Sofia

Sofia (/ˈsoʊfiə, ˈsɒf-, soʊˈfiːə/ SOH-fee-ə, SOF-;[12][13] Bulgarian: София, romanized: Sofiya,[14][15] IPA: [ˈsɔfijɐ] (listen)) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. The city is situated in the eponymous valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western part of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and has many mineral springs, such as the Sofia Central Mineral Baths. It has a humid continental climate. Being in the centre of the Balkans, it is midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, and closest to the Aegean Sea.[16][17]

This article is about the capital of Bulgaria. For the given name, see Sophia (given name). For other uses, see Sofia (disambiguation).
"Sofija" and "Sofiya" redirect here. For the given names, see Sofija (given name) and Sofiya (given name).

Sofia

София (Bulgarian)
Capital city
Motto(s): 
Ever growing, never aging[1]
(Расте, но не старее)
Sofia
Location of Sofia
Sofia
Sofia (Balkans)
Sofia
Sofia (Europe)
Coordinates: 42.70°N 23.33°E / 42.70; 23.33
Country Bulgaria
ProvinceSofia City
Cont. inhabitedsince 7000 BC[2]
Neolithic settlement5500–6000 BC[3]
Thracian settlement1400 BC[4][5]
Roman administration46 AD (as Serdica)[6]
Conquered by Krum809 AD (as Sredets)[6]
Government
 • MayorYordanka Fandakova (GERB)
Area
 • Capital city492 km2 (190 sq mi)
 • Urban5,723 km2 (2,210 sq mi)
Elevation500–699 m (1,640–2,293 ft)
Population
 (2019)
 • Capital city 1,242,568[9]
 • Density2,526/km2 (6,540/sq mi)
 • Urban
 1,549,090[10]
 • Urban density271/km2 (700/sq mi)
 • Metro
 1,678,041[11]
Demonym(s)Sofian (en)
Софиянец/Sofiyanets (bg)
Time zoneUTC+02:00 (EET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Area code(s)(+359) 02
Vehicle registration plateC, CA, CB
Websitewww.sofia.bg

Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC. The recorded history of city begins with the attestation of the conquest of Serdica by the Roman Republic in 29 BC from the Celtic tribe Serdi. During the decline of the Roman Empire, the city was raided by Huns, Visigoths, Avars and Slavs. In 809 Serdica was incorporated into the Bulgarian Empire by Khan Krum and became known as Sredets. In 1018, the Byzantines ended Bulgarian rule until 1194, when it was reincorporated by the reborn Bulgarian Empire. Sredets became a major administrative, economic, cultural and literary hub until its conquest by the Ottomans in 1382. From 1520 to 1836, Sofia was the regional capital of Rumelia Eyalet, the Ottoman Empire's key province in Europe. Bulgarian rule was restored in 1878. Sofia was selected as the capital of the Third Bulgarian State in the next year, ushering a period of intense demographic and economic growth.

Sofia is the 13th largest city in the European Union. It is surrounded by mountains, such as Vitosha by the southern side, Lyulin by the western side, and the Balkan Mountains by the north, which makes it the second highest European capital after Madrid. Being Bulgaria's primate city, Sofia is home of many of the major local universities, cultural institutions and commercial companies.[18] The city has been described as the "triangle of religious tolerance". This is due to the fact that three temples of the three world major religions—Christianity, Islam and Judaism—are situated within one square: Sveta Nedelya Church, Banya Bashi Mosque and Sofia Synagogue.[19]

Sofia has been named one of the top ten best places for start-up businesses in the world, especially in information technologies.[20] Sofia was Europe's most affordable capital to visit in 2013.[21] In 1979, the Boyana Church in Sofia was included onto the World Heritage List, and it was deconstructed in the Second Bulgarian Empire, holding much patrimonial symbolism to the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. With its cultural significance in Eastern Europe, Sofia is home to the National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria, the National Palace of Culture, the Vasil Levski National Stadium, the Ivan Vazov National Theatre, the National Archaeological Museum, and the Serdica Amphitheatre. The Museum of Socialist Art includes many sculptures and posters that educate visitors about the lifestyle in communist Bulgaria.[22]

The population of Sofia declined from 70,000 in the late 18th century, through 19,000 in 1870, to 11,649 in 1878, after which it began increasing.[23] Sofia hosts some 1.24 million[9] residents within a territory of 492 km2,[24] a concentration of 17.9% of the country population within the 200th percentile of the country territory. The urban area of Sofia hosts some 1.54 million[10] residents within 5723 km², which comprises Sofia City Province and parts of Sofia Province (Dragoman, Slivnitsa, Kostinbrod, Bozhurishte, Svoge, Elin Pelin, Gorna Malina, Ihtiman, Kostenets) and Pernik Province (Pernik, Radomir), representing 5.16% of the country territory.[7] The metropolitan area of Sofia is based upon one hour of car travel time, stretches internationally and includes Dimitrovgrad in Serbia.[25] Unlike most European metropolitan areas, it is not to be defined as a substantially functional metropolitan area, but is of the type with "limited variety of functions".[26] The metropolitan region of Sofia is inhabited by a population of 1.67 million.[11]

Names
The first seal of the city from 1878 which calls it Sredets

For the longest time the city possessed[27] a Thracian name, Serdica, derived from the tribe Serdi, who were either of Thracian,[14][16] Celtic,[28] or mixed Thracian-Celtic origin.[29][30] The emperor Marcus Ulpius Traianus (53 – 117 AD) gave the city the combinative name of Ulpia Serdica;[31][32] Ulpia may be derived from an Umbrian cognate of the Latin word lupus, meaning "wolf"[33] or from the Latin vulpes (fox). It seems that the first written mention of Serdica was made during his reign and the last mention was in the 19th century in a Bulgarian text (Сардакіи, Sardaki). Other names given to Sofia, such as Serdonpolis (Σερδών πόλις, "City of the Serdi" in Greek) and Triaditza (Τριάδιτζα, "Trinity" in Greek), were mentioned by Byzantine Greek sources or coins. The Slavic name Sredets (Срѣдецъ), which is related to "middle" (среда, "sreda") and to the city's earliest name, first appeared on paper in an 11th-century text. The city was called Atralisa by the Arab traveller Idrisi and Strelisa, Stralitsa or Stralitsion by the Crusaders.[34]

The name Sofia comes from the Saint Sofia Church,[35] as opposed to the prevailing Slavic origin of Bulgarian cities and towns. The origin is in the Greek word sophia (σοφία) "wisdom". The earliest works where this latest name is registered are the duplicate of the Gospel of Serdica, in a dialogue between two salesmen from Dubrovnik around 1359, in the 14th-century Vitosha Charter of Bulgarian tsar Ivan Shishman and in a Ragusan merchant's notes of 1376.[36] In these documents the city is called Sofia, but at the same time the region and the city's inhabitants are still called Sredecheski (срѣдечьскои, "of Sredets"), which continued until the 20th century. The Ottomans came to favour the name Sofya (صوفيه). In 1879 there was a dispute about what the name of the new Bulgarian capital should be, when the citizens created a committee of famous people, insisting for the Slavic name. Gradually, a compromise arose, officialisation of Sofia for the nationwide institutions, while legitimating the title Sredets for the administrative and church institutions, before the latter was abandoned through the years.[37]

Geography

Sofia City Province has an area of 1344 km2,[38] while the surrounding and much bigger Sofia Province is 7,059 km2. Sofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. It is situated in western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by the Balkan mountains to the north. The valley has an average altitude of 550 metres (1,800 ft). Unlike most European capitals, Sofia does not straddle any large river, but is surrounded by comparatively high mountains on all sides. Three mountain passes lead to the city, which have been key roads since antiquity, Vitosha being the watershed between Black and Aegean Seas.

A number of shallow rivers cross the city, including the Boyanska, Vladayska and Perlovska. The Iskar River in its upper course flows near eastern Sofia. It takes its source in Rila, Bulgaria's highest mountain,[39] and enters Sofia Valley near the village of German. The Iskar flows north toward the Balkan Mountains, passing between the eastern city suburbs, next to the main building and below the runways of Sofia Airport, and flows out of the Sofia Valley at the town of Novi Iskar, where the scenic Iskar Gorge begins.[40]

The city is known for its 49 mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the twentieth century.

A map of Sofia Valley. Vitosha is in the south; the Balkan Mountains define the valley's northern fringes. The Iskar flows north and forms the Iskar Gorge.
A view of the valley from the south. The Balkan Mountains and the beginning of the Iskar Gorge are visible in the distance.

While the 1818 and 1858 earthquakes were intense and destructive, the 2012 Pernik earthquake occurred west of Sofia with a moment magnitude of 5.6 and a much lower Mercalli intensity of VI (Strong). The 2014 Aegean Sea earthquake was also noticed in the city.

Climate

Sofia has a humid continental climate (Köppen climate classification Dfb; Cfb if with −3 °C isotherm) with an average annual temperature of 10.4 °C (50.7 °F).

Winters are relatively cold and snowy. In the coldest days temperatures can drop below −15 °C (5 °F), most notably in January. The lowest recorded temperature is −31.2 °C (−24 °F) (16 January 1893).[41][42] Fog is not unusual, especially in the beginning of the season. On average, Sofia receives a total snowfall of 96 cm (37.8 in) and 58 days with snow cover.[43][44] The snowiest recorded winter was 1995/1996 with a total snowfall of 171 cm (67.3 in).[45] The record snow depth is 57 cm (22.4 in) (25 December 2001).[46] The coldest recorded month was January 1942 with an average temperature of −9.3 °C (15 °F), while the coldest year on record was 1940 with an annual temperature of 8.3 °C (47 °F).[47]

Summers are quite warm and sunny. In summer, the city generally remains slightly cooler than other parts of Bulgaria, due to its higher altitude. However, the city is also subjected to heat waves with high temperatures reaching or exceeding 35 °C (95 °F) in the hottest days, particularly in July and August. The highest recorded temperature is 41 °C (106 °F) (5 July 2000 and 24 July 2007).[48][49] The hottest recorded month was July 2012 with an average temperature of 25 °C (77 °F).[50] The warmest year on record was 2019 with an annual temperature of 11.9 °C (53 °F).[51]

Springs and autumns in Sofia are usually short with variable and dynamic weather.

