COMENIUS MULTILATERAL PROJECT Landscapes of Europe 2010 2012

Sofia region

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication [communication] reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained there.

CONTENT CHAPTER PAGEIntroduction 1. Historical input Short History of Sofia region Historical testimonies- churches 2. Geographic input Relief Climate Vegetation and flora Fauna Natural reserves Transportation and infrastructure The most important towns 3. Tourism Touristic objectives Bulgarian and regional cuisine 4. Ethnography and Folklore Traditional arts and handcrafts Traditional costume Celebrations Legends 5. Personalities 35 37 43 46 48 22 31 13 14 15 16 17 18 21 4 6 3

The Sofia ValleyThe Sofia valley is situated in central western Bulgaria, surronded by the mountains Stara Planina, Vitosha , Viskyar, Lyulin, Lozen and the Slivnitsa Heights. The valley has an area of 1200 square kilometers and its average altitude is 550 meters. In the past the valley was the bottom of a lake and thats why now it is so fertile.

The Sofia Valley is rich in mineral springs such as Gorna Banya, Pancharevo and Bankya, which are, together with the valley's predisposal to seismic activity, the result of its fault character.

The Sofia Valley is the biggest of all the Sub-Bulkan valleys. The valley is devided into two regions Sofia-district- thats the area around Sofia, and Sofia-city includes the capital and two other cities near it. The biggest city in the valley is Sofia and thats what this porfolio is going to be about.

SofiaSofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and is ranked as a Beta world city. It has a population of 1.5 million people.

HistorySofias history spans thousands of years from Antiquity to modern times, during which the city has been a commercial, industrial, cultural and economic centre in its region and the Balkans. Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdic or Serdica, named after the Celtic tribe Serdi that had populated it, dating from 5000 BC. For a short period during the 4th century B.C., the city was possessed by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great. Around 29 B.C., Sofia was conquered by the Romans and renamed Ulpia Serdica. Durring the reign of Emperor Diocletian the city subsequently expanded for a century and a half. Constantine the Great liked Serdica so much that even called it "my Rome". The city was destroyed by the Huns in 447, but was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian and renamed Triaditsa. Although also often destroyed by the Slavs, the town remained under Byzantine dominion until 809. Sofia first became part of the First Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Khan Krum in 809. Afterwards, it was known by the Bulgarian name Sredets (which comes from the word sreda which means middle) and grew into an important fortress and administrative centre. After a number of unsuccessful sieges, the city fell again to the Byzantine Empire in 1018. In 1191 was once again was incorporated into the restored Bulgarian Empire at the time of Tsar Ivan Asen the First after the Vlach-Bulgarian Rebellion. From the 12th to the 14th century, Sofia was a thriving centre of trade and crafts. It was renamed Sofia (meaning "wisdom" in Greek) in 1376 after the Church of St Sophia. However, it was called both "Sofia" and "Sredets" until the 19th century, when the new name gradually replaced the old one.

In 1382, Sofia was seized by the Ottoman Empire in the course of the Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars - after a long siege the city was captured with treason. In 1443 the city's Christian elite was annihilated and the city became the capital of the Ottoman province (Beylerbeylik) for more than 4 centuries, which encouraged many Turks to settle there. In the 16th century, Sofia's urban layout and appearance began to exhibit a clear Ottoman style, with many mosques, fountains and hamams. During that time the town had a population of around 7,000. Sofia was taken by Russian forces on January 4, 1878, during the Russo-Turkish War, 1877-78, and became the capital of the Bulgaria in 1879. By the time of its liberation the population of the city was 11,649. During World War II, Sofia was bombed by Allied aircraft - British and American aircraft, in late 1943 and early 1944. As a consequence of the invasion of the Soviet Red Army, Bulgaria's government, which was allied with Germany, was overthrown. Bularia became a Republic in 1946 which marked significant changes in the city's appearance. The population of Sofia expanded rapidly due to migration from the country. Whole new residential areas were built in the outskirts of the city, like Druzhba, Mladost and Lyulin.

Churches The Church of St.George

Named after Saint George, one of the holy helpers acording to Christianity, the church is located in the center of Sofia, between the Presidents office and the Sheraton Hotel. Its an Early Christian red brick rotunda that is considered the oldest building in Sofia, built during the rule of Constantine The Great in 4th century CE. The church is a part of an anciant complex of buildings from the 4th century. Behind its apse you could still see a Roman street with preserved sewere, the basis of an basilisc and a few smaller buildings. It is built by red bricks with complexed symmetrical plan. It has a central room with a circle shape and a square base with semi-circle nishes in the corners. With a dome of 13.70 it has been used for baptism since the 4th century. There are five layers of frescoes preserved: the first is from the Byzantinean period in the 4th century; the second Bulgarian from the 10thcentury; the third from the 11th and 12th century with images of phrophets; the fourth from the 14th century - the image of a priest and the fifth with elements from the time when the church was a mosque. Despite its small proportions the church is similar to the church St. George in Thessaloniki. Carrying the spirit of the early Christian and the Bulgarian medieval period, the church still inspires and fascinates both tourists and scientists.

Church of St.SofiaIt is the second oldest church in Sofia, dating back to the 6th century . The church was built on the site of several earlier churches and places of worship dating back to the days when it was the necropolis of the Roman town of Serdica. In the 2nd century, it was the location of a Roman theatre. The previous church was destroyed by Barbarian attacks.Thats why Justinian I ordered the building of a church like Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and it was also given the name of Sofia. After 809

when Khan Krum included Sredets in the Bulgarian territory and mainly after the Bulgarians became Christians the church countinued to function. After the Ottoman invasion it was converted into a mosque. Minarets were built and the frescoes were destroyed. The Church was destroyed by an earthquake in the 15th century. It was rebuilt in the late 16th century as a mosque, but in the 19th century two earthquakes destroyed one of the minarets and the mosque was abandoned. It was used as a storage house until 1878. The first modern restoration and reconstruction of the temple was completed in 1930. In 1955 the temple like the church St. George was declared a cultural monument. The temple is shaped like a basilica cross with three massive altars. The floor of the church is covered with complex Early Christian ornamental or flora and fauna-themed mosaics. Today St. Sofia is one of the most valuable arche basilica ological pieces of Early Christian architecture in Southeastern Europe.

Boyana ChurchThe Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia, in the Boyana quarter. It was built in three stages: in the late 10th and early 11th, the mid-13th, and the mid-19th centuries. The oldest section (the eastern church) is a small one-apse cross-vaulted church with inbuilt cruciform supports. The second section, which adjoins the eastern church, was commissioned by Sebastocrator Kaloyan and his wife Dessislava. This building belongs to the twofloor tomb-church type. It consists of a ground-floor family sepulchre with a semi-cylindrical vault and two arcosolia on the north and south walls, and an upper-floor family chapel identical in design to the eastern church. The exterior is decorated with ceramic ornaments. The last section was built on donations from the local community in the mid-19th century. The church owes its world fame mainly to its frescoes from 1259. They form a second layer over the paintings from earlier centuries and represent one

of the most complete and well-preserved monuments of Eastern European mediaeval art. A total of 89 scenes with 240 human images are depicted on the walls of the church. The first layer of frescoes, which originally covered the entire eastern church, dates from the 11th-12th-century. Fragments of those frescoes have been preserved in the lower parts of the apse and the north wall, and in the upper part of the west wall and the south vault. The second layer of frescoes dates from 1259. They were painted over the earlier layer by a team of unknown artists, who also decorated the two floors of the building commissioned by Sebastocrator Kaloyan. There are 240 images figures painted on the second layer. Many of them are of saints there are images of Koloyan, and his wife Desislava and of the Bulgarian Tsar Constantine Asen Tikh and Tsaritsa Irina. There are 18 scene showing the life of St. Nikolas and there are freascoes of the Bulgarian Saints St. John of Rila and St. Paraskeva (Petka). According to many leading experts, the world famous frescoes in the Boyana Church played an important role in the development of mediaeval Bulgarian and European painting.

