Sofia - Bulgaria’s Capital, Sofia, Bulgaria

The capital of Bulgaria is filled with reminders of its extensive history. Walking through its historical centre you will pass Roman ruins that sit beside buildings from the Byzantine Empire. You’ll see Ottoman buildings next to those with a more European look. Although it doesn’t have the draw of other European capitals, we found Sofia to be a pleasant city to visit. Join us as we explore the sites of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital.

Given that the city was named after the Church of St. Sofia, the brick building’s exterior seemed quite unassuming. It was built in the early 6th century under the Byzantine Emperor Justinian, therefore it is considered a contemporary of Hagia Sofia, not far away in Istanbul.

Lions are the symbol of Sofia which is why we saw a few around town, including this one outside of the church.

It is believed that the current building was the fourth church to be built on this site and it has suffered a lot. In the 16th century when it was converted to an Ottoman mosque, the frescoes that adorned the walls were destroyed. In the 19th century it was damaged by an earthquake and was then used only for storage. As a result, the tall building feels hollow inside. The brick walls have very few paintings or adornments, quite unlike other Orthodox churches in the country. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).