Sofia Buildings

The "Kliment Ohridski" University of Sofia

This is an imposing Baroque-style building on the corner of Tsar Osvoboditel

Blvd. and Vassil Levski Blvd. On the both sides of the main entrance are the
statues of the two brothers, Hristo and Evlogi Georgiev, who donated the
land and money for the founding of the university.

The Central Baths

This beautiful and sad mosaicked building behind Main department Store is the former Turkish
mineral baths. The tender is currently out for its restoration, so we may once again be able to enjoy
the grandeur of an oriental public bathhouse. Nearby is the mineral water spring.

National Assembly

The Parliament ( National Assembly) building, listed as a cultural monument,

is situated on the square of the same name on Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. It was
built in three stages from 1884 to 1928, on plans of the Viennese architect
Yovanovich. Above the main entrance runs the slogan "Unity Makes
Strength".

The National Opera House

Situated in one of the most impressive buildings in Sofia on the corner of

Rakovski St. and Doundukov Blvd. Ten columns are lined up along the main
facade, above which a rich frieze illustrates the struggle of the Bulgarian nation
against fascism. The foyers, balconies and large hall are decorated with a multi-
colored marble, paintings showing scenes from different operas, and exquisite
plaster ornaments.

The Ivan Vazov National Theater

This theater in the city park is a model of Baroque architecture. Along the facade of this majestic
building six columns with beautiful capital support a large triangular pediment, decorated with
mythological high reliefs. In the same way as the antique shrines, they remind us that this is a temple
of culture. To the sides two towers rise up, topped by sculptures of the Goddess Nike.
 Churches in Sofia
The major religion in Bulgaria is Christian orthodox and most of the churches in Sofia perform
Orthodox services. The ones listed below are of historical importance to the city. Below you will find
the addresses of places of worship for Catholics, Protestants, Hebrews and Muslims.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

St. Nedelia Church

The church squats on a plot dividing two of Sofia's busiest streets, Vitosha
Blvd. and Maria Luisa Blvd. St.Nedelia was built in the period 1856-1863
upon remains of the Roman town of Serdica. In 1925 it was almost
demolished by political sabotage, but was later reconstructed. Popular place
for weddings.
The Rotunda of St.George

The red brick rotunda church of St. George is considered the oldest building in Sofia.
It is situated behind Sheraton Hotel, amid remains of the ancient town of Serdica.
Three layers of frescoes have been discovered, the earliest dating back to the 10th
century. Magnificent frescoes of 22 prophets over 2 meters tall crown the dome. At
present church is a museum, open Tue - Sat 10.30am - 1pm, 3pm-5.30pm.

The St. Petka Samardziiska Church

This mediaeval church nestles peacefully in the subway in front of the Main Department Store and
can be seen rising out amidst the traffic-filled boulevards that pass it by. The church, built in the 14th
century, is still well preserved and houses frescoes from three different periods. The closest you can
get to, however is the cafe by its side.

St. Sofia Church

If St.George is the oldest church then St.Sofia is the oldest Eastern Orthodox church
in Sofia. Many legends surrounds its history, but it was actually built during the reign
of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian between 527-565. In the 14th century the church
gave its name to the city. During the Turkish rule minarets were added and the
church functioned as a mosque until two earthquakes in the 19th century destroyed
one of the minarets and the mosque was abandoned. Restoration work was begun
after 1900. The present building is a cross basilica with three altars.
The Church of Sts. Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples

The church bears the name Sveti Sedmochislenici (The Holy Seven) and is on Graf Ignatiev St. ,
close to Patriarch Evtimii Blvd. It was built in 1528 by the Turkish architect Sinan and was
originally a mosque, called the Black Mosque due to the black marble of its minarets. It was later
refurbished to serve the needs of Orthodox Christians, but it its monumental naos is preserved.

The St. Nikolai Russian Church

Built in 1912 by Russian workmen, this church on the corner of Tsar

Osvoboditel Blvd. and Rakovski St. preserves the style of Moscow decorative
arts, painting and architecture. The high dome is surrounded by four smaller
domes. The roof of the church and above the door is covered with green
majolica tiles, which harmonize perfectly with the gold-plated domes. The
external decoration of the Russian church is a joy to behold with its exquisite
and rich colors. The frescoes were painted in the style of Novgorod icon
school.

The Banya Bashi Mosque

This is a typical monument of Turkish architecture which adds color to Sofia city center. It was built
in 1576 by the famous Turkish architect who also built Sultanselim mosque in the town of Odrin in
Macedonia. Loudspeakers on the tall minarets call worshippers to prayer. On Maria Luisa Blvd.,
next to Main Department Store.