St. Sedmochislenitsi ChurchThe Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church is a Bulgarian Orthodox church, created between 1901 and 1902 through the conversion of an abandoned Ottoman mosque, and was inaugurated on 27 July 1903. The church is named after Cyril and Methodius and their five disciples, known in the Orthodox Church collectively as the Sedmochislenitsi. The so-called Black mosque was built in 1528 on the order of Suleiman the Magnificent with the intention to be more impressive and beautiful than the Christian churches in the city. It was constructed at the place of a former nunnery of the Rila Monastery and an Early Christian temple

from the 4th-5th century. An even older construction, a pagan temple of Asclepius from Roman Serdica, was also discovered in the mosque's foundations. The 25 m-long mosque had a square shape and a large lead-covered dome. The mosque was initially known as the Koca Mehmed Pasha Mosque after Mehmed-paa Sokolovi. The mosque received its more popular name, the Black Mosque, after the dark granite from which its minaret was made. The minaret collapsed during an earthquake in the 19th century and the mosque was abandoned by the Ottomans after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 to become used as a military warehouse and prison. The architect who suggested the conversion of the once Ottoman mosque into a Christian church was the Russian Alexander Pomerantsev. Two Bulgarian architects designed the dome, the narthex and the bell tower in a traditional Bulgarian style, inspired by the movement of Romanticism. Only the central hall and the dome of the former mosque were preserved, with four oval bays, a narthex and an altar section being added. The construction works took a year, between 27 May 1901 and 6 May 1902, but the complete inner decoration did not finish until 1996. Young artists painted the icons and among the first donors were Tsar Ferdinand and Ivan Evstratiev Geshov. Famous Bulgarian statesman Petko Karavelov also contributed significantly to the church's construction and was buried nearby in January 1903.

Alexander Nevsky CathedralThe St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia. Built in NeoByzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions. The St.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 10,000 people inside. It is the biggest cathedral located on the Balkan Peninsula. A permision to be build was given in 1879. The construction of the St.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral started in 1882, when the foundation stone was laid, but most of it was built between 1904 and 1912. The cathedral was designed by Alexander Pomerantsev, aided by Alexander Smirnov and Alexander Yakovlev, as the initial 1884-1885 project of Ivan Bogomolov was radically changed by Pomerantsev. The final design was finished in 1898, and the construction and decoration were done by a team of Bulgarian, Russian, Austro-Hungarian and other European artists, architects and workers. The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a cross-domed basilica featuring an emphasized central dome. The cathedral's gold-plated dome is 45 m high (148 ft), with the bell tower reaching 53 metres (174 ft). The temple has 12 bells brought from Moscow, Russia. Their total weight is 23 tons, the heaviest weighing 12 tons and the lightest 10 kilograms (22 lb). The interior is decorated with Italian marble in various colours, Brazilian onyx, alabaster, and other luxurious materials. The central dome has the Lord's Prayer inscribed around it, with thin gold letters. The lighting fixtures were created in Munich, the metal elements for the gates in Berlin, while the gates themselves were manufactured in Karl Bamberg's factory in Vienna, and the mosaics were shipped from Venice. The cathedral was named after Alexander Nevsky, a Russian prince. It was created in honour to the Russian soldiers who died during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, as a result of which Bulgaria was liberated from Ottoman rule. In 1924 it was declared a cultural monument. In its crypt some of the most beautiful Bulgarian icons are exposed.

St Nedelya ChurchThe St. Nedelya Church is an Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia, a cathedral of the Sofia bishop of the Bulgarian Patriarchate. St. Nedelya is a medieval church that has suffered destruction through the ages and has been reconstructed many times. The history of the cathedral's earliest years is to a large extent unknown. It was probably built in the 10th century and had stone foundations and an otherwise wooden construction, remaining wooden until the middle of the 19th century, unlike most other churches in the city. Around 1460, the remains of Serbian king Stefan Milutin were carried to Bulgaria and were stored in various churches and monasteries until being transferred to St Nedelya after it became a bishop's residence in the 18th century.

The former building was demolished to make place for a larger and more imposing cathedral on 25 April 1856. The construction of the 35.5 m-long and 19 m-wide church began in the summer of the same year. The still incomplete building suffered from an earthquake in 1858, which prolonged the construction works that ultimately finished in 1863. It was officially inaugurated on 11 May 1867 in the presence of 20,000 people. A new belfry was erected to accommodate the 8 bells given to the church as a present by Knyaz Dondukov-Korsakov in 1879. The church was raised in the assault in 1925 that claimed over 150 victims. After the assault, the church was restored to its modern appearance between the summer of 1927 and the spring of 1933. It was almost erected anew as a temple 30 m in length and 15.50 m in width and featuring a central dome that made it 31 m high. The gilt iconostasis that survived the bomb attack was returned to the church. The mural decoration was done by a team led by Nikolay Rostovtsev between 1971 and 1973. The floor was renovated and the north colonnade was glazed between 1992 and 1994. The faade was cleaned thoroughly in 2000 and a device to automatically ring the eleven bells (the eight ones from Knyaz Dondukov-Korsakov, two made in Serbia and one cast in Bulgaria) was installed in 2002.

Church of St PetkaThe Church of St Petka of the Saddlers is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church built in the 11th century. It is a small one-naved building partially dug into the ground located in the very centre of both the modern and the antique city. The church features a semicylindrical vault, a hemispherical apse, and a crypt discovered during excavations after the Second World War. The walls are 1 m thick and made from brick and stone.

The church was first mentioned in the 16th century and was constructed at the place of a former Roman religious building. It is today a monument of culture known for its mural paintings from the 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th century depicting biblical scenes. The church is dedicated to St Petka, an 11th century Bulgarian saint.

Other Places of WorshipAs multy-cultural society we have many other places fo worship, except churches. In Sofia you can find a Cathlic Cathedral, a Muslim Mosque and a Jewish Synagogue, which are situated not very far from each other.

Cathedral of St JosephThe Cathedral of St Jopseph is the biggest catholic cathedral in Bulgaria The construction of the cathedral began in 1875 and at first it was a smaller building. It was opened for service in 1880. The cathedral, rebuilt after it was destroyed by the Allied bombing raids during World War II, was inaugurated on 21 May 2006 in the presence of Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals of the Roman Catholic Church. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Bulgaria in 2002. The Cathedral of St Joseph has 350 seats and is capable of sheltering a total of about 1,000 people. It is 23 m long, 15 m wide and 19 m high, with the belfry reaching 33 m and having four electronic bells.

Banya Bashi MosqueBanya Bashi Mosque is a mosque whose construction was completed in 1576, during the years the Ottomans had control of the town. The mosque derives its name from the phrase Banya Bashi, which means many baths. The most outstanding feature of the Mosque is that it was actually built over natural thermal spas. One can even see the steam rising from vents in the ground near the Mosque walls. The Mosque is famous for its large dome and the minaret rising upward to the sky. It was a square form and shows the ottoman architectual style iin the 16th century. Its walls are made from ashlar and red brick

Currently the Banya Bashi Mosque is the only functioning mosque in Sofia, a remnant of the Ottoman rule of Bulgaria that lasted nearly five centuries, and is used by the city's Muslim community.

