Articles from category: Sofia from bulgariainside.com

Central Sofia Synagogue

Tue, 22 Dec 2009 15:31:00 +0200

Jews form one of the oldest communities part of Bulgaria’s resident makeup. Historic evidence mentions the presence of Jewish communities during the reign of Roman emperor Caligula (37-41AD), a few decades before the Sack of Jerusalem. Later, the Balkans became the destination of various Jewish migratory waves. The latest and largest wave took place at the end of the 15th century. It resulted from the banishment of the Jewish communities from Spain. The present-day Central Synagogue in Sofia is part of the Sephardic tradition. The Jewish community of Sofia commissioned its construction in the 1900s to an Austrian architect working at the time in Bulgaria. The architectural style resembles that of old synagogues in Spain. However, their look is reflected through the then-contemporary style of Viennese Secession. Construction of the Central Synagogue ended in 1909. The...

Ariana Lake

Sun, 11 Jan 2009 15:34:00 +0200

Ariana lake is one of the best known spots in Sofia. Sofia residents, as well as visitors of the capital, select the location for walks and rest. Today, the lake and the nearby park have been restored and offer various leisure activities. Construction of the facility began shortly after Bulgaria gained its independence and ended in 1904. A bridge connecting the alleys to a small island was set up at that time. Shortly after, the lake turned into one of the most liked places in Sofia. During the summer, visitors can enjoy the coolness of the lake in a boat and the winter offers ice skating opportunities. In the 30s of the 20th century, the lake gained even more popularity since increasing number of people got involved in winter sports. In the 60s and the 70s, Ariana became one of Sofia's symbols. Thousands of people gathered there, especially during weekends. The lake...

Sofia

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:08:00 +0200

Bulgaria’s capital, the city of Sofia, is the biggest settlement in the country. Sofia is located in the western part of Bulgaria, in the vicinities of the picturesque Vitosha Mountain. The location makes climate in Sofia slightly harsher than in the rest of the country. Summer heat is moderately intense but winters usually turn to be cold and snowy. Sofia has rich history dating back in time. The settlement appeared in the 7th century BC. Thracians founded the town close to mineral springs. They named the town Serdika. Once it became part of the Roman empire, many soldiers settled there and the city started changing its appearance. Following the Roman style it got a new fortress wall, the streets were paved, Serdika got a sewerage system, which provided residents with clean water from the nearby mountain. In the end of the 3rd century BC, Serdika became a main...

Borisova Gradina Park

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 14:15:00 +0300

Sofia has various parks, a few of which quite big. The biggest park in the capital is called Borisova Gradina. It is situated between Orlov Most (eagles’ bridge) and Vassil Levski stadium, parallel to Tsarigradsko Shose boulevard. The park’s old name used to be Freedom Park (Parka na svobodata). Today, Borisova Gradina is the biggest and best maintained Sofia park. Old monuments are there for you to explore, while walking the numerous alleys. A Swedish specialist was invited to overlook the construction of the park shortly after Bulgaria’s liberation. He worked on it several decades. Over the years, the park expanded. New plants were added, mainly flowers. New facilities like places for sports and rest were added, as well. Borisova Gradina used to include Ariana lake, a favorite place of both adults and children. From that starting point, you...