Sofia, Bulgaria

The city of Sofia (Bulgarian: София), at the foot of the Vitosha mountain, has a population of 1,208,930 (2003), and is the capital of the Republic of Bulgaria in Southeastern Europe.

History

Founded seven thousand years ago, Sofia is the second oldest capital city in Europe. It has been given several names in the course of history and the remnants of the old cities can still be seen today.

Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement named Sardica, named after the Thracian tribe of Serdi. It was captured by Rome in AD 29 and became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea province. It was destroyed by the Huns in 447. The city was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and renamed Triaditsa. Known as Sredets under the Bulgars, it was renamed Sofia in 1376. Sofia was taken by the Ottomans in 1382 and became the capital of the Turkish province of Rumelia. Sofia was taken by the Russians in 1878, and became the capital of an independent Bulgaria in 1879. During World War II the Russians captured Sofia and Bulgaria from the pro-German government.

There are 16 universities in the city, among which Sofia University, founded in 1889. It is the see of an Eastern Orthodox metropolitan and of a Roman Catholic diocese. Landmarks include the Church of St. George, the Church of St. Sofia, the Banya Bashi, and the Alexander Nevski Cathedral.

The motto of the city is "It Grows But Does Not Age".

Economy

Sofia is a major centre in Bulgaria's economic life. The manufacturing sector of the economy, represented by over 800 large manufacturing plants, includes metal products (75% of the total output in the country), textiles, rubber and leather goods, printing (50% of output) and electronics (15% of output). Sofia is also the country's financial hub, home to the Bulgarian National Bank, the Bulgarian Stock Exchange, as well as some of the country's largest commercial banks (such Bulbank, DSK Bank and the United Bulgarian Bank). Construction, trade and transportation are other important secotrs to the local economy.

Transportation

With its well-developed infrastructure and strategic location, Sofia is an important centre for international railway and automobile routes. All major types of transportation (except water transport) are respresented in the city, which is home to 8 railway stations, the Centre for Flight Control and the Sofia Airport (hub for flag-carrier Bulgaria Air). Three Trans-European Transport Corridors cross the city: 4, 8 and 10.

Public transit is well-developed, reliable and important to the city's economy; it is provided by means of underground trains (metro), buses, trams and electric buses. There are over 15,000 licensed taxi cabs operating in the city.

Key figures

General Data

• Territory - 1,310 sq km
• Elevation - 550 m
• Population - 1,208,930
• Population density - 907 people per sq km
• Average age of population 38.3 years

Housing

• Number of units - 475,900
• Utilised area - 30 sq km
• Living area per person - 15.1 sq m
• Centrally-heated housing units - 437,000
• Length of the water supply network - 2,657 km
• Length of the drainage network - 822 km
• Length of the electricity network - 7,823 km
• Telephone land lines - 408,000

Street network

• Lenght - 2,670 km
• Area 28.126 sq km

Green zones

• Total number - 2,810
• Area in hectares - 5,441
• Green zones per person - 48.7 sq m

Higher learning institutions