Sofia Synagogue

The Sofia Synagogue synagogue in Europe, one of two Bulgaria and the third-

is the largest Southeastern functioning in largest in Europe.

Constructed for the needs of the Sephardic Jewish community after a project by the Austrian architect Friedrich Grnanger, it resembles the old Sephardic synagogue Leopoldstdter Tempel in Vienna and was officially opened on 9 September 1909. The first preparations for the synagogue's construction date to 1903, while the construction itself had begun on 13 November 1905. One of the architectural monuments of Sofia, the synagogue, located in the very centre of the city near the Central Market Hall, can accommodate 1,300 worshippers. The Sofia Synagogue's main chandelier weighs 1.7 tons and is the largest in the country. The architectural style is essentially Moorish Revival, with elements of the Vienna Secession and, in the facade, Venetian architecture. The main premise has a diameter of 20 m and is 31 m high. It is topped by an octagonal dome. The interior is richly decorated, featuring columns of Carrara marble and multicoloured Venetian mosaics, as well as decorative woodcarving. The entire building takes up 659 m. Since 8 May 1992 the Sofia Synagogue also houses the Jewish Museum of History, which includes the Jewish Communities in Bulgaria and the Holocaust and the Salvation of the Jews in Bulgaria expositions. A souvenir shop is also in operation.

GeographyReliefSofia's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. It is situated in western Bulgaria, at the northern foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by the mountains Vitosha, Lyulin, Losenska and the Balkans on all sides. Sofias territory is 492 square kilometres and average altitude of 550 metres (1,800 ft). Three mountain passes lead to the city, which have been key roads since antiquity, connecting the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black and Aegean Seas. A number of low rivers cross the city, including the Vladaiska and the Perlovska. The Iskar River in its upper course flows near eastern Sofia. The city is known for its numerous mineral and thermal springs. Artificial and dam lakes were built in the last century. Thanks to its stratigic location Sofia has always beena big, lively cultural and trading center.

ClimateSofia has a humid continental climate with high temperature amplitudes. The winters in the city are on the verge between the cold Seberian and the soft Mediterranean winters. The coldest month is January with a temperature around -1,6C. The hottest month is July in which the temperature can go up to 35C and more. The city receives around 650 millimetres (26 in) annual precipitation with summer maximum and winter minimum. The temperatures in Sofia generally remain cooler than other parts of Bulgaria in summer, due to the high altitude of the valley in which it is situated.

Vegetation and flora

Rising up directly from the Sofia Plain, the Vitosha Mountains dominate the southern skyline above the Bulgarian capital. It was the Slavs who gave the Vitosha Mountains their current name, supposedly a word of Thracian origin meaning split in two, a reference no doubt to the striking profile of the Vitosha Mountains when gazed at from Sofia. Despite its proximity to Sofia, and the continued presence and pressures of man, the Vitosha Mountains are also blessed with a surprisingly rich flora and fauna.

Because of its geographical location, varied climate and geology, Bulgaria has a very rich flora, with over 3800 species of higher plants including Central European, Mediterranean, Pontic, Pannonian, Steppe and Oriental elements. Compared to other European countries, Bulgaria's flora boasts a relatively large percentage of endemics, with 170 endemic species and 100 endemic subspecies. The highest concentration of these are found in the mountains. As well as the vascular plants, the Bulgarian flora also comprises some 4000 species of algae, 670 species of mosses and 600 species of lichens. It is also interesting to mention here the great diversity of fungi species in Bulgaria. At present, well over 5000 species of fungi, fungi-like species and slime-moulds have been recorded in Bulgaria. Despite their small size, and the continued presence and pressures Vitosha Mountains still boast an extremely rich and varied flora. The lowest parts of the Vitosha Mountains, below about 1350 metres, are clad in mixed broad-leaved forests. Growing beside many of the hiking trails in this zone are wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca) and raspberry (Rubus idaeus). Above the oak-hornbeam forests, you then encounter beech (Fagus sylvatica), a tree which at higher altitudes, between about 1700 and 1950 metres, is also found in association with Norway spruce (Picea abies), the dominant species in the coniferous zone. Higher still, beyond the sparse clumps of dwarf mountain pine (Pinus mugo), lie the Vitosha Mountains famous peat bogs and sub-alpine pastures. These are home to a wide range of beautiful moisture-loving plants. Some of the most conspicuous to look out for along the hiking trails

are: marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), globe flower (Trollius europaeus), grass of Parnassus (Parnassia palustris) and the beautiful red-flowered avens Geum coccineum.

Fauna

As with the flora, Bulgaria's faunistic richness results from a combination of climatic and geographical factors. In terms of its diversity, Bulgaria's fauna ranks amongst the richest in Europe, and the country is thought to be home to almost one quarter of species so far found on the continent. Up to now, almost 30,000 species had been discovered in Bulgaria, but many experts believe that the final total is likely to about 56,000. So far, just under 800 species of vertebrates have been recorded with the remaining 97% made up of invertebrate species. Pressures from man are increasing on the Vitosha Mountains every year, and this means that the fauna of the Vitosha Mountains is under considerable threat. However, despite this fact, a surprising variety of wildlife still survives on the range. Red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) and roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) are the most typical mammals to be seen, but for those who take the time to look harder, there are also wild boar (Sus scrofa), wild cat (Felis silvestris) and even a small number of brown bear (Ursus arctos). Birds are much more conspicuous with over 100 species having been recorded on the Vitosha Mountains. The forests shelter nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes), ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus), hazel grouse (Bonasa bonasia) and capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus). However, the latter is now very scarce on the Vitosha Mountains and struggling to survive in the face of increasing disturbance. Interesting birds to be seen in higher more open regions include: Balkan horned lark (Eremophila alpestris balcanica), alpine accentor (Prunella collaris) and water pipit (Anthus spinoletta).

Natural reserves

Sofia and Vitosha are inseparable like Naples and Vesuvius. The description belongs to the Vienna scientist Hohshteter, who visited Bulgaria in 19th century. Even today it reflects the connection between the million city and the mountain. Vitosha is a real bliss for the citizens who enjoy the mountain during all seasons. Vitosha is the first park in Bulgaria and on the Balkan Peninsula and is among the first ones in Europe as well. The park was declared as such in 1934 with a total area of 6 410 hectares. During the years the territory has been changed many times and today it is 26 606 hectares, which is over 90% of the total mountain. The environmental restrictions after 1934 limit the unfavourable human impact on the mountain. The two reserves within the parks territory Bistrishko branishte and Torfeno branishte are protected by the law. They have been established to preserve in their original state the coniferous forests, the alpine grass vegetation and the most considerable for Bulgaria complex of alpine peat which thickness reaches up to 2 metres. The Reserve Bistrishko branishte has been proclaimed by UNESCO for a biospheric one and is part of the world network of biospheric reserves. Fifty two plants which can be found in the park are included in the Red Book of Bulgaria. The mountain lily (Lilium jancae) which is included in Annex 1 of the Bern Convention has one of the biggest populaces in Vitosha. Some of the rarely found plants in the world can be seen in Vitosha the Macedonian Pine, Transilvanian campanula and Luzula deflexa. There are about 30 types of orchids. Up to now there are 326 species and varieties of mosses, 500 species of algae and 360 species of lichens known in Vitosha. Only in Bistrishko branishte there are 99 types of mosses. There are 9 species of mosses, representatives of the group Sphagnum, which form the peat and are characteristic for the Reserve Torfeno branishte. Ten species of amphibians (3 tailed species and 7 species of frogs) and 12 species of reptiles (6 species of lizards and 6 species of snakes) have been identified in the park. Among the most endangered ones are the viper, the mountain lizard, the salamander, the blindworm and etc. Especially important for the reptiles of Vitosha are the Bosneshki karst and the three wet zones: the Boyana lake, the marsh areas north of the village of Yarlovo and the group of springs in the peat between the chalet Aleko and Kamen Del peak. 236 species of birds are known in Vitosha, 120 of them nest there. Recently, on the territory of the park can be seen some rare or endangered species: goshawk, black stork, eagle owl, golden eagle, etc. The bat fauna is most diversified in the Bosneshki karst region. Ten out of the 13 known species in Vitosha can be found there. Near to the village of Bosnek is the longest cave in Bulgaria Duhlata with length of 17,5 km. Despite the massive extermination during the 20-ies in the last century, the bear populace has been partially restored and there are 9 bears at the moment. In Vitosha can be seen all predatory and wild hoofed animals characteristic for the Bulgarian mountains: wolves, foxes, martens, deer, does, etc. The lynx and the wild goat disappeared from the mountain fauna in the beginning of the last century. The stone screes and the stone rivers are unique for Vitosha. The biggest such area is the Zlatnite mostove (Golden bridges). There are ten peaks in Vitosha which are over 2000 m, the highest of them being peak Cherni vruh