The city receives an average precipitation of 581.8 mm (22.91 in) a year, reaching its peak in late spring and early summer when thunderstorms are common. The driest recorded year was 2000 with a total precipitation of 304.6 mm (11.99 in), while the wettest year on record was 2014 with a total precipitation of 1,066.6 mm (41.99 in).[52][53]

Climate data for Sofia (NIMH−BAS) 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1893–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 19
(66)		 23
(73)		 27.5
(81.5)		 31
(88)		 34.1
(93.4)		 38
(100)		 41
(106)		 39.4
(102.9)		 36.1
(97.0)		 33.9
(93.0)		 25.5
(77.9)		 23
(73)		 41
(106)
Average high °C (°F) 3.4
(38.1)		 5.6
(42.1)		 10.6
(51.1)		 16.2
(61.2)		 21.1
(70.0)		 24.7
(76.5)		 27.3
(81.1)		 27.5
(81.5)		 22.9
(73.2)		 17.1
(62.8)		 9.7
(49.5)		 4.3
(39.7)		 15.9
(60.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) −0.6
(30.9)		 0.9
(33.6)		 5.3
(41.5)		 10.5
(50.9)		 15.3
(59.5)		 18.8
(65.8)		 21.1
(70.0)		 20.8
(69.4)		 16.4
(61.5)		 11.1
(52.0)		 5
(41)		 0.6
(33.1)		 10.4
(50.8)
Average low °C (°F) −3.9
(25.0)		 −2.9
(26.8)		 0.8
(33.4)		 5.4
(41.7)		 9.8
(49.6)		 13.2
(55.8)		 15.1
(59.2)		 14.9
(58.8)		 11
(52)		 6.6
(43.9)		 1.4
(34.5)		 −2.4
(27.7)		 5.8
(42.4)
Record low °C (°F) −31.2
(−24.2)		 −25
(−13)		 −19
(−2)		 −6
(21)		 −2.2
(28.0)		 1.4
(34.5)		 2
(36)		 3.5
(38.3)		 −2
(28)		 −6
(21)		 −15.3
(4.5)		 −21.1
(−6.0)		 −31.2
(−24.2)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 33.2
(1.31)		 31.5
(1.24)		 38.1
(1.50)		 50.7
(2.00)		 67
(2.6)		 75.4
(2.97)		 52.6
(2.07)		 57.6
(2.27)		 45.7
(1.80)		 45
(1.8)		 43.3
(1.70)		 41.7
(1.64)		 581.8
(22.9)
Average snowfall cm (inches) 24.1
(9.5)		 18.7
(7.4)		 14.4
(5.7)		 2.6
(1.0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 0
(0)		 1.9
(0.7)		 11.4
(4.5)		 23.3
(9.2)		 96.4
(38)
Average precipitation days 9.1 8.9 9.9 13.3 13.4 12.6 9.4 8.2 7.2 7.5 9.9 10.3 119.7
Average snowy days 7.2 6.2 5.7 1.4 0 0 0 0 0 0.8 3.1 6.9 31.3
Mean monthly sunshine hours 87.8 114.3 159.6 182.2 229.6 257.7 302.1 288.3 220.1 163.6 105.5 66.1 2,176.9
Average ultraviolet index 1 2 4 5 7 9 9 8 6 4 2 1 5
Source: Stringmeteo.com,[54][55][56][57] Climatebase.ru (precipitation days and extremes),[58] NOAA,[59] freemeteo.bg[60][61][62][63] and Weather Atlas[64]

Environment

The geographic position of the Sofia Valley limits the flow of air masses, increasing the chances of air pollution by particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.[65] Solid fuel used for heating and motor vehicle traffic are significant sources of pollutants. Smog thus persists over the city as temperature inversions and the mountains surrounding the city prevent the circulation of air masses.[66][67] As a result, air pollution levels in Sofia are some of the highest in Europe.[68]

Particulate matter concentrations are consistently above the norm.[67] During the October 2017 – March 2018 heating season, particulate levels exceeded the norm on 70 occasions;[66] on 7 January 2018, PM10 levels reached 632 µg/m3,[69] some twelve times the EU norm of 50 µg/m3.[70] Even areas with few sources of air pollution, like Gorna Banya, had PM2.5 and PM10 levels above safe thresholds.[69] In response to hazardous spikes in air pollution, the Municipal Council implemented a variety of measures in January 2018, like more frequent washing of streets.[71] However, a report by the European Court of Auditors issued in September 2018 revealed that Sofia has not drafted any projects to reduce air pollution from heating. The report also noted that no industrial pollution monitoring stations operate in Sofia, even though industrial facilities are active in the city. A monitoring station on Eagles' Bridge, where some of the highest particulate matter values were measured, was moved away from the location and has measured sharply lower values since then.[72] Particulates are now largely measured by a network of 300 sensors maintained by volunteers since 2017.[66] The European Commission has taken Bulgaria to court over its failure to curb air pollution.[67]

History
O: head of river-god Strymon R: trident
This coin imitates Macedonian issue from 187–168 BC. It was struck by Serdi tribe as their own currency
The eastern gate of Serdica in the "Complex Ancient Serdica"
Main article: History of Sofia
See also: Timeline of Sofia

Prehistory and antiquity

Sofia has been an area of continuous human habitation since at least the 30th millennium BC.[2][73] The city itself has a history of nearly 7000 years,[74] with the great attraction of the hot water springs that still flow abundantly in the centre of the city. The neolithic village in Slatina dating to the 5th–6th millennium BC is documented.[75] Remains from another neolithic settlement around the National Art Gallery are traced to the 3rd–4th millennium BC, which has been the traditional centre of the city ever since.[76]

The earliest tribes who settled were the Thracian Tilataei. In the 500s BC, the area became part of a Thracian state union, the Odrysian kingdom from another Thracian tribe the Odrysses. For a short period Thracian rule was possibly interrupted by the Achaemenid Empire.

In 339 BC Philip II of Macedon destroyed and ravaged the town for the first time.[73]

The Celtic tribe Serdi gave their name to the city.[77] The earliest mention of the city comes from an Athenian inscription from the 1st century BC, attesting Astiu ton Serdon, i.e. city of the Serdi.[78] The inscription and Dio Cassius told that the Roman general Crassus subdued the Serdi and behanded the captives.[79]

In 27–29 BC, according do Dio Cassius, Pliny and Ptolemy, the region "Segetike" was attacked by Crassus, which is assumed to be Serdica, or the city of the Serdi.[80][81][82] The ancient city is located between TZUM, Sheraton Hotel and the Presidency.[76][83] It gradually became the most important Roman city of the region.[31][32] It became a municipium during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98–117). Serdica expanded, as turrets, protective walls, public baths, administrative and cult buildings, a civic basilica, an amphitheatre, a circus, the City council (Boulé), a large forum, a big circus (theatre), etc. were built. Serdica was a significant city on the Roman road Via Militaris, connecting Singidunum and Byzantium. In the 3rd century, it became the capital of Dacia Aureliana,[84] and when Emperor Diocletian divided the province of Dacia Aureliana into Dacia Ripensis (at the banks of the Danube) and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of the latter. Serdica's citizens of Thracian descent were referred to as Illyrians[73] probably because it was at some time the capital of Eastern Illyria (Second Illyria).[85]

Dated from the early 4th century, the Church of Saint George is the oldest standing edifice in Sofia

Roman emperors Aurelian (215–275)[86] and Galerius (260–311)[87] were born in Serdica.

The city expanded and became a significant political and economical centre, more so as it became one of the first Roman cities where Christianity was recognised as an official religion (under Galerius). The Edict of Toleration by Galerius was issued in 311 in Serdica by the Roman emperor Galerius, officially ending the Diocletianic persecution of Christianity. The Edict implicitly granted Christianity the status of "religio licita", a worship recognised and accepted by the Roman Empire. It was the first edict legalising Christianity, preceding the Edict of Milan by two years.

For Constantine the Great it was 'Sardica mea Roma est' (Serdica is my Rome). He considered making Serdica the capital of the Byzantine Empire instead of Constantinople.[88] which was already not dissimilar to a tetrarchic capital of the Roman Empire.[89] In 343 AD, the Council of Sardica was held in the city, in a church located where the current 6th century Church of Saint Sophia was later built.

The city was destroyed in the 447 invasion of the Huns and laid in ruins for a century[73] It was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. During the reign of Justinian it flourished, being surrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants can still be seen today.

