What to see in Sofia | Tourist attractions in Sofia

October 03, 2019

 ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKI CATHEDRAL

The most popular tourist attraction in Sofia is the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral, which was built as a memorial to the 200 thousand casualties of the Russo-Turkish war. St. Alexander Nevski church is a five-naved basilica crowned with 12 spires - 3 of which are gold - leafed. The church is richly ornamented with frescoes and murals - more than 300.

 THE ST. SOFIA CHURCH

It is one of the most remarkable early Christian churches. It was built during the end of the 5th and the beginning of the 6th centuries and is one of the few buildings remaining from the time of the Emperor Justinian. In the beginning it served as a fortress, where people could hide from the incursions of barbarian tribes.. Later it played an active role in the life of Serdika, as it was the metropolitan church. Even todat archeologists continue excavations in the underground area, where burial rooms were discovered.

Sts. CYRIL AND METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY

The library was built from 1939 to 1944. It reminds one of an ancient Greek temple with neoclassical columns. It owns the largest collection of books in Bulgaria and undoubtedly preservs the most valuable tomes.

THE MONUMENT OF ALEXANDER II

Alexander II - the Russian Emperor, who is known as "the Liberator" due to the fact that he declared war on the Ottoman Empire in order to liberate Bulgaria. The statue is the work of the Italian sculture Arnoldo Zocci and was completed in 1907.

THE RUSSIAN CHURCH ST. NICHOLAS

The Russian church was built in 1912 according to plans of the of the Russianarchitect Preobrazhenski. With elongated, gold-covered spires and brightly colored tiles, it seems like a building from a fairytale.

THE NATIONAL ART GALLERY

It was built by the Turks, who used it for a konak (municipal and police headquarters). After the Liberation, Prince Alexander Battenberg converted the building into a palace. The Gallery exhibits the most valuable masterpieces of Bulgarian art from the middle of the 19th century up to the present. In the northeastern wing one will find the Etnographic Museum with its beautiful collection of folk costumes, instruments used in everyday life and dyed Easter eggs.

THE NATIONAL THEATER

The teater bears the name of the great Bulgarian writer Ivan Vazov. The original building replaced a wooden house in 1907. It has one large hall, which has 786 seats for the main show, a smaller hall with 120 seats and a stage ot the fourth floor with 72 seats.

THE ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM

Is the former Bueyuek Mosque - the first Muslim temple built in sofia ( 1494 ). The nine-domed building exhibits a varied collection of clay and silver vessels, bronze figurines, an abundance of ancient Greek and Roman finds, tombstones and gold treasures. The Archeological Museum was the first museum to open in Sofia

THE ST. GEORGE ROTUNDA

The St. George Rotunda dates from the first half of the 4th century. During that time the building served as a storage facility for holy relics and remains of martyrs.