(Black peak) which is 2290m high and is positioned in the centre of the mountain. Each of the four mountain parts of Vitosha starts from it. The biggest fall in Vitosha is Boyana fall the water falls from 40 m. It is situated at 1300 m in the valley of Boyana river.

Transportation and InfrastructureWith its developing infrastructure and strategic location, Sofia is an important centre for international railway and automobile routes. Three TransEuropean Transport Corridors cross the city: 4, 8 and 10. All major types of transport (except water transport) are represented in the city. It is home to eight railway stations, the biggest of which is the Central Railway Station. Just next to it is the new Central Bus Station, the biggest and most modern of its kind in the country. A number of other Bus Stations allow interurban and international trips from different parts of the city. Public transport is well-developed with bus, tram (153,6 km network) and trolleybus (97 km network) lines running in all areas of the city, although most vehicles are in a poor condition.

The Sofia Airport is the main airport in Sofia. Located 5 km (3.1 mi) east of central Sofia. The airport was initially built in the late 1930s on a site 9 km (5.6 mi) by road and today 11.4 km (7.1 mi)) distant from the geographical centre of Sofia as a replacement of that city's small civil airport at Bozhurishte. Sofia then had under 250,000 inhabitants. During the Second World War, the facilities were used by the military. The airport has two terminals. The first build was built in the first half of the 20th century and opened on

16 September 1937. It has been extended and improved many times, fundamentally renovated in 2000. Terminal 2 was officially opened on 27 December 2006 with the symbolic arrival of Bulgaria Air flight FB 408 from Brussels. It was one of the biggest projects in Bulgaria to receive funds from the EU ISPA programme. The price includes the new terminal, new aircraft parking aprons, upgrading the existing aircraft parking aprons and the construction of connecting taxiways.

The Sofia underground became operational from 1998 and is yet largely underdeveloped with one line and only 14 stations. Several new stations have been opened in 2009. Another, second line is being built with a targeted completion date in 2012. The masterplan for the Sofia underground includes three lines with a total of 47 stations. In recent years the marshrutka, a private passenger van, began serving fixed routes and proved an efficient and popular means of transport by being faster than public transport but cheaper than taxis. Private automobile ownership has grown rapidly in the 1990s; more than 1,000,000 cars were registered in Sofia in the last five years. The Sofia municipality is known for minor and cosmetic repairs and most streets are in a poor condition. The extension of the underground system is hoped to alleviate the city's immense traffic problems.

In Sofia we have two big motorways one of them is Hemus motorway. The Hemus motorway or Haemus motorway, designated A2, is amotorway currently under construction in Bulgaria. Its planned length is 433 km, of which 129 km are in operation as of 2006. According to the plans, Hemus motorway would connect the capital city of Sofia to Varna on the Black Sea.

The other one is Trakiya motorway. The Trakiya motorway or Thrace motorway, designated A1, is a motorway currently in construction in Bulgaria. It is planned to connect the capital of Sofia with Burgas on the Black Seathrough Plovdiv and with Kalotina on the Serbian border. The motorway is named after the historical region of Thrace, the northern (Bulgarian) part of which it runs through. The Trakiya motorway's projected length is 368 km (or 443 km depending on whether certain segments are included), of which 280 km are currently in operation.

The most important towns

The Mineral Baths in Bankya

A monument to Elin Pelin

Bankya is an upscale town and district in western Bulgaria. It is administratively part of greater Sofia. The district is famous for the mineral springs and baths that have been used for their medicinal properties for hundreds of years .In 1969 the village of Bankya was proclaimed a town, and in 1979 it became part of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Bankya is 10 km west of the city of Sofia. It is situated at the foot of Lyulin mountain at an average altitude of around 630750 meters. The first people to populate the region of Bankya were Thracian tribes, over 2500 years ago. Archaeological excavations near the quarter of Ivanyane have unearthed remains of Ancient Roman buildings, walls and sewers, and bronze bracelets from the 4th5th century. Bankya's economy depends mainly on tourism and balneological treatment. Bankya was first mentioned as Bankya in the 15th century. The former villages of Verdikal, Gradoman and Mihaylovo are part of the town itself, while Ivanyane and Klisura are part of the municipality. Bankya's name stems from the common noun bankya, "hot spring", a diminutive of banya ("baths"). Places of interest in Bankya are:

"Vazov's Oak", Ivan Vazov's favourite resting place. Church of Martyrs Quiricus and Julietta, built in 1932 and inaugurated by bishop Stephen from Sofia. The former presidential residence which was later turned into a country golf club. Bankya Palace, a spa hotel. Mineral Baths in Bankya, built in 19071910 to the design of Munich architect Carl Hocheder

Elin Pelin previously known as Novoseltsi (), is a town in central western Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of Elin Pelin municipality, located in central Sofia Province. It lies in the Sofia Valley, with the slopes of the Balkan Mountains to the north and Sredna Gora to the southsoutheast, 24 km southeast of the capital city of Sofia. The number of Thracian, Roman and Byzantine artifacts and ruins in the area proves that the surroundings of Elin Pelin have been inhabited since antiquity. A Slavic settlement was founded in the Middle Ages and existed until the early Ottoman rule of Bulgaria. Elin Pelin (then Novoseltsi) became to emerge as a local cultural and trade centre during the Bulgarian National Revival. In 1881, after the Liberation of Bulgaria, it was proclaimed the administrative centre of a district. Novoseltsi continued to grow in importance after the construction of the SofiaSaranbey (now Septemvri) railway line and the establishment of the Izida ceramic factory, the first in the country. A class school and a chitalishte were founded in the late 19th century. Novoseltsi was renamed Elin Pelin in honour of the noted writer of the same name (born in the nearby village of Baylovo) in 1950 and was proclaimed a town in 1960. The area of Elin Pelin is one of the best preserved centres of the traditional ethnocultural subgroup of the Bulgarian people, the Shopi, including its characteristic vernacular, the white clothing and the characteristic dances, songs and humour. The Shop Holidays, a celebration of Shop culture and life, have been organized in the town since 1970.

Tourist objectivesBulgaria is a country famous for its rich history and tourism. Apart from the numerous churches preserved from different periods of time, there are a lot other places of interest that can be seen in Sofia and in the region itself. Some of them are connected with culture while others are sports and spa centres.