Middle Ages
The 13th century lord of Sredets Kaloyan and his wife Desislava, Boyana Church

Serdica became part of the First Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Khan Krum in 809, after a long siege. The fall of the strategic city prompted a major and ultimately disastrous invasion of Bulgaria by the Byzantine emperor Nikephoros I, which led to demise at the hands of the Bulgarian army.[90] In the aftermath of the war, the city was permanently integrated in Bulgaria and became known by the Slavic name of Sredets. It grew into an important fortress and administrative centre under Krum's successor Khan Omurtag, who made it a centre of Sredets province (Sredetski komitat, Средецки комитат). The Bulgarian patron saint John of Rila was buried in Sredets by orders of Emperor Peter I in the mid 10th century.[91] After the conquest of the Bulgarian capital Preslav by Sviatoslav I of Kiev and John I Tzimiskes' armies in 970–971, the Bulgarian Patriarch Damyan chose Sredets for his seat in the next year and the capital of Bulgaria was temporarily moved there.[92] In the second half of 10th century the city was ruled by Komit Nikola and his sons, known as the "Komitopuli". One of them was Samuil, who was eventually crowned Emperor of Bulgaria in 997. In 986, the Byzantine Emperor Basil II laid siege to Sredets but after 20 days of fruitless assaults the garrison broke out and forced the Byzantines to abandon the campaign. On his way to Constantinople, Basil II was ambushed and soundly defeated by the Bulgarians in the battle of the Gates of Trajan.[91][93]

The city eventually fell to the Byzantine Empire in 1018, following the Byzantine conquest of Bulgaria. Sredets joined the uprising of Peter Delyan in 1040–1041 in a failed attempt to restore Bulgarian independence and was the last stronghold of the rebels, led by the local commander Botko.[94] It was once again incorporated into the restored Bulgarian Empire in 1194 at the time of Emperor Ivan Asen I and became a major administrative and cultural centre.[95] Several of the city's governors were members of the Bulgarian imperial family and held the title of sebastokrator, the second highest at the time, after the tsar. In the 13th and 14th centuries Sredets was an important spiritual and litarary hub with a cluster of 14 monasteries in its vicinity, that were eventually destroyed by the Ottomans. The city produced multicolored sgraffito ceramics, jewelry and ironware.[96] In 1385, Sredets was seized by the Ottoman Empire in the course of the Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars by Lala Şahin Pasha, following a three-month siege.[97] The Ottoman commander left the following description of the city garrison: "Inside the fortress [Sofia] there is a large and elite army, its soldiers are heavily built, moustached and look war-hardened, but are used to consume wine and rakia—in a word, jolly fellows."[98]

Early modern history

In the late 14th century the city became the seat of newly established Ottoman Sanjak of Sofia.[99] The city was occupied by Hungarian forces for a short time in 1443. After the failed crusade of Władysław III of Poland in 1443 towards Sofia, the city's Christian faced persecution and the city became the capital of the Ottoman province (beylerbeylik) of Rumelia for more than four centuries. During that time Sofia was the largest import-export-base in modern-day Bulgaria for the caravan trade with the Republic of Ragusa. In the 15th and 16th century, Sofia was expanded by Ottoman building activity. Public investments in infrastructure, education and local economy brought greater diversity to the city. Amongst others, the population consisted of Muslims, Bulgarian and Greek speaking Orthodox Christians, Armenians, Georgians, Catholic Ragusans, Jews (Romaniote, Ashkenazi and Sephardi), and Romani people.[97]

Sofia in 1881

When it comes to the cityscape, 16th century sources mention eight Friday Mosques, three public libraries, numerous schools, 12 churches, three synagogues, and the largest bedesten (market) of the Balkans.[97] Additionally, there were fountains and hammams (bathhouses). Some prominent churches such as Saint Sofia had been converted into mosques. In total there were 11 big and over 100 small mosques by the 17th century,[100] of which only the Banya Bashi remains as a mosque today.

The town was seized for several weeks by Bulgarian hajduks in 1599. In 1610 the Vatican established the See of Sofia for Catholics of Rumelia, which existed until 1715 when most Catholics had emigrated.[101] The town was the centre of Sofia Eyalet (1826–1864). Nedelya Petkova created the first Bulgarian school for women in the city. In 1873 the Ottomans hanged in Sofia the Bulgarian revolutionary Vasil Levski.

Modern and contemporary history

During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, Suleiman Pasha threatened to burn the city in defence, but the foreign diplomats Leandre Legay, Vito Positano, Rabbi Gabriel Almosnino and Josef Valdhart refused to leave the city thus saving it. Many Bulgarian residents of Sofia armed themselves and sided with the Russian forces.[102] Sofia was relieved (see Battle of Sofia) from Ottoman rule by Russian forces under Gen. Iosif Gurko on 4 January 1878. It was proposed as a capital by Marin Drinov and was accepted as such on 3 April 1879. By the time of its liberation the population of the city was 11,649.[103]

Most mosques in Sofia were destroyed in that war, seven of them destroyed in one night in December 1878 when a thunderstorm masked the noise of the explosions arranged by Russian military engineers.[104][105] Following the war, the great majority of the Muslim population left Sofia.[97]

The allied bombing of Sofia in World War II in 1944

For a few decades after the liberation, Sofia experienced large population growth, mainly by migration from other regions of the Principality (Kingdom since 1908) of Bulgaria, and from the still Ottoman Macedonia and Thrace.

In 1900, the first electric lightbulb in the city was turned on.[106]

In the Second Balkan War, Bulgaria was fighting alone practically all of its neighbouring countries. When the Romanian Army entered Vrazhdebna in 1913, then a village 11 kilometres (7 miles) from Sofia, now a suburb,[107] this prompted the Tsardom of Bulgaria to capitulate.

In 1925, a terrorist act of ultra-leftists failed their attempted assassination of the king but resulted in the destruction of the Saint Nedelya Church and many victims.

During the Second World War, Bulgaria declared war on the US and UK on 13 December 1941 and in late 1943 and early 1944 the US and UK Air forces conducted bombings over Sofia. As a consequence of the bombings thousands of buildings were destroyed or damaged including the Capital Library and thousands of books. In 1944 Sofia and the rest of Bulgaria was occupied by the Soviet Red Army and within days of the Soviet invasion Bulgaria declared war on Nazi Germany.

In 1945, the communist Fatherland Front took power. The transformations of Bulgaria into the People's Republic of Bulgaria in 1946 and into the Republic of Bulgaria in 1990 marked significant changes in the city's appearance. The population of Sofia expanded rapidly due to migration from rural regions. New residential areas were built in the outskirts of the city, like Druzhba, Mladost and Lyulin.

During the Communist Party rule, a number of the city's most emblematic streets and squares were renamed for ideological reasons, with the original names restored after 1989.[108]

The Georgi Dimitrov Mausoleum, where Dimitrov's body had been preserved in a similar way to the Lenin mausoleum, was demolished in 1999.

Cityscape
A view over central Sofia, with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the foreground and Vitosha in the distance

In Sofia there are 607,473 dwellings and 101,696 buildings. According to modern records, 39,551 dwellings were constructed until 1949, 119,943 between 1950 and 1969, 287,191 between 1970 and 1989, 57,916 in the 90s and 102,623 between 2000 and 2011. Until 1949, 13,114 buildings were constructed and between 10,000–20,000 in each following decade.[109] Sofia's architecture combines a wide range of architectural styles, some of which are aesthetically incompatible. These vary from Christian Roman architecture and medieval Bulgarian fortresses to Neoclassicism and prefabricated Socialist-era apartment blocks. A number of ancient Roman, Byzantine and medieval Bulgarian buildings are preserved in the centre of the city. These include the 4th century Rotunda of St. George, the walls of the Serdica fortress and the partially preserved Amphitheatre of Serdica.

After the Liberation War, knyaz Alexander Battenberg invited architects from Austria–Hungary to shape the new capital's architectural appearance.[110]

Among the architects invited to work in Bulgaria were Friedrich Grünanger, Adolf Václav Kolář, and Viktor Rumpelmayer, who designed the most important public buildings needed by the newly re-established Bulgarian government, as well as numerous houses for the country's elite.[110] Later, many foreign-educated Bulgarian architects also contributed. The architecture of Sofia's centre is thus a combination of Neo-Baroque, Neo-Rococo, Neo-Renaissance and Neoclassicism, with the Vienna Secession also later playing an important part, but it is most typically Central European.

After World War II and the establishment of a Communist government in Bulgaria in 1944, the architectural style was substantially altered. Stalinist Gothic public buildings emerged in the centre, notably the spacious government complex around The Largo, Vasil Levski Stadium, the Cyril and Methodius National Library and others. As the city grew outwards, the then-new neighbourhoods were dominated by many concrete tower blocks, prefabricated panel apartment buildings and examples of Brutalist architecture.

After the abolition of Communism in 1989, Sofia witnessed the construction of whole business districts and neighbourhoods, as well as modern skryscraper-like glass-fronted office buildings, but also top-class residential neighbourhoods. The 126-metre (413 ft) Capital Fort Business Centre is the first skyscraper in Bulgaria, with its 36 floors. However, the end of the old administration and centrally planned system also paved the way for chaotic and unrestrained construction, which continues today.

Green areas
Borisova gradina

The city has an extensive green belt. Some of the neighbourhoods constructed after 2000 are densely built up and lack green spaces. There are four principal parks – Borisova gradina in the city centre and the Southern, Western and Northern parks. Several smaller parks, among which the Vazrazhdane Park, Zaimov Park, City Garden and the Doctors' Garden, are located in central Sofia. The Vitosha Nature Park (the oldest national park in the Balkans)[111] includes most of Vitosha mountain and covers an area of 266 square kilometres (103 sq mi),[112] with roughly half of it lying within the municipality of Sofia. Vitosha mountain is a popular hiking destination due to its proximity and ease of access via car and public transport. Two functioning cable cars provide year long access from the outskirts of the city. The mountain offers favourable skiing conditions during the winter. During the 1970s and the 1980s multiple ski slopes of varying difficulty were made available. Skiing equipment can be rented and skiing lessons are available. However, due to the bad communication between the private offshore company that runs the resort and Sofia municipality, most of the ski areas have been left to decay in the last 10 years, so that only one chairlift and one slope work.

