Sofia B&B Hotels

For centuries Sofia was first of all famous for its thermal springs that are still of very popular with locals and tourists. The present capital of Bulgaria has a very good military and strategic position, so it's not surprising that in the times of Roman Empire's influence it became the administrative point of great importance. The city had its golden age, when became one of the first Christian centers in Europe (in the 4th century AD).

Sofia has had a long and interesting history, got through a lot of difficulties, before it became the city, we can see nowadays. In the 14th century the Turks seize power and had a great influence there till they were driven away. Then in 1878 Sofia was turned in to a capital and a lot of reconstruction took place (in fact, the alleyways and boulevards that you may see now, were built at those times). The town center was getting its modern appearance: the numerous mosques were demolished, and the Orthodox Church was built again. At the times of the Second World War Sofia was bombed a lot, as Bulgaria was in Axis. More than 3 000 houses were ruined and 9 000 had bad damages (that's why so many buildings in Sofia look brand-new now). When the war was finished, Russian army conquered this city and Bulgaria joined the Eastern Block.
Read more: guide to Sofia with maps, photos and weather conditions.

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