Sofia city
The motto of Sofia is "It grows, but does not age". Nowadays the city is tranquil, continuously changing, but preserving the cultural and architectural values that make it an European city.
Sofia is an ancient city, which has been an important cross road between the European Southeast and the threshold of Asia for many centuries. On the strength of the statute of the capital, the institutional infrastructure is concentrated here, which realizes the governing functions of international, national, local and city significance. Sofia is the biggest administrative, economic, political, cultural and commercial center of the country.
As an emblem of Sofia, in its center is the St. Sofia church. Other buildings and places compete for the position of city symbols. The most popular of all is the Temple-monument "St. Al. Nevski". It is a central patriarchal cathedral of the autocephalous Bulgarian Orthodox Church. The belfry is 50.52 meters high, the central nave is decorated with gilding, and on the top there is a solid gold cross. Bulgarian and Russian masters have made the woodcarving, the stone bas relieves, ornaments and iconography. The National Theater "Ivan Vazov" is something like a second emblem of Sofia. It was built with many elements of the famous for the beginning of the 20th century style - secession. The building of the National Assembly, the National Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum contain the taste of the Bulgarian for the beautiful. The National Gallery contains a collection of 12 000 works of art. Visible from afar is the Russian Church, built by Russian emigrants in 1912-1914. In the inner yard of the Presidency and the Sheraton Hotel is located the Rotunda, transformed in the 4th century, into a church - "St. George". In the very center of the city is situated a whole architectural complex of remains of the Roman culture. The Borisova Garden is the favorite place for recreation and entertainment of the citizens of Sofia, as well as the city garden, the park in front of the National Theater, the small park behind the former Royal Palace. On the south, above Sofia is the true symbol of the city - the Vitosha Mountain. It is formed mainly by granites. Unique natural phenomena are the so called "stone rivers", especially in the Zlatnite mostove area. There are also excellent conditions for ski-sport in the mountain.

Geography and population

Sofia region is situated in the central part of West Bulgaria and it surrounds the territory of the capital almost as a ring. Sofia region is the second largest region in Bulgaria after Burgas region. The total number of municipalities is 22 including the following: Anton, Bojurishte, Botevgrad, Godech, Gorna Malina, Dolna Bania, Dragoman, Elin Pelin, Etropole, Zlatitza, Ihtiman, Koprivshtitza, Kostenetz, Kostinbrod, Mirkovo, Pirdop, Pravetz, Samokov, Svoge, Slivnitza, Chavdar and Chelopech. The region has no administration centre and that is why the city of Sofia turned into political, service and cultural centre of Sofia region. Favorable geographic position, various natural resources as well as the existing demographic, economic and infrastructure potential turn it into one the main regions in Bulgaria. One of the main aims to pursue is opening of new checkpoints and extension of European infrastructure corridors that will increase its role as a crossroad between Northern and Southern Europe, Western Europe and Middle East.

Cultural/Recreation Resources

There is a good potential for development of mountain and cultural tourism. The winter resort Borovetz /municipality Somokov/ and the town-museum Koprivshtitza are well known. There are many mineral water springs, which are used for medical purposes-Belchin Bania /municipality Samokov/, Pchelinski Bani and Kostenetz /municipality Kostenetz/ and municipal Dolna Bania. There are also good possibilities for the development of the religious, hunting and eco tourism.
The St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia is the oldest university in Bulgaria, having been granted its charter in 1909, and is the largest and most advanced educational and research center in the country. Students can select among fifty programs in the Humanities and Sciences, Social Sciences, and Business Administration. More than 20,000 students were enrolled in the sixteen faculties of the university during the 1992/1993 academic year.

The main building of the University, which is architecturally one of the most remarkable buildings in Sofia, was designed by the French architect Breanson.

The University Library plays an important part in the history of the St. Kliment Ohridski University of Sofia. The Library stock of books exceeds 1.5 mln volumes.

Among the other higher educational institutions of Sofia are: Sofia Technical University, The University of National and World Economics, The Higher Institute of Architecture and Civil Engineering, The Medical Academy, The Academy of Fine Arts, The Higher School of Drama and many more.