NDK, The National Palace of Culture

The National Palace of Culture located in Sofia, is the largest multifunctional congress, conference, convention and exhibition centre in Southeastern Europe. It was opened in 1981. In July 2005, the National Palace of Culture was proclaimed the best congress centre in the world for the year by the International Organization of Congress Centres. The congress centre has a wide variety of technical equipment at its disposal in order to host different types of events, such as concerts, conferences, exhibitions and shows. It has an area of 123,000 m on eight floors and three underground levels. The National Palace of Culture has 13 halls and 15,000 m of exhibition area, a trade centre and a car park. The National Palace of Culture is visited by 1 600 000 people per year. Curiously, more than 10,000 tons of steel were used for the construction of the NDK - 3,000 more than the Eiffel Tower.

National Theater Ivan VazovThe Ivan Vazov National Theatre is Bulgaria's national theatre, as

well as the oldest and most authoritative theatre in the country and one of the important landmarks of Sofia. It is located in the centre of the city, with the facade facing the City Garden. Founded in 1904 it was initially called simply the National Theatre, before being named after the prominent writer Ivan Vazov. The theatre's Neoclassical building, designed by famous Viennese theatre architects Hermann Helmer and Ferdinand Fellner was finished in 1906 and opened on 3 January 1907. The building was extensively damaged by a fire in 1923 during an anniversary celebration, but was reconstructed in 1929. A theatrical school was established as part of the National Theatre in 1925. The bombing of Sofia in World War II caused considerable damage to the building, but it was reconstructed in 1945. Another reconstruction followed in 1971-1975, and another restoration project was implemented in 2006. The Ivan Vazov National Theatre has a well-equipped main stage with 750 seats, a smaller 120-seat stage and an additional 70-seat one on the fourth floor.

SS. Cyril and Methodius National LibraryThe SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library is the national library of Bulgaria, situated in the capital city of Sofia near the

university of Climent Ohridski, Founded on 4 April 1878. It is Bulgarias oldest cultural institute and the biggest lybrary in the country.The library was destroyed in the bombing in 1943-1944 and rebuilt in 1953.

The lybrary has mainly reference books and doesnt loan any matereals. In it you can find a collection of more than 1,500 Slavonic Scriptures, Greek and other Foreign Scriptures dating from 9th to 19th century, Eastern Scriptures, containing around 3,100 Arabic, 500 Ottoman, and 150 Persian codicies, Old Print, Rares and Valuables as well as a collection of over 80,000 photographs and illustrations of different people and places.

Monument to Vasil LevskiThis is the monument dedicated to Vasil Levski the biggest national hero. He created special revolutional organization to liberate the country. Levskis biggest wish was to free Bulgaria and gave his life for it. Vasil Levski or also known as the Apostle of Liberation was hanged in the same place where the monument is build. The first constructions began in 1878 due to the lack of money the building of the monument took 10 years so on the 22nd of September 1895 the monument was officially build and opened. Its made from gray granite and its 13 meters tall, on its front side you can see the bronze portrait of Vasil levski. It on of the first monuments build after the liberation of Bulgaria.

The Boris GardenBorisova gradina translated as Boris' Garden is the oldest and best known park in Sofia. Its construction and arrangement began in 1884 and it is named after Bulgarian Tsar Boris III. The history of the garden embraces three periods under three renowned gardeners. The gardner who created it was Daniel Neff. He developed the first plan of the garden in the spring of 1882, set up the nursery and built a house for himself, starting construction in 1884. Trees were planted, flowerbeds were shaped, a small artificial lake was built. The nursery produced saplings that met the needs of the city and were also sold to the citizen. Acacia trees were most widely produced together with mulberry trees, trumpet flowers, elm trees, plane trees and others. The nursery was shaped as a garden in 1885 and had an area of 300,000 m in 1886 with four main alleys.The Boris Garden grew to the southwest in the following years and the large lake was built in 1889.

Joseph Frei was the manager of all gardens and parks of Sofia in 1906. He reorganized the Boris garden according to his own plan further developing the one of Neff. This period witnessed with the construction of the People's Fountain, later faced with freestone to be named the Freestone Fountain. Frei had a passion for flowers. He created the Rosarium at the place of removed agricultural buildings. The Bulgarian gardener Georgi Duhtev became the manager of the Gardens and Parks Service in 1934. During his period, the old Rosarium was extended to embrace 7,000 m with over 1,400 new cultivated rose species being planted by him. The Japanese Corner was created in 1940 above the Fish Lake. He used Japanese plants given to him by the Japanese minister as a gift and a sign of friendship between the Japanese and Bulgarian people. Around 1942 Borisova gradina embraced an area of 90,500 m, 68,600 m of which planned and 4,400 m not, the remainder of 17,350 m being built up and including the Summer Swimming Bath, the University Observatory, the Open-air School, the Yunak and Levski football fields, the diplomatic tennis court, the cycling track and the Yunak Rectifying Station.

Dragalevtsi Monastery "Virgin Mary of Vitosha"

Dragalevtsi Monastery was mentioned for the first time in the Vitosha golden-printed deed of the famous Bulgarian king Ivan Shishman (1371-1393). It revealed that the monastery had been established during the reign of Ivan Alexander (1331-1371), which means the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. It is believed that the monastery was a part of the group of monasteries which arose in 14th and 15th century around Sofia. They were named Sofia Saint Forest. The two Bulgarian rulers have made generous donations to the holy cloister, such as money and real estates. That is why local people call it royal. After Sofia having been conquest by the Ottoman Turks in 1382, the monastery itself was conflagrated and then abandoned by the monks.

In the second half of the 15th century, Dragalevtsi Monastery was renovated. In the 1476 the Sofia boyar Radoslav Mavur endowed funds and contributed to the restoration of a church, richly decorated with frescoes, namedVirgin Mary. Dragalevtsi Monastery was one of the active centers of the struggles for Bulgarian Liberation. Besides its precious frescoes from three different time periods, the monastery is also famous for hosting a so-called cell school during the Ottoman rule, and producing the Dragalevtsi Testament. Moreover, the Dragalevtsi monastery was one of the active centers of Bulgarian struggles for liberation since it took part in the secret revolutionary activity against the Turks in the mid-19th century. The abbot of the monastery, Genadii, was a close friend and collaborator of the national hero Vassil Levski, and helped him actively in the organisation of revolutionary committees in the area of Sofia.

Architecture and present condition:Dragalevski Convent consists of a church, residential and farm buildings. The only one of which was preserved from the old monastery complex is the church, which is a type of basilica, dating back to the 15th century. It is richly decorated with two layers of frescoes. Only fragments from several Biblical scenes have been preserved from the original wall-painting in the narthex. The whole vault arches, the eastern, the northern and southern wall of the narthex are occupied with the imposing composition Doomsday. The west faade of the old church was soon afterwards decorated with the images of Virgin Mary and three of the most popular saints-horsemen-St.George, St. Dimitar and St.Merkurii. The frescoes on the outside north wall of the Dragalevska church, including the portraits of prominent monks, St.Ivan Rilski and St.Petka Turnovska, were created in the 17th century. Today they are included in the interior of the second monasterys church, adjoined to the old one. The iconostasis in the church was renovated in the end of 18th century and its carved ornaments were gold-plated. Icons from the 19th century are still kept in the church.

Accommodation in the monastery:Dragalevtsi monastery is a functioning cloister and it has many buildings at its disposal, but it does not offer accommodation or food. You can buy soft drinks or coffee near the entrance of the monastery.