Government and law

Local government
Composition of the City Council
Party 61 Seats
GERB
 
 30
Reformist Bloc
 
 11
Left Bulgaria
 
 7
Patriots for Sofia (IMRO/Attack)
 
 5
5 Political Group
 
 5
Serdika Coalition
 
 3
Total votes: 375 010
2015 election[113][114][115]
A map of the 24 districts of Sofia

Sofia Municipality is identical to Sofia City Province, which is distinct from Sofia Province, which surrounds but does not include the capital itself. Besides the city proper, the 24 districts of Sofia Municipality encompass three other towns and 34 villages.[116] Districts and settlements have their own governor who is elected in a popular election. The assembly members are chosen every four years. The common head of Sofia Municipality and all the 38 settlements is the mayor of Sofia.[116] The mayor Yordanka Fandakova is serving a third consecutive term, having won the 2015 election at first round with 238,500 votes,[117] or 60.2% of the vote, when Reformist Bloc opponent Vili Lilkov was second with 9.6%; the turnout was 41.25%.[118] Some party leaders claimed that ballots were falsified and called for annulment of the election.[119] A precedent happened, due to the suspicion, as a preventative action between 300 and 5000 people and counters had been locked inside Arena Armeets against their will for two days,[120] following which the director of the Electoral Commission of Sofia resigned at the request of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov.[121]

# District km2 Pop. Density (/km2) Extent Mayor
1Sredets332,42310,807CityRB
2Krasno selo783,55211,936CityRB
3Vazrazhdane337,30312,434CityGERB
4Oborishte331,06010,353CityRB
5Serdika1846,9492,608CityGERB
6Poduyane1176,6726,970CityGERB
7Slatina1366,7025,130CityGERB
8Izgrev530,8966,179CityGERB
9Lozenets953,0805,897CityGERB
10Triaditsa1063,4516,345CityGERB
11Krasna polyana958,2346,470CityGERB
12Ilinden333,23611,078CityGERB
13Nadezhda1967,9053,573CityGERB
14Iskar2663,2482,432City/satellitesGERB
15Mladost17102,8996,052CityGERB
16Studentski971,9617,995CityGERB
17Vitosha12361,467499City/satellitesRB
18Ovcha kupel4254,3201,293City/satellitesGERB
19Lyulin22114,9105,223CityGERB
20Vrabnitsa4447,9691,090City/satellitesGERB
21Novi Iskar22028,991131SatellitesGERB
22Kremikovtsi25623,64192City/satellitesRB
23Pancharevo40728,58670SatellitesGERB
24Bankya5312,136228SatellitesGERB
TOTAL13421,291,591962[122][123]

National government

Sofia is the seat of the executive (Council of Ministers), legislative (National Assembly) and judiciary (Supreme Court and Constitutional Court) bodies of Bulgaria, as well as all government agencies, ministries, the National Bank, and the delegation of the European Commission. The President, along with the Council of Ministers, is located on Independence Square, also known as The Largo or The Triangle of Power.[124] One of the three buildings in the architectural ensemble, the former Bulgarian Communist Party headquarters, is due to become the seat of the Parliament. A refurbishment project is due to be completed in mid-2019,[125] while the old National Assembly building will become a museum or will only host ceremonial political events.[126]

Under Bulgaria's centralised political system, Sofia concentrates much of the political and financial resources of the country. It is the only city in Bulgaria to host three electoral constituencies: the 23rd, 24th and 25th Multi-member Constituencies, which together field 42 mandates in the 240-member National Assembly.[127]

Crime

With a murder rate of 1.7/per 100.000 people (as of 2009) Sofia is a quite safe capital city.[128] Nevertheless, in the 21st century, crimes, including Bulgarian mafia killings, caused problems in the city,[129] where authorities had difficulties convicting the actors,[130] which had caused the European Commission to warn the Bulgarian government that the country would not be able to join the EU unless it curbed crime[131] (Bulgaria eventually joined in 2007).[132] Many of the most severe crimes are contract killings connected to the organised crime, but these had dropped in recent years after several arrests of gang members.[133] Corruption in Bulgaria also affects Sofia's authorities. According to the director of Sofia District Police Directorate, the largest share of the crimes are thefts, making up 62.4% of all crimes in the capital city. Increasing are frauds, drug-related crimes, petty theft and vandalism.[134] According to a survey, almost a third of Sofia's residents say that they never feel safe in the Bulgarian capital, while 20% always feel safe.[135] As of 2015, the consumer-reported perceived crime risk on the Numbeo database was "high" for theft and vandalism and "low" for violent crimes; safety while walking during daylight was rated "very high", and "moderate" during the night.[136] With 1,600 prisoners, the incarceration rate is above 0.1%;[137] however, roughly 70% of all prisoners are part of the Romani minority.[138]

Culture
See also: Tourist attractions in Sofia and List of churches in Sofia

Arts and entertainment
See also: Art galleries in Sofia
Ivan Vazov National Theatre

Sofia concentrates the majority of Bulgaria's leading performing arts troupes. Theatre is by far the most popular form of performing art, and theatrical venues are among the most visited, second only to cinemas. There were 3,162 theatric performances with 570,568 people attending in 2014.[139] The Ivan Vazov National Theatre, which performs mainly classical plays and is situated in the very centre of the city, is the most prominent theatre. The National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria is a combined opera and ballet collective established in 1891. Regular performances began in 1909. Some of Bulgaria's most famous operatic singers, such as Nicolai Ghiaurov and Ghena Dimitrova, made their first appearances on the stage of the National Opera and Ballet.

Cinema is the most popular form of entertainment: there were more than 141,000 film shows with a total attendance exceeding 2,700,000 in 2014.[140] Over the past two decades, numerous independent cinemas have closed and most shows are in shopping centre multiplexes. Odeon (not part of the Odeon Cinemas chain) shows exclusively European and independent American films, as well as 20th century classics. The Boyana Film studios was at the centre of a once-thriving domestic film industry, which declined significantly after 1990. Nu Image acquired the studios to upgrade them into Nu Boyana Film Studios, used to shoot scenes for a number of action movies like The Expendables 2, Rambo: Last Blood and London Has Fallen.[141][142]

The Museum of Contemporary Art

Bulgaria's largest art museums are located in the central areas of the city. Since 2015, the National Art Gallery, the National Gallery for Foreign Art (NGFA) and the Museum of Contemporary Art – Sofia Arsenal were merged to form the National Gallery. Its largest branch is Kvadrat 500, located on the NFGA premises, where some 2,000 works are on display in twenty eight exhibition halls.[143] The collections encompass diverse cultural items, from Ashanti Empire sculptures and Buddhist art to Dutch Golden Age painting, works by Albrecht Dürer, Jean-Baptiste Greuze and Auguste Rodin. The crypt of the Alexander Nevsky cathedral is another branch of the National Gallery. It holds a collection of Eastern Orthodox icons from the 9th to the 19th century.

The National History Museum, located in Boyana, it has a vast collection of more than 650,000 historical items dating from Prehistory to the modern era, although only 10,000 of them are permanently displayed due to the lack of space.[144] Smaller collections of historical items are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum, a former mosque located between the edifices of the National Bank and the Presidency. Two natural sciences museums—the Natural History Museum and Earth and Man—display minerals, animal species (alive and taxidermic) and rare materials. The Ethnographic Museum and the Museum of Military History hold large collections of Bulgarian folk costumes and armaments, respectively. The Polytechnical Museum has more than 1,000 technological items on display. The SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library, the foremost information repository in the country, holds some 1,800,000 books and more than 7,000,000 documents, manuscripts, maps and other items.[145]

Interior of the medieval Boyana Church

The city houses many cultural institutes such as the Russian Cultural Institute, the Polish Cultural Institute, the Hungarian Institute, the Czech and the Slovak Cultural Institutes, the Italian Cultural Institute, Confucius Institute, Institut Français, Goethe Institut, British Council and Instituto Cervantes which regularly organise temporary expositions of visual, sound and literary works by artists from their respective countries.

Some of the biggest telecommunications companies, TV and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and web portals are based in Sofia, including the Bulgarian National Television, bTV and Nova TV. Top-circulation newspapers include 24 Chasa and Trud.

The Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site, contains realistic frescoes, depicting more than 240 human images and a total 89 scenes, were painted. With their vital, humanistic realism they are a Renaissance phenomenon at its culmination phase in the context of the common-European art.[146]

Tourism
Vitosha Boulevard, the main shopping street in the city

Sofia is one of the most visited tourist destinations in Bulgaria alongside coastal and mountain resorts. Among its highlights is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the symbols of Bulgaria, constructed in the late 19th century. It occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,122 square feet) and can hold 10,000 people.

The city center contains many remains of ancient Serdica that have been excavated and are on public display, including Complex Ancient Serdica, eastern gate, western gate, city walls, thermal baths, 4th c. church of St. George Rotunda, amphitheatre of Serdica, the tombs and basilicas under the basilica of St. Sophia.

Vitosha Boulevard, also called Vitoshka, is a pedestrian zone with numerous cafés, restaurants, fashion boutiques, and luxury goods stores. Sofia's geographic location, in the foothills of the weekend retreat Vitosha mountain, further adds to the city's specific atmosphere.

