Sofia is the capital city of Bulgaria, the main administrative, political, industrial, cultural and university center. Although various Roman and Byzantine ruins and a couple of mosques attest to the long and colourful history of the area traced back to prehistoric times, Sofia is finest architecture postdates Bulgaria’s Liberation in 19 century. The new capital was laid out in imitation of the Western capitals as a modern city with tastefully rebuilt centre, well-laid streets and lots of large open areas.

Sofia’s major highlights are concentrated in city center among them the imposing Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the Summer Palace, the Russian Church, the Archaeological Museum housed in a 15 century mosque, the ruins of Byzantine and mediaeval churches. The National Museum of History displays the largest collection of Thracian treasures and Boyana Church in the suburbs of Sofia possesses mediaeval frescoes which anticipate the work of Gioto, who heralded the Italian Renaissance.