German Monastery Rilski St.Ivan

The German monastery was established in the 10th century and according to the legend, the venerable St.Ivan Rilski has lived there for a while just before he has found his solitude in the Rila Mountain. During the reign of the kind Petur, the monastery has been turned into an important spiritual centre and, respectively, a part of the Sofias Little Sveta Gora (Sofias region is abundant in cloisters). Soon afterwards, during the time of Byzantine domination when the monastery has flourished, it has been sent presents by the Byzantine Emperor Alexius I Komnin. The holy cloister was completely destroyed during the time of the invasion of Ottoman conquerors in 1382 when Sofia city fell under their power. The shrine was restored one century later and it has rapidly turned into a cultural centre. The evidence for the importance of the monastery is the preserved German collection of the saint Nikola which is kept safely in the National Library in Sofia. In the 18th century, however, the German monastery was plundered again by the so-called Kardzhalii detachments. The monks who managed to flee and local residents started the reconstruction of the sanctuary and a simple, in terms of architecture, one-nave church, half-hidden beneath the surface was built. After the Liberation, the then father superior of the German Monastery, Nikifor and his brother Cyril decided to rebuild the sanctuary. In 1886 the old church was torn down and a new one was erected over the same place. A new iconostasis, representing icons of St Ivan of Rila, St Gods Mother with Christ, Jesus Christ, St John the Precursor and St Nikolay Miriklijski, was also created. The icons were painted by the talented brothers from the town of Samokov-Ivan and Nikola Dospevski. In the end of the 19th century, the German cloister was visited by the Prince Ferdinand and Princess Maria Louise who planted two sequoias which can be still seen at the monasterys entrance. A few years later, the King Boris III also visited the monastery and planted a tree. It was decided in 1928 that German Monastery and its properties should have been owned and managed by the poor Bulgarian monastery St.George Zograf , located in Athos .

Architecture and present condition:Currently the German monastery is functional and open to visitors. The monastery represents a complex of a church and one residential building. The present-day church was erected in 1886 on the foundations of the old temple and it is one-nave, one-apse building without a dome. The shrine does not boast frescoes, but it has valuable icons which were painted by the eminent brothers Nikola and Ivan Dospevski. Residential buildings in the German monastery dated back to the 19th-20th century.

Places of interest in the region:The remnants of an old Byzantine fortress, which was destroyed by the troops of Khan Krum in 809 after the occupation of Sredets (today Sofia city), can be seen to the north of the German monastery. The ruins of an old church were discovered in 1959 not far away from the monastery. It is believed that it dates back to the time of the First Bulgarian State and it was connected with the fortress situated in the near Kaleto Peak.

Urvich Fortress

The medieval fortress of Urvich is located in the Pancharevo gorge (on the land where the village of Pancharevo is today ) by the Iskar river, which divides Plana mountain from the very west end of Sredna Gora mountain - the Lozen mountain. It's located on Lozen's hill Sredobardie, on a crag enclosed from three sides by the Iskar river. The historical information (construction of the walls, other remains) shows that the fortress was built during the XIII century in the time of the Second Bulgarian Empire. Preserved today are parts of the outside wall with a height up to 6 m. and parts of the walls of the inner court church "St. Ilia". There are two versions regarding the origin of the name. According to the first one, the fortress was named after the name of the local boyar - Urvich. The other one says, that the name follows the situation - from "urva" (an old bulgarian word meaning precipice). The first records about the fortress are given by Paisii Hilendarski in his "History". Emphasized is the role that Urvich played in the defence of the Second Bulgarian Empire. A legend says that in this location were the last battles of Tsar Ivan Shishman, called by the local habitants Tsar Jasen. This name was given also to the panoramic road at the foot of the mountain Vitosha (Tsar Jasen's road) -

from the village Boyana, through Dragalevtsi and Bistritsa, towards Pancharevo, which assured the permanent connection between the fortresses Urvich and Bistritsa and Batil-Boyana, which are also situated at the foot of Vitosha mountain. According to the legends thanks to the fact, that it is surrounded from three sides by the Iskar river, the fortress withstood the last siege for a long time, until the day when a local woman, named Vedena in an attempt to save her child's life, revealed the location of the secret entrance of Urvich. The people damned the betrayer and she petrified. Today if the traveller looks towards the left bank of Vedena river, they will see a rock shape, which looks like a figure of a woman hugging a kid. This rock structure is named "Starchikov kamak". Urvich is a part of the so called "Urvich fortress complex", which also includes the St. Nikola-Letni monastery and the Kokaliane monastery. It is supposed, that down the Iskar river there was a series of fortresses and fortified observation points, which communicated using visual signaling. The ruins of some of them can be found today except for Urvich, also "The European Stronghold" (called after a peak of the same name) and "Ravulsko Strenghold" (situated on the very peak "The Big Ravulia" - 1019 m.) Urvich is also closely connected with the dawn of the touristic movement in Bulgaria. In 1889, during an excursion to the fortress, Aleko Konstantinov together with a group of friends, founded the first Bulgarian tourist club - "Urvich Club".

Vitosha

1800 m above sea level, Vitosha is only 10 km far from Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. This is the highest ski resort of Bulgaria. The mountain is good for skiing in the winter and hiking in the summer. It is easily accessible both in the winter and in the summer but its weather is very changeable. In Vitosha there are two biosphere preserves - Bistrishko Branishte and Torfeno Branishte. The highest peak of Vitosha is Cherni Vruh (2290 m). The main skiing area is just below it.

Sports and Landmarks: Vitosha also offers walls for rock climbing in its eastern part. The mountain is also popular with the longest cave in Bulgaria - Duhlata, which is 17.5 km long, sprawls on seven levels and through it run six underground rivers. Vitosha is also famous for its rock formations, some of which have volcanic origin and others formed as a result of climate changes. The most popular formation is the stone rivers, or "moreni" at Zlatnite Mostove (The Golden Bridges). Ski Runs: Vitosha offers excellent conditions for snow sports, with huge skiing areas and many slopes with powder. We would recommend it very much for skiing and boarding, but tourists will not find here the night life and apres ski of the bigger resorts in Bulgaria. The ski runs of Vitosha are various and would be suitable for skiers and boarders of any level. Vitosha offers six ski runs with various difficulty and length - the green ski run being the easiest and the Vitoshko Lale the most difficult. There is also a trail for cross country skiing - Univerisada, 9600 m long. All ski runs have the necessary facilities. There are a number of chair and drag lifts, as well as a Gondola lift starting from the outskirts of Sofia and reaching almost the top of the mountain near Aleko. The Aleko chalet offers skis for rent and highly qualified ski instructors. Over the weekends during the winter the area and the ski run near the Aleko chalet become overcrowded. Ski Conditions: It starts to snow heavy in December and it is stable till late spring. The snow cover reaches 1.5 m. The duration of the skiing season is 120 days and the average temperature of the air is minus 6 C. There are good conditions for slalom and cross-country skiing, as well as for tours on foot throughout the mountain. The mountain is picturesque and the its location is a good opportunity to get involved in the dynamic atmosphere of Sofia, to plunge into its history of thousands of years, to feel the pulse of its night life of the big city. Where to Go: For guests with higher requirements we recommend the hotels in Simeonovo and Dragalevtsi area of Sofia, which have better facilities and offer very reasonable prices. Ski rents are available near the runs or in the hotels. Apart from the ski runs, Vitosha offers a variety of hiking trails, most of which are accessible throughout the winter as well. One of the most popular is the trail, which starts from the Aleko chalet, winds through the plateau and ends at Zlatnite Mostove. The most popular hiking trails are marked by iron poles, which can be seen even in the winter. Along the trails there are resting sites and chalets. Vitosha is easily accessible by car or bus from Sofia, with several public transport lines going to different places in the mountain.