Sports
Fans of PFC Levski Sofia
Fans of PFC CSKA Sofia

A large number of sports clubs are based in the city. During the Communist era, most sports clubs concentrated on all-round sporting development, therefore CSKA, Levski, Lokomotiv and Slavia are dominant not only in football, but in many other team sports as well. Basketball and volleyball also have strong traditions in Sofia. A notable local basketball team is twice European Champions Cup finalist Lukoil Akademik. The Bulgarian Volleyball Federation is the world's second-oldest, and it was an exhibition tournament organised by the BVF in Sofia that convinced the International Olympic Committee to include volleyball as an olympic sport in 1957.[147] Tennis is increasingly popular in the city. There are some ten[148] tennis court complexes within the city including the one founded by former WTA top-five athlete Magdalena Maleeva.[149]

Sofia applied to host the Winter Olympic Games in 1992 and in 1994, coming second and third respectively. The city was also an applicant for the 2014 Winter Olympics, but was not selected as candidate. In addition, Sofia hosted EuroBasket 1957 and the 1961 and 1977 Summer Universiades, as well as the 1983 and 1989 winter editions. In 2012, it hosted the FIVB World League finals.

Armeets Arena during the ATP Sofia Open

The city is home to a number of large sports venues, including the 43,000-seat Vasil Levski National Stadium which hosts international football matches, as well as Balgarska Armia Stadium, Georgi Asparuhov Stadium and Lokomotiv Stadium, the main venues for outdoor musical concerts. Armeets Arena holds many indoor events and has a capacity of up to 19,000 people depending on its use. The venue was inaugurated on 30 July 2011, and the first event it hosted was a friendly volleyball match between Bulgaria and Serbia. There are two ice skating complexes — the Winter Sports Palace with a capacity of 4,600 and the Slavia Winter Stadium with a capacity of 2,000, both containing two rinks each.[150] A velodrome with 5,000 seats in the city's central park is undergoing renovation.[151] There are also various other sports complexes in the city which belong to institutions other than football clubs, such as those of the National Sports Academy, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, or those of different universities. There are more than fifteen swimming complexes in the city, most of them outdoor.[152] Nearly all of these were constructed as competition venues and therefore have seating facilities for several hundred people.

There are two golf courses just to the east of Sofia — in Elin Pelin (St Sofia club) and in Ihtiman (Air Sofia club), and a horseriding club (St George club). Sofia was designated as European Capital of Sport in 2018. The decision was announced in November 2014 by the Evaluation Committee of ACES Europe, on the grounds that "the city is a good example of sport for all, as means to improve healthy lifestyle, integration and education, which are the basis of the initiative."

Demographics

Population growth over the years (in thousands):

Students of the National Academy of Arts (circa 1952–53). People aged 20–25 years have been the most numerous group in the city since the process of Bulgarian urbanisation

According to 2018 data, the city has a population of 1,269,384 and the whole Sofia Capital Municipality of 1,328,120.[153] The first census carried out in February 1878 by the Russian Army recorded a population of 11,694 inhabitants including 6,560 Bulgarians, 3,538 Jews, 839 Turks and 737 Romani.

The ratio of women per 1,000 men was 1,102. The birth rate per 1000 people was 12.3 per mille and steadily increasing in the last 5 years, the death rate reaching 12.1 per mille and decreasing. The natural growth rate during 2009 was 0.2 per mille, the first positive growth rate in nearly 20 years. The considerable immigration to the capital from poorer regions of the country, as well as urbanisation, are among the other reasons for the increase in Sofia's population. The infant mortality rate was 5.6 per 1,000, down from 18.9 in 1980. According to the 2011 census, people aged 20–24 years are the most numerous group, numbering 133,170 individuals and accounting for 11% of the total 1,202,761 people. The median age is 38 though. According to the census, 1,056,738 citizens (87.9%) are recorded as ethnic Bulgarians, 17,550 (1.5%) as Romani, 6,149 (0.5%) as Turks, 9,569 (0.8%) belonged to other ethnic groups, 6,993 (0.6%) do not self-identify and 105,762 (8.8%) remained with undeclared affiliation.[154] This statistic should not necessarily be taken at face value due to conflicting data – such as for the predominantly Roma neighbourhood of Fakulteta, which alone may have a population of 45,000.[155]

According to the 2011 census, throughout the whole municipality some 892,511 people (69.1%) are recorded as Eastern Orthodox Christians, 10,256 (0.8%) as Protestant, 6,767 (0.5%) as Muslim, 5,572 (0.4%) as Roman Catholic, 4,010 (0.3%) belonged to other faith and 372,475 (28.8%) declared themselves irreligious or did not mention any faith. The data says that roughly a third of the total population have already earned a university degree. Of the population aged 15–64 – 265,248 people within the municipality (28.5%) are not economically active, the unemployed being another group of 55,553 people (6%), a large share of whom have completed higher education. The largest group are occupied in trading, followed by those in manufacturing industry. Within the municipality, three-quarters, or 965,328 people are recorded as having access to television at home and 836,435 (64.8%) as having internet. Out of 464,865 homes – 432,847 have connection to the communal sanitary sewer, while 2,732 do not have any. Of these 864 do not have any water supply and 688 have other than communal. Over 99.6% of males and females aged over 9 are recorded as literate. The largest group of the population aged over 20 are recorded to live within marriage (46.3%), another 43.8% are recorded as single and another 9.9% as having other type of coexistence/partnership, whereas not married in total are a majority and among people aged up to 40 and over 70. The people with juridical status divorced or widowed are either part of the factual singles or those having another type of partnership, each of the two constitutes by around 10% of the population aged over 20. Only over 1% of the juridically married do not de facto live within marriage. The families that consist of two people are 46.8%, another 34.2% of the families are made up by three people, whereas most of the households (36.5%) consist of only one person.[109]

Sofia was declared the national capital in 1879. One year later, in 1880, it was the fifth-largest city in the country after Plovdiv, Varna, Ruse and Shumen. Plovdiv remained the most populous Bulgarian town until 1892 when Sofia took the lead. The city is the hot spot of internal migration, the capital population is increasing and is around 17% of the national,[156] thus a small number of people with local roots remain today, they dominate the surrounding rural suburbs and are called Shopi. Shopi speak the Western Bulgarian dialects.

Economy
Capital Fort, a 126-metre skyscraper on Tsarigradsko shose

Sofia is ranked as Beta- world city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Institute.[157] It is the economic hub of Bulgaria and home to most major Bulgarian and international companies operating in the country, as well as the Bulgarian National Bank and the Bulgarian Stock Exchange. The city is ranked among the 100 financial top centres worldwide.[158] In 2015, Sofia was ranked 30th out of 300 global cities in terms of combined growth in employment and real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, the highest one amongst cities in Southeast Europe.[159] The real GDP (PPP) per capita growth at the time was 2.5% and the employment went up by 3.4% to 962,400.[160] In 2015, Forbes listed Sofia as one of the top 10 places in the world to launch a startup business, because of the low corporate tax (10%), the fast internet connection speeds available – one of the fastest in the world, and the presence of several investment funds, including Eleven Startup Accelerator, LAUNCHub and Neveq.[161]

The city's GDP (PPS) per capita stood at €29,600 ($33,760) in 2015, one of the highest in Southeast Europe and well above other cities in the country.[162] The total nominal GDP in 2018 was 38.5 billion leva ($22.4 billion), or 33,437 leva ($19,454) per capita,[163][164] and average monthly wages in March 2020 were $1,071, the highest nationally.[165] Services dominate the economy, accounting for 88.6% of the gross value added, followed by industry 11.3% and agriculture 0.1%.[163][166]

Historically, after World War II and the era of industrialisation under socialism, the city and its surrounding areas expanded rapidly and became the most heavily industrialised region of the country, with numerous factories producing steel, pig iron, machinery, industrial equipment, electronics, trams, chemicals, textiles, food.[167] The influx of workers from other parts of the country became so intense that a restriction policy was imposed, and residing in the capital was only possible after obtaining Sofianite citizenship.[167] However, after the political changes in 1989, this kind of citizenship was removed.

Business Park Sofia

The most dynamic sectors include Information technology (IT) and manufacturing. Sofia is a regional IT hub, ranking second among the Top 10 fastest growing tech centers in Europe in terms of annual growth of active members.[168] The sector employs about 50,000 professionals, 30% of them involved in programming, and contributes for 14% of the city's exports.[168] The IT sector is highly diverse and includes both multinational corporations, local companies and start-ups. Multinationals with major research, development, innovation and engineering centers in Sofia include the second largest global IT center of Coca Cola,[169] Hewlett-Packard,[170] VMware,[171] Robert Bosch GmbH,[172] Financial Times,[173] Experian, etc.[174] Several office and tech clusters have been established across the city, including Business Park Sofia, Sofia Tech Park, Capital Fort and others.

Manufacturing has registered a strong recovery since 2012, increasing the exports three-fold and the employment by 52% accounting for over 70,000 jobs.[175] Supported by the city’s R&D expertise, Sofia is shifting to high value-added manufacturing including electrical equipment, precision mechanics, pharmaceuticals. There are 16 industrial and logistics parks in Sofia, some sprawling to towns in neighbouring Sofia Province, such as Bozhurishte, Kostinbrod and Elin Pelin.[175] Manufacturing companies include Woodward, Inc., producing airframe and industrial turbomachinery systems,[176] Festo, producing microsensors,[177] Visteon, development and engineering of instrument clusters, LCD displays and domain controllers,[178] Melexis, producing micro-electronic semiconductor solutions in the automotive sector,[179] Sopharma, producing pharmaceuticals, the largest Lufthansa Technik maintenance facilities outside Germany etc.[180]

Transport and infrastructure

With its developing infrastructure and strategic location, Sofia is a major hub for international railway and automobile transport. Three of the ten Pan-European Transport Corridors cross the city: IV, VIII and X.[181] All major types of transport (except water) are represented in the city.

