You haven't truly experienced Bulgaria until you've seen Plovdiv

With the philosophy of 'Ancient and Enduring,' Plovdiv - Bulgaria's second-largest city - is set to become the 'European Capital of Culture,' alongside Matera in Italy in 2019, recently voted as one of the top 3 European destinations in 2016 by travel websites.

Bulgaria Travel: Plovdiv - The Essential Bulgarian Experience

Situated approximately 150km southeast of the capital Sofia, Plovdiv immediately captivates visitors with its unique landscape featuring the famous Maritsa River meandering through and seven granite hills towering around, including three hills right in the heart of the city.

Spanning through numerous dynasties over thousands of years, Plovdiv gathers a plethora of remnants from ancient Thracian civilization, Roman structures, Turkish Muslim mosques, notably boasting an array of ancient houses.

And amidst the cultural exploration in Plovdiv, the most alluring spot is the Old Town boasting architectural elegance known as 'Plovdiv Baroque.'

Founded during the time of the Thracians in the 12th century BC, Plovdiv stands as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe, with a history spanning over 6,000 years. Over millennia, Plovdiv has been known by various names, from the prehistoric village of Nebettép to Trimontium under the Roman Empire and Eumolpias in ancient Greek times before the name Plovdiv first appeared in the 15th century.

Today, remnants from the medieval period still stand intact at the Eastern Gate, Hisar Kapia.

After conquering Plovdiv in 1364, the Ottoman army constructed buildings reflecting characteristic Eastern styles, meticulously preserved to this day, such as the clock tower on Sahat Hill…

During the Renaissance, Plovdiv emerged as a vital economic hub. The rapidly growing wealthy class brought extravagant design ideas from across Europe, leading to lavishly adorned residences that quickly became symbols of Plovdiv's Old Town.

Currently, most houses dating back to the Renaissance are still in use as residences. Some have been converted into museums or art galleries. These homes often bear the names of their original owners.

Plovdiv's Old Town continues to attract visitors with its quaint souvenir shops offering affordable mementos and a string of quality eateries one after another, tempting enough to make you forget the way back.

From a Thracian fortress town, Plovdiv evolved into a Roman city. Before its annexation into Bulgaria, Plovdiv changed hands several times between the Byzantines and Ottomans.

This tumultuous past has shaped Plovdiv into a major cultural center with numerous ancient ruins, fueling robust cultural tourism with over 800,000 foreign visitors annually, doubling Plovdiv's population. But this figure continues to rise.

Plovdiv is one of the few cities with two ancient theaters, remnants of city walls encircling it, medieval towers, Ottoman-era public baths, and ancient mosques.

Among over 200 historical sites, must-visit attractions in Plovdiv include:

* The Ancient Theater built within a natural hollow amidst the Taksim and Dzhambaz hills in the early 2nd century. Impeccable preservation has made it a venue for various stage performances and large-scale cultural events with a capacity of around 3,500 people.

* The Roman Stadium Trimontium, measuring 240m long and 50m wide with an initial capacity of 30,000 spectators, lies beneath the modern-day Dzhumaya Square, inspired by the architecture of Delphi in Greece, serving as a venue for athletes and gladiators to entertain visitors after its renovation in 1981.

From above the square, you can only glimpse a small part of the courtyard. The rest lies beneath the streets and buildings.

* An ancient complex adjacent to the central square dates back to the 1st century BC. It comprises public buildings, a library, a mint, a theater… sprawling across multiple streets.

* The Roman Aqueduct, 4.4m wide and built in the 2nd and 3rd centuries to transport water from the mountains to the city along an 18km route, now only has a few sections remaining in the west, as most were destroyed by the Ottoman army upon capturing Plovdiv.

* Don't miss the National Ethnographic Museum stop, a 'Bulgarian Baroque' architectural masterpiece adorned with floral motifs on a green backdrop. Here, you'll journey back thousands of years exploring the lives of ancient peoples…

Source: Tuoi Tre

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Reference: Travel Guide by Mytour