Bankya Spa

Location: Bankya Spa resort is situated just 17 km away from the capital of Bulgaria Sofia. Bankya resort is situated 640m above the sea level, amidst the green forests of Lylin Mountain. Mineral Water: The mineral springs in Bankya spa resort are low mineralized, with hydro-carbonate sulphate-sodium, silica, with high alkaline reactivity and low water thickness. The water temperature is 37 with a a total capacity of 24l/s. The water is with high alkaline reaction (pH 9,5), clear, C colourless, without smell and soft for drinking. Indications for medical treatment: - Heart diseases; - Functional nervous disorders. - Paraffin healing; - Massages and water cure; The mineral springs of Bankya define the development of the resort as a prestigious spa resort. Cosy hotels and restaurants, countless cultural monuments, temples, tennis complexes offer unforgettable atmosphere for the pleasant and relaxing holiday of guests and residents of Bankya.

Bulgarian and regional cuisineBulgarian cuisine is a representative of the cuisine of Southeastern Europe. Essentially South Slavic, it shares characteristics with other Balkans cuisines. Owing to the relatively warm climate and diverse geography affording excellent growth conditions for a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruits, Bulgarian cuisine is diverse. Famous for its rich salads required at every meal, Bulgarian cuisine is also noted for the diversity and quality of dairy products and the variety of Bulgarian wines and local alcoholic drinks such as rakia, mastika and menta. Bulgarian cuisine features also a variety of hot and cold soups, an example of a cold soup being tarator. There are many different Bulgarian pastries as well such as banitsa.

Most Bulgarian dishes are oven baked, steamed, or in the form of stew. Deep-frying is not very typical, but grilling - especially different kinds of meats - is very common. Pork meat is the most common meat in the Bulgarian cuisine. Oriental dishes do exist in Bulgarian cuisine with most common being moussaka, gyuvetch, and baklava. A very popular ingredient in Bulgarian cuisine is the Bulgarian white brine cheese called "sirene". It is the main ingredient in many salads, as well as in a variety of pastries. Fish and chicken are widely eaten and while beef is less common as most cattle are bred for milk production rather than meat, veal is a natural byproduct of this process and it is found in many popular recipes. Bulgaria is a net exporter of lamb and its own consumption of the meat is prevalent during its production time in spring. Traditionally Bulgarians have consumed a notable quantity of yoghurt per head and is noted historically for the production of high quality yoghurt, including using a unique variety of microorganism called Lactobacillus bulgaricus in the manufacturing process. It has even been claimed that yoghurt originates from Bulgaria. Though this cannot be substantiated, Bulgaria has been part of a region that has cultivated and consumed yoghurt from as far back as 3000 BC. Certain entries, salads, soups and dishes go well with alcoholic beverages and the alcohol of choice for some is Bulgarian wine.

Sofia region cuisine Shopska salad

Shopska salad is a traditional Bulgarian cold salad popular throughout the Balkans and Central Europe. Shopska salad (Shopska salata) is the salad that defines Bulgaria. Not only is it the most popular Bulgarian salad but is also named after a big group of very frugal people called shopi who live in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia. It is made from tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, raw or roasted peppers (preferably roasted), sirene (white brine cheese), and parsley. The vegetables are usually diced and salted, followed by a light dressing of sunflower oil or olive oil, which are occasionally complemented by vinegar. The addition of vinegar only contributes, however, to the sour flavor that the tomatoes impart. In restaurants, the dressings are provided separately. Lastly, the vegetables are covered in a thick layer of grated or diced sirene. In areas where sirene cheese is unavailable, feta cheese may be used as a substitute.

Meshana skara

Meshana skara is a traditional Balkans dish which involves few meat products, spices necessarily cooked on a grill. This dish includes kyufte, kebapche, a pork or lamb chop, a pork skewer and Italian sausage. Kyufte is a meatball made of minced meat and spices shaped like a meatball slapped with a spatula. Same as kebapche but contains chopped onions too. You can grill, fry or bake it. As with kebapche, eat it with Shopska salad and French fries with Bulgarian cheese. Kebapche is a meatball made of minced meat and spices and shaped like a sausage. Same as the kyufte, but does not contain onions. It has to be grilled otherwise you will get something different which probably will not be called kebapche (for comparison kyufte can also be fried).

Kapama

Kapama is a typical Bulgarian dish. It is made of sauerkraut, rice, spices: black pepper, bay leaf, and garlic. It includes different types of meat pork, beef, chicken or rabbit. In kapama there is pickle. The dish is inundated with wine or water. It is traditionally cooked in a vat over fire.

Banitsa

Banitsa is a traditional Bulgarian food prepared by layering a mixture of whisked eggs and pieces of cheese between filo pastry and then baking it in an oven.Traditionally, lucky charms are put into the pastry on certain occasions, particularly on Christmas Eve, the first day of Christmas, or New Year's Eve. These charms may be coins or small symbolic objects (e.g., a small piece of a dogwood branch with a bud, symbolizing health or longevity). More recently, people have started writing happy wishes on small pieces of paper and wrapping them in tin foil. Wishes may include happiness, health, or

success throughout the new year. Some varieties include banitsa with spinach (spanachena banitsa) or the sweet version, banitsa with milk (mlechna banitsa) or pumpkin (tikvenik).

Bulgarian Folk Arts and Crafts

Icon painting

Boyana church is a wonderful example of icon painting in Sofia region. The execution of the frescoes shows an obvious preference for the style of miniatures and icons, which the painters simple transferred on the walls, instead of turning to the fresco style of 11th - 12th century. This is a particularly important feature. The painters have borrowed from the miniatures a more alert feeling for colour, for nature, a preference for some Late-Hellenistic models and have preserved some of their characteristic plasticity. Icons have developed both their taste for smaller composition and a manner of modeling with pronounced feeling for detail and the pictorial. The Boyana frescoes are an early example of the icon-painting style which later on was adopted in mural painting and as such they mark the beginning of specific features which strongly influenced the Tirnovo artistic school. The icon-style murals which became wide-spread in the Serbian, Russian and Mount Athos monasteries during the 14th - 16th centuries are closely related to this innovation which

we find for the first time in Boyana. This fact has a special historic significance. It should be pointed out that the rich delicate pastel colours of the faces and flesh and their modeling, and also the specific way of painting the heavy cloth of the clothing were favoured by the Boyana master and are the most typical features of his style. He animates the static figures with barely noticeable gestures. He combines the large colour areas in the composition with remarkable mature skill and brings forward the figures, against the abstract, predominantly dark, background. The architectural details and landscapes do not occupy large areas in the composition and do not hamper the expression of the most important element - the figures, which the artist treats with psychological credibility and original plastic tangibility achieved through the use of a restrained and rich range of colours. The second painter preserved the memory of more archaic models and more restricted movements. The faces and hands show feeling of volume but the play of colour is limited and replaced by a clear contour. The portraits of St. Panteleimon, St. Barbara and St. Nedelya display the most characteristics features of this manner. Some of the more primitive scenes form the sufferings of St. Nikola were also probably painted by him. In the case of the Boyana murals, it has been suggested that a smaller proportion of painting was executed on wet plaster (al fresco) that was done on dry plaster - a fact related to the direct transfer of icon- painting principles in the execution of murals.

The portraits of the warrior-saints (typical for the Bulgarian aristocratic family chapel), the Bulgarian saints St. Petka and St. Ivan Rilski and the portraits of actual historical personalities (Sebastocrator Kaloyan and his wife Desislava, Tsar Constantine Assen Tikh and Tsarina Irina) are a further confirmation of the Bulgarian origin of the Boyana murals and their connection with the capital city of Tirnovo. The Boyana paintings bear the marks of a turbulent, contradictory and innovatory period in 13th century art. The new trends were related to the problem of a more substantial and vigorous incorporation of man with his material environment. The Boyana master is one of the most brilliant representatives of this trend. His art is very complex, contradictory and original. His remarkable achievement lies not only in the way that he humanized canonic art but also in how he attained an artistic scene of proportion in the plastic and colour treatment of form.

