples of typical Soviet buildings around the parliament buildings and wide streets, Nezavisimost square in the very center of Sofia. The three buildings in this square, also called "Largo", were built in the 1950s as a representation of the magnificence of the city. Today, the buildings are used as the Bulgarian parliament, Tzum shopping center and Presidency offices. Largo literally means big.
Sofia Synagogue:
Sofia's Sephardic-style synagogue was designed by Austrian architect Friedrich Gruenanger. The synagogue is the second largest Sephardic synagogue in Europe and its 2250 kg brass chandelier is the largest in Bulgaria. There is a small museum on the 2nd floor with an exhibition dedicated to the rescue of Bulgarian Jews during World War II.
The floor of the synagogue is covered with a multicolored Venetian mosaic, the walls are decorated, and there is a museum collection representing the history and culture of the Jewish community in Bulgaria. https://www.sofiasynagogue.com/
Women's Market (Женски пазар):
Lion Bridge:
Surrounded by four huge lions, this iconic bridge from the late 19th century crosses the Vladaya River and connects the northern end of the city center with the train and bus stations. The four lion statues on the bridge were built in memory of the four Bulgarian soldiers who lost their lives in the war of independence with the Ottoman Empire. These statues have a little secret, the lion statues have no tongues. Silent lions cost a lot of money when they were made, there is a legend that they kept this amount secret ☻
Boyana Church: The tiny 13th-century Boyana Church is on Unesco's World Heritage list, and its 90 murals are among the finest examples of Bulgarian medieval works of art. The combination ticket includes entrance to both the church and the National History Museum, 2 km away.
Highlights include representations of King Constantine Asen and Queen Irina, as well as St. It contains the oldest known portrait of John.
Sofia University Botanical Garden:
Sofia's small botanical garden includes a greenhouse filled with palms and cacti, a rose garden, and a variety of trees and flowers (labeled in Bulgarian and Latin). Login, find. He passes by what looks like a flower shop in Vasil Levski.
Sveti Nikolay Mirlikiyski Russian church:
This beautiful church, with its glittering mosaic exterior and golden domes, was completed in 1914 for Sofia's Russian community and named in honor of the 'miracle worker' St. Nicholas. Students go there to pray before important exams as they believe the saint brings them luck. The interior contains icons painted between the 11th and 14th centuries.
Sofia Archaeological Museum: Located in an old mosque built in 1496, many Thracian, Roman and Middle Age artifacts are exhibited in this museum. The mosaic floor of the Church of Sveta Sofia, dating from the 4th century BC, includes a Thracian gold burial mask and a magnificent bronze head thought to represent a Thracian king.
Sofia City Garden: At the northern end ul. Bordering Tsar Osvoboditel, this small central park is favored by Sofia's chess-playing retirees. This building, which houses the National Theatre, was home to the mausoleum of Bulgaria's first communist ruler, Georgi Dimitrov, until 1999.
Presidential Building: The Bulgarian president's office is not open to the public, but the changing of the guard (on the clock) is a spectacle not to be missed; Be there at noon on the first Wednesday of the month for the full ceremony, complete with music, guns and all sorts of extravaganzas.
The office of the Bulgarian president is located at the eastern end of the building where the Sheraton Hotel is located. The guards change every hour. The brisk march of uniformed men can be heard from all over the region. It doesn't take long, but it's worth stopping by to see.
Ivan Vazov National Theatre: Ivan Vazov National Theater is a neo-classical architectural structure built by Viennese architects Helmer & Fellner in 1909.
National Palace of Culture (NDK): A huge building from the communist period, where cultural and artistic activities of the period were held. There is a huge park in front of it.
TZUM: Shopping mall of Sofia city.
Hiking on Vitosha mountain: Sofia is one of the few European capitals with such a large mountain so close to the city centre. Its highest peak is called Black Peak (Cherni vrah), rising to 2290 m. Vitosha is a must-visit place if you want to enjoy magnificent panoramic views.
of the city. So the question inevitably arises: 'How to get to Vitosha?'. It takes about 40 minutes or 1 hour. How to get there?
Take bus number 123. From Dimitrov metro station go to Simeonovo cable car or take bus 122 from Hladilnika* bus terminal to Simeonovo cable car. The elevator will take you to Aleko hut, not far below Black Peak. In off-season, the Simeonovo cable car operates only on weekends. You can also take a taxi to the lift station. It will cost you around 20-25 BGN (10 to 13 Euros). However, be careful of fraudulent taxis; The price per kilometer should not exceed 1 BGN.
Simeonovo Elevator Prices
One-way ticket: Adults — 8 BGN / Students — 6 BGN
Two-way ticket: Adults - 10 BGN / Students - 8 BGN
From Hladilnika* bus terminal, take bus 64 to the nearby Boyana Church (Boyansko hanche bus stop).
From the Palace of Justice (the tram stop is right behind the Palace of Justice) take tram number 5 to the Pavlovo tram stop. Then take bus 107 from Pavlovo bus station (Boris III Boulevard and Aleksander Pushkin Street) to Boyana Church (last stop).
There are trails from Boyana Church to Boyana Lake or Boyana Falls (~2 hours walk).
*Hladilnika bus stop is located on Srebarna street. and Cherni vrah blvd., close to Paradise shopping mall.
Red Flat House: A house from the communist period, bearing the traces of that period, with an entrance fee.
Travel back in time to 1980s Communist Bulgaria. Explore the home and daily life of a family from the period. 18 BGN (€9) per person
⸎ 24 Ivan Denkoğlu Cad.