A Siemens Desiro train of the Bulgarian State Railways at the Central Railway Station

The Central Railway Station is the primary hub for domestic and international rail transport, carried out by Bulgarian State Railways (BDZ), the national rail company headquartered in the city. It is one of the main stations along BDZ Line 1, and a hub of Lines 2, 5 and 13. Line 1 provides a connection to Plovdiv, the second-largest city in Bulgaria, while Line 2 is the longest national railway and connects Sofia and Varna, the largest coastal city. Lines 5 and 13 are shorter and provide connections to Kulata and Bankya, respectively. Overall, Sofia has 186 km (116 miles) of railway lines.[182]

Sofia Airport handled 7,107,096 passengers in 2019.[183]

Public transport is well-developed with bus (2,380 km (1,479 mi)),[184] tram (308 km (191 mi))[185] and trolleybus (193 km (120 mi))[186] lines running in all areas of the city.[187][188] The Sofia Metro became operational in 1998, and now has two lines and 34 stations.[189] As of 2012, the system has 39 km (24 mi) of track. Six new stations were opened in 2009, two more in April 2012, and eleven more in August 2012. In 2015 seven new stations were opened and the underground extended to Sofia Airport on its Northern branch and to Business Park Sofia on its Southern branch. In July 2016 the Vitosha Metro Station was opened on the M2 main line. A third line is under construction and is expected to be finished in the second half of 2019.[190] This line will complete the proposed underground system of three lines with about 65 km (40 mi) of lines.[191] The master plan for the Sofia Metro includes three lines with a total of 63 stations.[192] Marshrutkas provide an efficient and popular means of transport by being faster than public transport, but cheaper than taxis. There are around 13,000 taxi cabs operating in the city.[193] Additionally, all-electric vehicles are available through carsharing company Spark, which is set to increase its fleet to 300 cars by mid-2019.[194]

Cherni Vrah Boulevard

Private automobile ownership has grown rapidly in the 1990s; more than 1,000,000 cars were registered in Sofia after 2002. The city has the 4th-highest number of automobiles per capita in the European Union at 546.4 vehicles per 1,000 people.[195] The municipality was known for minor and cosmetic repairs and many streets are in a poor condition. This is noticeably changing in the past years. There are different boulevards and streets in the city with a higher amount of traffic than others. These include Tsarigradsko shose, Cherni Vrah, Bulgaria, Slivnitsa and Todor Aleksandrov boulevards, as well as the city's ring road, where long chains of cars are formed at peak hours and traffic jams occur regularly.[196] Consequently, traffic and air pollution problems have become more severe and receive regular criticism in local media. The extension of the underground system is hoped to alleviate the city's immense traffic problems.

Sofia has an extensive district heating system based around four combined heat and power (CHP) plants and boiler stations. Virtually the entire city (900,000 households and 5,900 companies) is centrally heated, using residual heat from electricity generation (3,000 MW) and gas- and oil-fired heating furnaces; total heat capacity is 4,640 MW. The heat distribution piping network is 900 km (559 mi) long and comprises 14,000 substations and 10,000 heated buildings.

Education and science
The Faculty of Chemistry and Pharmacy of Sofia University

Much of Bulgaria's educational capacity is concentrated in Sofia. There are 221 general, 11 special and seven arts or sports schools, 56 vocational gymnasiums and colleges, and four independent colleges.[197] The city also hosts 23 of Bulgaria's 51 higher education establishments and more than 105,000 university students.[198][199] The American College of Sofia, a private secondary school with roots in a school founded by American missionaries in 1860, is among the oldest American educational institutions outside of the United States.[200]

A number of secondary language schools provide education in a selected foreign language. These include the First English Language School, 91st German Language School, 164th Spanish Language School, and the Lycée Français. These are among the most sought-after secondary schools, along with Vladislav the Grammarian 73rd Secondary School and the High School of Mathematics, which topped the 2018 preference list for high school candidates.[201]

Higher education includes four of the five highest-ranking national universities – Sofia University (SU), the Technical University of Sofia, New Bulgarian University and the Medical University of Sofia.[202] Sofia University was founded in 1888.[203] More than 20,000 students[204] study in its 16 faculties.[205] A number of research and cultural departments operate within SU, including its own publishing house, botanical gardens,[206] a space research centre, a quantum electronics department,[207] and a Confucius Institute.[208] Rakovski Defence and Staff College, the National Academy of Arts, the University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, the University of National and World Economy and the University of Mining and Geology are other major higher education establishments in the city.[202]

Other institutions of national significance, such as the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and the SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library are located in Sofia. BAS is the centrepiece of scientific research in Bulgaria, employing more than 4,500 scientists in various institutes. Its Institute of Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy will operate the largest cyclotron in the country.[209][210] All five of Bulgaria's supercomputers and supercomputing clusters are located in Sofia as well. Three of those are operated by the BAS; one by Sofia Tech Park and one by the Faculty of Physics at Sofia University.[211]

International relations

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

Sofia is twinned with:

Cooperation agreements

In addition Sofia has co-operation agreements with:

Honour

Serdica Peak on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica is named after Serdica.

gollark: Ah, the React.js logo.
gollark: Shall science go too far, you mean, and probably yes.
gollark: t!roll 1d6
gollark: That's what I did for the few discworld book titles I have.
gollark: Many spaces.

