In the center of Sofia you'll mainly see the buildings of neo-classical Stalinist style, a lot of block houses, reminding us about the socialism. So the first impression every visitor gets is quite strong. But it to see the real face of Sofia instead of looking at the building on the main streets, have a walk along the inside alleyways or the old market areas. I promise you'll immediately fall in love wit h this place! Sofia creates an impression of modern green city with cozy streets and balconied houses, projected in the 19th century by architects from Russia and Viennese. Sofia is rich in old Orthodox churches, mainly of neo-Byzantine style, but there you may also find the mosque, which by the way is still opened – it's the result of Ottoman's influence.
The boulevards, actually, are the best places to get to know, what life in Sofia is. The natives often have some talk at cup of tea or coffee at the open terraces of cozy cafes, some of them try to sell some salted foods or home produce. At the corners of the streets you may see gypsies, who offer you some flowers. At the underground, tram or bus stops young singers and musicians usually show their talents.
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).
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