The Protestant Church

Church of the Adventists of the Seventh Day at 10 Solunska St. Services are on Saturday, sermons at
6pm Saturdays and Sundays.

Catholic Churches

St.Joseph at 125 Tsar Boris St. Services Mon-Sat at 7am, 6pm; Sun 9am in Polish, 10am in
Bulgarian, 11am in Latin. The Nunciate Church at 6 11th August St.. Services Sun 9am in Latin. St.
Francis Church of the Carmelites at 7 Assen Zlatarov St. Services Mon-Sat 7am in Bulgarian, Sun
8am in Bulgarian. Catholic Church with a Bysantine ritual at 7 Nikola Kogarzhiev St.

The Synagogue

The Sofia Synagogue, which was designed by the architect Grunanger, closely
resembles the famous Sepherdic house of prayer in Vienna, which was later
demolished by bombs. It was opened for worship in 1909. The building is in
Spanish-Mauritanian style, with a central octangular dome lit by the biggest
chandelier on the Balkans. On Ekzarh Yosif St. and Washington St.
 Theaters in Sofia

• DRAMA THEATER "SOFIA"

o 23A Yanko Sakazov Blvd.
 Predominantly visiting companies

• SMALL CITY THEATER "ZAD KANALA"

o 25 Yanko Sakazov Blvd.
 The best place to see modern works in a small, intimate
auditorium.

• THEATER 199
o 8 Slavyanska St.

• YOUTH THEATER
o Narodno Sabranie Square
 Youth theater with consistently good avant-garde productions.

• PEOPLE'S THEATER "IVAN VAZOV"

o 1A Vasil Levski St.
 Works by eminent Bulgarians and classical writers performed
by the national theater company.

• "SALZA I SMIAH" THEATER

o 5 Slavianska St.
 The oldest proffesional theater company in Sofia, dating from
1892, and maintaining a reputation for challenging drama.

• SATIRICHEN TEATAR "ALEKO KONSTANTINOV"

o 26 Stafan Karadzha St.
 The place to go for comedy and cabaret.

• PUPPET THEATER
o 14 Gurko St.
 Performances for children.
 Monuments
Ruski Pametnik (Russian Monument)

Ruski pametnik was the first monument built in Sofia after the liberation from the centuries of
Turkish rule. The 10-meter high pyramid of the white sandstone is sliced off at the top. The sculptor
is unknown but it is certain that the monument was built in honor of Tsar Alexander II. It stands on
Russki Pametnik Square near Rodina hotel.

The Tsar Osvoboditel (Tsar Liberator)Monument

The Tsar Osvoboditel monument by the renowned Italian Sculpture Arnoldo Zocci, is
one of the most beautiful in Sofia. Situated on the square in front of the parliament
building, it is an expression of thanks from the Bulgarian nation to its Russian
liberators. The 14 meters high monument portrays the Russian Tsar Alexander II,
astride his horse, holding the declaration of the War of Liberation. The upper part of
the pedestal is a relief composition underneath which small bronze bas-relief
illustrate important events from the war.

The Monument to the Soviet Army

The Monument to the Soviet Army is situated in the beautiful park close to Tsar
Osvoboditel Blvd. It is a tall prism, crowned with an 8-meter sculptural composition.
Bronze figurative compositions decorate the main body of the monument.
 Museums in Sofia
Sofia's museums are almost exclusively Bulgaria-oriented and are aimed at chronicling the
conflicting fortunes of this once great empire, the peoples that have passed through it from
Thracians through Greeks, Romans and Turks, and the lives of the Bulgarians themselves in recent
centuries. They can provide a fascinating insight into the Balkan Peninsula, and entrance fees are
laughably low so there's no excuse not to visit them.

• NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM

o 2, Vitosha Blvd. .Tel: 884 160
 Working time: 09.30 - 18.30; No day off

The museum covers the whole period from prehistory to the present day. The ground floor houses
relics from the earliest period up to the Middle Ages and includes gold and silver treasures (the
Panagyurishte treasure), ceramics and archaeological remains. The first floor concentrates on
ecclesiastical art, the 19th century Bulgarian National Revival including folk costumes, carpets and
typically furnished rooms from that period.

• ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM
o 2, Saborna St. Tel:882 406
 Working time: 10.00 - 12.00/ 14.00 - 18.00; Closed on Mondays.

Remains of Thracian, Greek and Roman settlements in the ivy-clad 15th century
'Buyuk(Big)Mosque'.