See also

References
  1. "Sofia through centuries". Sofia Municipality. Archived from the original on 19 August 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
  2. Ghodsee, Kristen (2005). The Red Riviera: Gender, Tourism, and Postsocialism on the Black Sea. Duke University Press. p. 21. ISBN 0822387174.
  3. Prehistory, Ivan Dikov · in (7 December 2015). "Archaeologist Discovers 8,000-Year-Old Nephrite 'Frog-like' Swastika in Slatina Neolithic Settlement in Bulgaria's Capital Sofia – Archaeology in Bulgaria". archaeologyinbulgaria.com.
  4. Marazov, Ivan (ed.). Ancient Gold: The Wealth of the Thracians. NY: Harry N. Abrams Inc., 1998. Texts by Marazov, Ivan; Venedikov, Ivan; Fol, Alexander; Tacheva, Margarita. ISBN 9780810919921.
  5. Popov, Dimitar (ed.). The Thracians, Iztok – Zapad, Sofia, 2011. ISBN 9789543218691.
  6. Sofia 2016, p. 13.
  7. NATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE. "CITIES AND THEIR URBANISED AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA" (PDF): 91. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. https://www.nsi.bg/nrnm/show2.php?sid=57422&ezik=en&e=128142&e=9787
  9. "Население по градове и пол | Национален статистически институт". www.nsi.bg (in Bulgarian).
  10. "Eurostat-Sofia urban area population".
  11. "Eurostat – Data Explorer". appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu.
  12. Wells, John C. (2008), Longman Pronunciation Dictionary (3rd ed.), Longman, ISBN 9781405881180
  13. Roach, Peter (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary (18th ed.), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 9780521152532
  14. Editors of Britannica. "Sofia". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 12 February 2016.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  15. Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. Britannica Educational Publishing. 1 June 2013. ISBN 9781615309870.
  16. Lauwerys, Joseph (1970). Education in Cities. Evan's Brothers. ISBN 0-415-39291-8.
  17. Rogers, Clifford (2010). The Oxford Encyclopedia of Medieval Warfare and Military Technology. 1. Oxford University Press. p. 301. ISBN 9780195334036.
  18. Internet Hostel Sofia, Tourism in Sofia. Internethostelsofia.hostel.com, Retrieved Jan 2012
  19. "Triangle of Religious Tolerance (1903) – iCulturalDiplomacy". www.i-c-d.de. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  20. "Sofia is one of the top 10 places for start-up businesses in the world, Bulgarian National TV". Bnt.bg. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  21. Clark, Jayne. "Is Europe's most affordable capital worth the trip?". USA Today. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  22. "Museum of Socialist Art – National Gallery". Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  23. "История". www.kmeta.bg.
  24. "NATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE – Information for the area of city of Sofia". Nsi.bg. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  25. "Metropolitan areas in Europe" (PDF): 95. ISSN 1868-0097. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. "Metropolitan areas in Europe" (PDF): 103. ISSN 1868-0097. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  27. Grant, Michael (211). The Emperor Constantine. Hachette. ISBN 9781780222806.
  28. "The Cambridge Ancient History", Volume 3, Part 2: The Assyrian and Babylonian Empires and Other States of the Near East, from the Eighth to the Sixth Centuries BC by John 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 find the Serdi for whom there is no evidence before the first century BC. It has for long been supposed on convincing linguistic and archeological grounds that this tribe was of Celtic origin"
  29. Mihailov, G., Thracians, Sofia, 1972, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, quote in Bulgarian: Името серди е засвидетелствано след келтската инвазия на Балканите. Сердите са от смесен трако-келтски произход.
  30. Popov, D. Thracians, Sofia, p.h. Iztok – Zapad, 2005.
  31. World and Its Peoples. 2010. ISBN 9780761479024.
  32. Irina Florov, Nicholas Florov (2001). Three-thousand-year-old Hat. Michigan University: Golden Vine Publishers. p. 303. ISBN 0968848702.
  33. Julian Bennett, Trajan: Optimus Princeps (Routledge, 1997), p. 1.
  34. Erwin Anton Gutkind. International history of city development (8 ed.). Michigan University: Free Press of Glencoe.
  35. "София" (in Bulgarian). Мила Родино. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 14 September 2008.
  36. Encyclopedia Americana (25 ed.). Pennsylvania State University: Grolier Incorporated. 1999. p. 878. ISBN 0717201317.
  37. "History". Capital Municipality. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
  38. "District Sofia-city". Guide Bulgaria. Retrieved 19 February 2012.
  39. Geographic Dictionary of Bulgaria 1980, p. 537
  40. "General Hydrological Data". Iskar River System. Archived from the original on 7 December 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  41. Софийска голяма община – климат.
  42. Атанас Иширков, България. Географически бележки, Придворна печатница, 1910 година, стр. 78.
  43. Николов, Иван. "Архив-Бг3 » 01-1987 София". stringmeteo.com.
  44. Николов, Иван. "Време-Бг » Мес. обобщ. снежна покривка". stringmeteo.com.
  45. Николов, Иван. "Архив-Бг3 » 11-1995 София". stringmeteo.com.
  46. Николов, Иван. "Времето София » 25.12.2001". stringmeteo.com.
  47. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent.php?year=1942&month=1&stat=15614&an_per=no_an&sty=1940&endy=1942&t_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%96%D0%98#sel
  48. "Weather Sofia – Monthly Weather History- freemeteo.bg". freemeteo.bg.
  49. "Weather Sofia – Monthly Weather History- freemeteo.bg". freemeteo.bg.
  50. "Век. месечен архив Бг".
  51. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/temp_year.php?year=2019&month=1&len=12&an_per=8110&ord=num&submit=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%96%D0%98#sel
  52. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2000&month=12&stat=2064&sty=2000&endy=2000&prm_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%96%D0%98#sel
  53. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/prec_year.php?year=2014&month=1&len=12&ord=num&submit=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%96%D0%98#sel
  54. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent2.php?year=2010&month=12&stat=2064&sty=1981&endy=2010&tmi_in=on&tma_in=on&prm_in=on&ssh_in=on&mode=stat&submit=%D0%9F%D0%9E%D0%9A%D0%90%D0%96%D0%98
  55. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/semi_cent.php?year=2010&month=12&stat=15614&an_per=no_an&sty=1981&endy=2010&t_in=on&mode=stat&submit=ПОКАЖИ#sel
  56. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/sf_3747/1941-12.pdf
  57. https://www.stringmeteo.com/synop/bg_stday.php?year=2020&month=5&day=15&city=15614&int=1&submit=%CF%CE%CA%C0%C6%C8
  58. http://climatebase.ru/station/15614/?lang=en
  59. ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/RA-VI/BU/15614.TXT
  60. https://freemeteo.bg/weather/sofia/history/daily-history/?gid=727011&station=4892&date=2013-04-30&language=english&country=bulgaria
  61. https://freemeteo.bg/weather/sofia/history/daily-history/?gid=727011&station=4892&date=2016-04-18&language=english&country=bulgaria
  62. https://freemeteo.bg/weather/sofia/history/daily-history/?gid=727011&station=4892&date=2016-02-15&language=english&country=bulgaria
  63. https://freemeteo.bg/weather/sofia/history/daily-history/?gid=727011&station=4892&date=2018-03-01&language=english&country=bulgaria
  64. https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/bulgaria/sofia-climate
  65. ""Дружба", "Надежда" и "Павлово" са с най-мръсен въздух в София – Mediapool.bg". mediapool.bg.
  66. "Air pollution in Sofia, other Bulgarian cities hugely exceeded norms several times this winter". The Sofia Globe. 4 April 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  67. Environment: Sofia, most polluted capital of Europe (News report). Agence France-Presse. 20 December 2015. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  68. Hakim, Danny (15 October 2013). "Bulgaria's Air Is Dirtiest in Europe, Study Finds, Followed by Poland". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  69. "Bulgaria: Bad air quality in Sofia on January 6 2018". The Sofia Globe. 6 January 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  70. "Air Quality Standards". European Commission. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  71. "Sofia Municipal Council Adopted Measures to Tackle Air Pollution". Bulgarian National Television. 25 January 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  72. "Brussels: Sofia has no projects targeting air pollutionКопирано от standartnews.com". Standard. 12 September 2018. Archived from the original on 27 October 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  73. Trudy, Ring; Noelle, Watson; Paul, Schellinger (5 November 2013). Southern Europe: International Dictionary of Historic Places. Routledge. ISBN 9781134259588. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  74. John G. Kelcey; Norbert Müller (7 June 2011). Plants and Habitats of European Cities. Czech Republic; Germany – University of Applied Sciences Erfurt: Springer. ISBN 978-0-387-89684-7.
  75. Boev, Zlatozar. (2009). Avian Remains from an Early Neolithic Settlement of Slatina (Present Sofia City, Bulgaria). Acta Zoologica Bulgarica. 61. 151–156.
  76. "София – 130 години столица на България". sofiaculture.bg. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017.
  77. The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 3, Part 2:, ISBN 0-521-22717-8, 1992, page 600
  78. Емил Коцев 24.04.2016 9:331205 ИЗГУБЕНАТА СТОЛИЦА
  79. Dio, Roman History, Book 51, chapter 25
  80. Trakii︠a︡ – Том 12 – Страница 41- "Da diese mit ihrem blinden König Siras verbündete der Römer waren ergab dies den Vorwand für den Kriegszug von Crassus. Über die Segetike (wohl irrtümlich für Serdike, Land der Serden, wie es aus Dio Cass. LI, 25, 4 erhellt)"
  81. Acta Antiqua Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae. Akademai Klado, 1966. "Als sie die Dentheleten angriffen, kam Crassus diesen zur. Hilfe, eroberte das Land der Serden (bei Dio Segetika) und kam plündernd ins."
  82. Jenő Fitz. Limes. Akadémiai Kiadó, 1977 "As Macedonia itself was in danger, Crassus readily advanced as far as Segetika (-Serdica)", ISBN 9789630513012
  83. Ivanov, Rumen (2006). Roman cities in Bulgaria.
  84. Wilkes, John (2005). "Provinces and Frontiers". In Bowman, Alan K.; Garnsey, Peter; Cameron, Averil (eds.). The Cambridge ancient history: The crisis of empire, A.D. 193–337. The Cambridge ancient history. 12. Cambridge University Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-0-521-30199-2.
  85. Encyclopaedia Londinensis, or, Universal dictionary of arts, sciences, and literature. University of Minnesota. 1827.
  86. Saunders, Randall Titus (1992). A biography of the Emperor Aurelian (AD 270–275). Ann Arbor, Michigan: UMI Dissertation Services. pp. 106–7.
  87. "Eutropius: Book IX". thelatinlibrary.com.
  88. Nikolova, Kapka Sofia University of Indiana. "Emperor Constantine the Great even considered the possibility for Serdika to become the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire"
  89. Green, Bernard (2010). Christianity in Ancient Rome: The First Three Centuries. A&C Black. p. 237. ISBN 978-0-567-03250-8.
  90. Bozhilov & Gyuzelev 1999, pp. 127–128
  91. Stancheva 2010, pp. 120–121
  92. Slaviani. 1967.
  93. Bozhilov & Gyuzelev 1999, p. 319
  94. Bozhilov & Gyuzelev 1999, pp. 400–401
  95. Stancheva 2010, pp. 123–124
  96. Stancheva 2010, pp. 131, 139
  97. Ivanova, Svetlana, "Ṣofya", in: Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition, Edited by: P. Bearman, Th. Bianquis, C.E. Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. Heinrichs. Consulted online on 23 January 2018.
  98. Cited in Халенбаков, О. Детска енциклопедия България: Залезът на царете, с. 18
  99. Godisnjak. Drustvo Istoricara Bosne i Hercegovine, Sarajevo. 1950. p. 174. Санџак Софија Овај је санџак основан око г. 1393.
  100. "Sofia – Trip around Sofia". Balkan tourist, 1968. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  101.  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Sardica". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  102. "ВОЕННАЯ ЛИТЕРАТУРА --[ Военная история ]-- Генов Ц. Русско-турецкая война 1877–1878 гг. и подвиг освободителей". lib.ru.
  103. Kiradzhiev, Svetlin (2006). "Sofia. 125 years a capital. 1879–2004". "Guttenberg". ISBN 978-954-617-011-8
  104. Crampton 2006, p. 114.
  105. Crampton, RJ (2006) [1997], A Concise History of Bulgaria, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-85085-1
  106. "E-novinar.com – Новините на едно място" [Mohailova, Tihomria. In 1900 the first electric lamp lit the streets of Sofia. Novinar]. novinar.bg (in Bulgarian). 12 March 2014. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 22 December 2016.
  107. Hall (2000), p. 97.
  108. L. Ivanov. 1991 Sofia street naming proposal. Sofia City Place-names Commission, 22 January 1991.
  109. 2011 census, Sofia-capital (PDF) (23 ed.). Sofia: National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria. 2012. p. 37 40 43 68 71 74 99 117 132 190 193 196. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 February 2016.
  110. Collective (1980). Encyclopedia of Figurative Arts in Bulgaria, volume 1. Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. pp. 209–210.
  111. "National parks in the world" (in Bulgarian). journey.bg. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  112. "Vitosha Mountain". vitoshamount.hit.bg. Archived from the original on 20 June 2004. Retrieved 29 April 2014.