Every day 10:30 – 19:30
(last entry at 18:00)
(+359) 988 252 032
Seven Rila Lakes:
Just 100 km outside Sofia you will find one of the nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bulgaria: the Rila Monastery. It is named after St. Petersburg, one of the country's most revered saints and the first Bulgarian monk who lived in the 10th century. Named after John of Rila (Sveti Ivan Rilski).
Rila Monastery is the largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria and one of the most important cultural, historical and architectural monuments in the country. Beautiful murals and icons, original historical architecture and magnificent nature attract almost a million visitors annually.
There are free walking tours. By joining them, you can see the most important historical buildings of the city for free and learn their history with a guide. The guides lead two groups, speaking English and Spanish, and the tour is completed in approximately 2-2.30 hours. The guides of this tour consist of people who live in Bulgaria and are familiar with its history. It was very useful for understanding the history of Sofia. The tour starts from where the lions are in front of the City Court building, you can see it in the photo above. You can go to the website https://freesofiatour.com/ and set your time to join the tour and reserve your place.
If you are interested in street art and graffiti and have time, you can also join the tours in the link. https://sofiagraffititour.com/
What to Eat in Bulgaria?
Banitsa
The number one snack of Bulgarians is undoubtedly banitsa. The queen of Bulgarian specialties is a pastry usually filled with cheese, but there are many other versions for those who want to experiment, such as spinach, cabbage, apple, pumpkin, egg or meat, or a mixture of these.
Shopska salad
Maybe you've heard a legend during your travels: There is a country in the world where tomatoes are truly delicious! So is this country Bulgaria? Tomatoes are very important when talking about Bulgarian food. When mixed with delicious cucumbers and their own made feta cheese, Shopska salad emerges.
lutenitsa
Bulgaria's own ketchup is made from roasted peppers, tomatoes and eggplants and has a lovely, bright red colour.
troika kebabcheta
Meat lovers, this is your section! As a Bulgarian, if you want to eat meat, you should start with this dish. If you like eating grilled meat, kebab is just for you. Kebabçe is made by mixing ground meat with local spices.
Bob
It means 'bean' in Bulgarian and is used to make a traditional dish usually cooked in a pot. For those who want to try local flavours.
Garlic sauce
Cold soup with yoghurt and cucumber – very easy to make. You add water, chopped cucumber, garlic, dill, oil and salt to the soup-like yoghurt.
Restaurant Recommendations:
Shtastlivetsa Restaurant Vitoshka:
I can say that it is the best restaurant in Sofia, at least for us ☺. We ate the most delicious food here during our entire Balkan tour. We highly recommend it. It has a very wide menu of meat, chicken, fish, pizza and every dish was very good. Try the Bulgarian wine here.
Manastırska Magernıtsa Restaurant: This restaurant has a local concept, we chose the tasting menu, there were starters, entrees and main dishes, it was very satisfying and every product we ate was delicious. Traditional Bulgarian dishes are a must try! Here you'll find authentic dishes with recipes compiled from monasteries across the country, hence the name meaning "monastery canteen". This culinary journey takes place in a beautiful ethnic house from the last century, with rural and "old Sofia" interiors .
⸎ 67 Han Asparuh Cad.
⸙ +359 89 994 9400
͑ Tuesday – Sunday, 12:00 – 22:00
Hadji Dragana Tavern: An old-style restaurant serving traditional Bulgarian dishes. It offers live music as well as local plum wine and strong drinks. This restaurant was praised in many blogs, but we did not like it that much, the other two restaurants I would recommend were much better. There is live music on certain days of the week, not every day .
Te nebris Dark Restaurant an: A unique experience for adventure-seeking food lovers. Imagine letting go of the visual and completely immersing yourself in taste. You will spend several hours in pitch darkness with your friends. In the dark, you're trying to guess what you're actually eating. A visually impaired host will be your guide on this culinary journey and will give you interesting information. Bring a dash of courage, some adventurous spirit, and allow yourself to truly see, because sometimes we need the darkness to see the light! ⸎ 65 Han Asparuh Cad. ⸙ (+359) 889 717 708 www.tenebris.bg/en @TenebrisDarkRestaurant ͑Wed-Sun, 18:00 – 22:00
Gevrek – Simit Dükkanı: Gevrek – Simit Dükkanı is Sofia's first private bagel bakery. It is located in the very heart of the center of Sofia, on the “yellow road”, next to the Theater Ivan Vazov Park and the Russian Church. The offerings include freshly baked, handmade and boiled American style bagels, bagel sandwiches, coffee specialties, tea varieties, homemade lemonades, special cream cheese varieties, cinnamon rolls and seasonal desserts. Gevrek works with local farmers and producers and uses only the highest quality ingredients in all products offered. A catering menu with mini bagels as well as vegetarian and vegan options is also available.
⸎ 6 Georgi Benkovski Street.
͑ Weekdays: 10:00 – 17:00
͑ Weekends: 10:00 – 16:00
⸙ (+359) 882 701 113
@gevrek.bagels
⁂ FOOD PRAYER OF THE BULGARIANS ⁂
Our Father, Who art in heaven! Thy name be sanctified, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil!
The poor shall eat, and be satisfied, and shall praise the Lord they seek, and their hearts will live forever and ever!
''Lord, Creator an Thinker, our God, from Whom all good is, You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of all that lives with Your very right hand, which once stretched out with the five loaves and fed five thousand people with them , bless now this table of Your servants, so that it may be abundant and inexhaustible. Bless us, bless this food an drink and all Your gifts, which we will now receive by Your mercy from your generous kindness. Let us receive them with gratitude imbue us with your earthly and heavenly goods, gift our souls with the necessary spiritual food.''
''Make us, whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, do everything for your glory, and let us reach your heavenly kingdom because of the prayers of all the saintswho have always pleased you. ''
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