• THE EARTH AND MAN MUSEUM

o 2, Cherni Vrah Blvd. Tel:656 639
 Working time: 10.00 - 18.00; Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Founded in 1986. Over 20,000 exhibits are on display, divided into six sections: Giant Crystals,
Minerals of the Earth, Industrial Minerals, Raw Material Sources of Bulgaria, Gems, New Materials.
The museum also holds art exhibitions and classical music evenings, which are noted in our cultural
supplement.

• NATIONAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

o 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd. Tel:885 215
 Working time: 10.00 - 19.00; No day off.

The museum was founded in 1889 and opened to visitors in 1907. Nowadays the museum has three
major sections: Geology, Zoology and Botany. Apart from several meteorites, the 'Earth and Space'
exhibition features unique lunar samples and an impressive dinosaur skeleton. A special exhibition
shows live pythons, crocodiles, and iguanas.

• ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM
o 6A, Moskovska St. Tel:874 191
 Working time: 10.30 - 17.30; Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The museum displays folk costumes, fabrics, jewelry,wood cuttings, hammered ironwork, etc. A
small craft shop sells crafts, costumes and musical instruments from all over Bulgaria. In the former
Royal Palace on Tsar Osvohoditel Blvd., along with the National Art Gallery.

• THE ALEXANDER NEVSKY CRYPT

o 1, St. Alexander Nevsky, Sq. Tel:877 697
 Working time: 10.30 - 12.30/14.00 - 18.30; Closed on Tuesdays.

The crypt museum was founded in 1965 and contains items from the very beginnings of Bulgarian
iconography (the end of the 9th century) until the end of the 19th century. All stages of the Bulgarian
iconography school are represented in a collection of 1500 items.
 SOFIA - MAIN POINTS OF INTEREST

ALEXANDER NEVSKI MEMORIAL

CHURCH

Completed in 1912 in honour of the Russian

casualties of the 1877-78 War of Liberation
from Ottoman Rule. Gold-domed, it is the
finest piece of architecture in the Balkans.
Craftsmen and artists from 6 countries worked
on the five-aisle church in the course of 30
years and created real masterpieces of icons,
frescoes, murals and huge chandeliers. The
interior decoration, made of Italian marble.
Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold,
mosaics embodies the spirit of the finest
Eastern Orthodox traditions. A superb
collection of icons - the best in Bulgaria - can
also be seen in the Crypt.

ROTUNDA OF ST. GEORGE

A C4 brick building in the courtyard behind the

Sheraton Hotel, adorned with finely preserved
early medieval frescoes. There are also remains
of a C2 street and other Byzantine ruins.

ST. SOFIA CHURCH

The 4th-6th century basilica was built during

the reign of Justinian. It has survived intact
with 1600- year-old mosaic details and towards
the end of the C14 gave the city its name.
Beside the wall of the church is the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier. Nearby is the grave of
the national poet and writer Ivan Vazov,
marked by an engraved boulder.
THE NATIONAL PALACE OF CULTURE
The biggest Congress Centre in the Balkans. It
is located in the centre of the city and faces the
Vitosha Mountain.
VASSIL LEVSKI MONUMENT
Vassil Levski was the principal architect of the
campaign to free Bulgaria from the oppression
of the Ottoman Empire. The monument marks
the spot where he was hanged by the Turks in
1873.
THE CHURCH OF ST. NEDELYA
(Opposite the Sheraton Hotel)
Built in medieval times and known as the
Church of the Blessed Sveti Kral. The current
building was reconstructed after 1925 when it
was almost completely destroyed by a bomb
explosion.
SOFIA UNIVERSITY
The country's most prestigious university.
It was built a decade after Sofia became
Bulgaria's capital in 1879 with funds
bequeathed by the brothers Evlogi and Christo
Georgiev.
DRAGALEVTSI
A suburb in the woods at the foot of Mount
Vitosha. About 3 km further on is
DRAGALEVTSI MONASTERY, founded
during the reign of King Ivan Alexander.
Frescoes date back to the C15. The church,
which is part of the original monastery, often
sheltered the Apostle of Freedom Vassil Levski
during the C19.
 BOYANA

A suburb at the foot of Mount Vitosha, notable

for the BOYANA CHURCH, built in the C11.
Frescoes are claimed to be among the oldest
and most interesting examples of East
European Medieval art. Like Rila Monastery,
the BOYANA CHURCH has been listed by
UNESCO as a part of the world s cultural
heritage.

MOUNT VITOSHA

It has become very much a part of Sofia owing

to its accessibility by means of the cabin lifts at
Knyazhevo and Simeonovo. Cherni Vrah, the
highest point, gives wonderful views over the
whole region. The winter ski-resort Aleko lies
THE RUSSIAN CHURCH at 1868 m and the ski season lasts from early
December until late spring. The beautiful
scenery makes the whole area attractive
throughout the year.