  113. "Местни избори :: Местни избори и национален референдум 2015". cik.bg.
  114. "Municipal Councillors". Sofia City Council. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  115. "Листата на ГЕРБ в София се срина с 63 хил. гласа спрямо 2011 г." dnevnik.bg.
  116. "District Mayors". Sofia Municipality. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 26 December 2009.
  117. "Fandakova over 60%". 24 Hours. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  118. "2015 Election". Central Election Commission. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  119. "The party of Kuneva overcomes the falsified ballots with machines". Topnews. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  120. "Escaped from Arena Armeets tell about the nightmare". Vesti. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  121. "The head of the electoral commission in Sofia is resigning at the request of Borissov". Dnevnik. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  122. "Wayback Machine" (PDF). 5 November 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 November 2011.
  123. "Местни избори :: Местни избори и национален референдум 2015". Cik.bg. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  124. ""Триъгълникът на властта" или Ларгото: Как се е променял през годините" [The Triangle of Power or The Largo: How It Changed Throughout the Years]. Bulgarian National Television. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  125. "Как ще изглежда новата пленарна зала на българските депутати?" [What will the new Parliament hall look like?]. Bulgarian National Television. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  126. "Народното събрание – музей?" [The National Assembly – a Museum?]. BTV Novinite. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  127. "РЕШЕНИЕ № 4149-НС София, 27.01.2017" [Resolution No. 4149-NS Sofia]. Central Electoral Commission. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
  128. Chalabi, Mona (30 November 2012). "Where are world's deadliest major cities?". theguardian.com.
  129. David Coulby; Robert Cowen; Crispin Jones (17 January 2013). World Yearbook of Education 2000: Education in Times of Transition. Routledge. p. 10. ISBN 978-1-136-16603-7. crime rates have exploded in Sofia as well as in Moscow and St Petersburg.
  130. Gergana Noutcheva (26 July 2012). European Foreign Policy and the Challenges of Balkan Accession: Conditionality, legitimacy and compliance. Routledge. p. 192. ISBN 978-1-136-30619-8. The strongest EU demand – structural changes of the judicial system – had to do with the crime rate in Bulgaria and the apparent impotence of the authorities in Sofia to convict any of the murderes in the high-profile mafia killings that shook the country in 2003–2005.
  131. "Bulgarian Crime – Where killing is a habit". The Economist. 27 October 2005. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  132. "BBC NEWS – Europe – Romania and Bulgaria join the EU". bbc.co.uk.
  133. "Bulgaria 2015 Crime and Safety Report". 29 December 2016. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016.
  134. Crime Rates in Bulgaria's Sofia on the Rise Novinite
  135. "The Most Dangerous Cities in Europe". Business Insider Inc. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  136. "Crime in Sofia. Safety in Sofia". Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 October 2015.
  137. The prison in Sofia Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Gdin
  138. "Само 10 000 в затвора, 7000 от тях са цигани". 24chasa.bg. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  139. Sofia 2016, p. 159.
  140. Sofia 2016, p. 160.
  141. "UPDATE: Stallone Returning to NU BOYANA Film Studios in Bulgaria for 'Rambo 5'". Novinite. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  142. "London Has Fallen: Company Credits". IMDb.com. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  143. (source)
  144. "Колекции – НИМ". Historymuseum.org. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  145. "Funds and collections". SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  146. Ecker, Gerhard (1984). Bulgarien. Kunstdenkmäler aus vier Jahrtausenden von den Thrakern bis zur Gegenwart (in German). Köln: DuMont Buchverlag. ISBN 9783406398667.
  147. "BVA-News". balkanvolleyball.org. Archived from the original on 20 February 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  148. "Sofia municipality — Tennis courts". sofia.bg. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  149. "Тенис Клуб Малееви". maleevaclub.com. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  150. "Skate rinks in Sofia". kunki.org. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  151. "Journey.bg — History of the Sofia velodrome". journey.bg. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  152. "Swimming pools in Sofia (including Spa centers)". tonus.tialoto.bg. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  153. "Population | National statistical institute". www.nsi.bg.
  154. "Population". nsi.bg. National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria, 2011. Retrieved 12 February 2016.
  155. "Ромите са изолирани от бума в заетостта на Балканите". Mediapool.bg. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  156. "Population and Demographic Processes in 2014 (Final data) – National statistical institute". Nsi.bg. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  157. "Alpha, Beta and Gamma cities (updated 2015) – Spotted by Locals blog". Spottedbylocals.com. 11 March 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  158. "The Global Financial Centres Index 24" (PDF). Long Finance. September 2018.
  159. "Sofia ranks 30th in GDP/capita, employment growth 2013–2014 global report". seenews.com. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  160. "Global Metro Monitor An Uncertain recovery" (PDF). brookings.edu. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  161. "10 Top Cities Around The World To Launch Your Startup". Forbes. 29 November 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2016.
  162. "Regional gross domestic product (PPS per inhabitant at current market prices), by NUTS 3 regions". Eurostat. Retrieved 12 March 2017.
  163. "GDP by Economic Sector and Region". National Statistical Institute. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  164. Sofia 2016, p. 64.
  165. "Average monthly wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract by statistical regions and districts". National Statistical Institute. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  166. Sofia 2016, p. 72.
  167. "Kapital Quarterly". Sofiaecho.com. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
  168. "IT Sector in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  169. "Coca-Cola Opens Its 2nd Largest Globally IT Center in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  170. "Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria". Business Park Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  171. "VMware to invest €23M and Grow the Site in Sofia to over 1500 People". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  172. "Bosch Group Officially Opened its New Office in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  173. "Financial Times Expands Its Team in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  174. "The Software Company Experian Opened its New Office Building in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  175. "IT Manufacturing in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  176. "American Control System Solutions Manufacturer Woodward Opens Production in Sofia". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  177. "Festo to Invest 25.6 mln. Euro in a New Production Unit in Sofia/". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  178. "Products". Visteon Electronics Bulgaria. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  179. "Melexis to Invest €75M to Expand Its Operations in Bulgaria". Invest Sofia. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  180. "Lufthansa Technik Sofia invests 30 mln euro to expand its facilities". SIPA Group. Retrieved 14 July 2020.
  181. Sofia infrastructure from the official website of the Municipality Archived 28 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in Bulgarian)
  182. "Sofia (capital)". National Statistical Institute regional statistics. 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 14 November 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  183. "Passengers 2018-2019" (PDF). Sofia Airport.
  184. "History of the bus network in Sofia". Sofiatraffic.bg. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  185. "History of the tramway network in Sofia". Sofiatraffic.bg. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  186. "History of the trolleybus network in Sofia". Sofiatraffic.bg. 14 February 1941. Retrieved 30 August 2012.)
  187. "Public transport Sofia — official website" (in Bulgarian). sumc.bg. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  188. "Transport Company Bulgaria— official website" (in Bulgarian). dak-transport.com. Archived from the original on 7 September 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
  189. "Българска национална телевизия – Новини (Bulgarian National Television – News)" (in Bulgarian). bnt.bg. Archived from the original on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  190. "ОП Транспорт и разширение". Metropolitan.bg. Archived from the original on 14 August 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  191. "Metropolitan Sofia Web Place". metropolitan.bg. Archived from the original on 1 October 2008. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  192. "General Scheme". Metropolitan.bg. Archived from the original on 14 May 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2013.
  193. "National Federation of the Taxi Drivers in Bulgaria. Regional Member Sofia". nftvb.com. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  194. "Shared Electric Vehicles Spark in Sofia Increase by 170". Novinite. 13 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  195. Sofia in Figures, p.26
  196. "Fines for bad repair work – 'Dnevnik' newspaper". dnevnik.bg. Retrieved 24 May 2008.
  197. Sofia 2016, p. 141.
  198. Sofia 2016, p. 148.
  199. "Register of Higher Schools in Bulgaria". Ministry of Education and Science. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  200. "History". acs.bg. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 17 December 2018.
  201. "Кои са най-желаните гимназии в София и кои паралелки останаха празни" [Which high schools in Sofia are the most preferred]. Offnews. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  202. "Bulgarian universities". Webometrics Ranking of World Universities. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
  203. "Official website of the Sofia university — History". Sofia University. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  204. "Sofia University aims to attract more foreign students" (in Bulgarian). Akademika. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  205. "University Faculties". Sofia University. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  206. "Independent structures of SU". Sofia University. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  207. "Faculty of Physics structure". Sofia University. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  208. "University Centres". Sofia University. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  209. "Bulgaria's Nuclear Institute: New Cyclotron To Become Operational in 2 Years". Novinite. 27 October 2016.
  210. "MSB – Projects". www.msb.bg.
  211. Zapryanov, Yoan (22 June 2018). "Малката изчислителна армия на България" [Bulgaria's small computing army] (in Bulgarian). Kapital Daily. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  212. "Sister Cities of Ankara". ankara.bel.tr. Ankara. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  213. "Cu cine este înfrățit Bucureștiul?". Adevărul (in Romanian). 21 February 2011.
  214. "Sister Cities Association of Pittsburgh" (PDF). pittsburghpa.gov. Pittsburgh. p. 52. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  215. "Sofia, Shanghai to become sister cities". bnr.bg. BNR Radio Bulgaria. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  216. "Tel Aviv sister cities" (in Hebrew). Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality. Archived from the original on 14 February 2009. Retrieved 1 July 2009.
  217. "Sofia, Budapest to Cooperate in Culture, Tourism, Economy". Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  218. "Friendship and cooperation agreements". Paris.fr. Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  219. "Acordos de geminação, de cooperação e de amizade". cm-lisboa.pt (in Portuguese). Lisboa. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  220. "Agreements with cities". madrid.es. Madrid. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  221. "Partner cities". yerevan.am. Yerevan. Retrieved 27 December 2019.

Bibliography
  • "Sofia in Figures" (PDF) (in Bulgarian and English). National Statistical Institute of Bulgaria. 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
  • Bozhilov, Ivan; Gyuzelev, Vasil (1999). История на средновековна България VII–XIV век [History of Medieval Bulgaria VII–XIV centuries] (in Bulgarian). Sofia: Анубис. ISBN 954-426-204-0.
  • Stancheva, Magdalina (2010). София – от древността до нови времена [Sofia – from Antiquity to Modern Times] (in Bulgarian). Sofia: New Bulgarian University. ISBN 978-954-535-579-0.

Further reading
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.