Embroidery

Sleeve of woman's chemise, Sofia region, 19th century

The Bulgarian women's embroidering art was noted by many a foreign traveller in the Bulgarian lands during the 16th-19th centuries. The tradition of embroidery was mostly spread among the peasant population and predominantly connected with the decoration of garments. Ornamental needlework involved counting the cloth fibres and, in the case of thin cotton and silk textiles, using an embroidery frame for stretching the material with the pattern being previously drawn on it using a pencil or a stick of charcoal. Traditional Bulgarian embroidery is characterized by great regional and local diversity. There is a wide variety of flat, raised and open-work stitches. The high artistic value of the designs is largely due to the skilful selection and treatment of materials. Commonly used are woollen and silk threads. Metallic (golden) threads would give a touch of brilliance and magnificence to the embroidery. The designs are primarily geometrical, combined with stylized floral motifs and animal and human figures. Embroidery from the Sofia region is a symmetrical, elaborate combination of geometrical motifs of ancient origin and meaning. Embroidery ornamentation accounts for much of the specificity and uniqueness of Bulgarian costumes. Adornment with embroidery motifs is also characteristic of textiles used for the headdress of married women. Embroidery worked on costumes is varied in technique, structure, pattern, substance, colour and place of application. Both textile decoration and embroidery are remarkable with their ornamental designs and motifs some of which are rather ancient such as the "tree of life", rosette, swastika, circle, cross. The rhomb is particularly rich in graphic patterns. Three elements of traditional Bulgarian embroidery: rhythm, symmetry, and contrast, are common throughout the Bulgarian ethnic territory. Colour is of key importance for the ethnic specificity of Bulgarian folk costumes. The typical colours used in ornamental embroidery designs intended for clothing are red, black, and white. Each colour is displayed in a number of shades and combinations, sometimes clear and brilliant, sometimes dark and harmonious, and sometimes deep and contrasting. Traditional Bulgarian Costumes Along with language and folk song traditions, the national costumes are a specific cultural characteristic of the Bulgarian people. Present both in everyday life and on various festive occasions, Bulgarian folk costumes were where the physical and the spiritual met; they were an essential element of the overall culture system - from

the cradle to the grave, from the baby's gown to the burial attire made up of brand new garments or one's wedding outfit. The traditional Bulgarian costumes took shape during the feudal ages and kept developing over the following centuries. The makeup of the traditional Bulgarian costume is elaborate, one depending on the specific conditions of work and the patriarchal way of life in the Bulgarian village. Traditional costumes were entirely home-made. They were the product of women's efforts, taste and creativity. Men's involvement was only minor - in processes like tannery or sowing together of the different parts. In the 18th and 19th centuries, however, the traditional home manufacture of clothes went along with the differentiation of clothing crafts, as well as with the appearance of tailor-made outer and top pieces (of the men's costumes in particular). Female Costumes

Young married woman's costume, second half of the 19th century, Sofia region

The different types of women's costumes can be distinguished by the cut and wearing style of the outer garment. The chief items of the two-apron costume include: a chemise, two aprons(fastened at the waist, one worn in front, the other at the back), and a belt. Fine embroidery decorates large portions of the sleeves and the front and back sections of the chemise. The two aprons (or "drapes") were made of home-woven decorative fabric - the back one falling in folds and frills, the front piece consisting of one or two parts with horizontal or vertical embroidery. The soukman dress was the most widely spread female costume. The numerous regional varieties, however, shared certain common (all-Bulgarian) characteristics: the type of textile, the tunic-like cut, and the low neck. The soukman is most often a sleeveless dress, although in some places it has short or long sleeves. Typically, strips of the soukman fabric are attached to the sleeve openings forming the so-called "tails", reduced decorative elements of former sleeves having lost their utilitarian function. The ornamentation of this costume is concentrated on the skirts, along the neck and the sleeves' borders. It consists of multi-colour embroidery, decorative cloth, and braid appliqus, varied in size and style. The typical soukman dress for the Sofia region is the kusoklinest with low, slant wedges.The soukman dress is worn with a short, woven belt fastened in front with pafti (belt buckle).

The apron is the central decorative piece of the soukman dress. It is richly ornamented and colourful, standing out in beautiful contrast with the black soukman. The saya dress includes a tunic-like chemise as its major component, but it is characterized by the socalled saya always worn as an outer garment. Open in the front part, slightly wedged, the skirt length varying (knee or ankle length), the sleeves short or long. The saya textiles were of different material and colour. Predominant were the one-colour white, black, blue, and dark blue saya dresses made of cotton or woolen fabrics.

Male Costumes

Man's wedding costume second half of the 19th century, Elin Pelin region.

Costume of bride's young brother-in-law, second half of the 19th century, Sofia region.

Men's costumes are of two major styles: belodreshna (predominantly white), or chernodreshna (predominantly black), depending on the colour of the outer garments. These two patterns are not geographically based varieties, but rather two consecutive stages in the development of the male costume. The belodreshna men's costume includes: a tunic-like shirt, pants, and outer clothes made of white fabric (thick cloth of homespun wool). The pants appear in two variants: benevretsi (long and narrow, with tightly fitting nogavitsi in the lower part), and dimii (with broad and short legs). The silhouette of the belodreshna costume is produced by the outer garment (kusak, klashnik, dolaktenik, golyama dreha). It is of wedge-like cut and considerable length. Stylistically, it is characterised by the specific linear embroidered motifs and colour braiding lace on the hems of the neck and on the tops of the wedges. An essential element is the waist-band made of richly ornamented fabric, predominantly red, tightly wound around the waist. The emergence of another type of men's costume - chernodreshna - was part of a country-wide trend of men's clothes becoming darker, particularly prominent in the period of the Bulgarian Revival. This tendency was the result of the new social, economic, and cultural context. Beginning from the late 18th century till the middle of the 19th century men's clothes were no longer made of white aba (a

kind of woollen cloth). They were instead made of black shayak (woollen textile), the pants and outer garment being of different cuts. The pants, called potouri, are broad, with abundant black braiding decoration. An interesting point is the widespread popular belief that the more folded and pleated the potouri (their bottom in particular), the more well-to-do their owner. The outer clothes (elek, aba, anteriya) are of straight cut and waist length.

FootwearTSARVULI /Traditional Bulgarian sandals/ Tsarvuls /tsarvuli/ were the traditional footwear of Bulgarian peasants; nowadays they can be more frequently seen in urban environment rather than in rural areas. Found as exhibits in the ethnographic museums, they can also be purchased from stylish souvenir shops and often used to decorate the living-rooms of learned people and the nouveau riche. Being a synonym of poverty, ignorance and backwardness in the past, later the tsarvul was taken as a mark of respect for the national folk tradition and history.

These sandals or moccasins were commonly worn by both men and women. They used to be made of raw bovine hide, buff or pigskin. People would put them over thick wollen socks or leggings fastening them by long straps. Although ridiculed by town-dwellers, the tsarvuls, light and easy to wear, were best suited to the rural way of life and the characteristics of the Bulgarian climate. Therefore, these honoured veterans became extinct only as late as the 1940s, when they were replaced by their rubber "descendants" and the various types and styles of manufactured shoes. Today tsarvuls are only used as footwear by folk dance performers.

Footwraps - navoiPeasant sandals are worn over footwraps (navoi) made of rectangular pieces of homespun woollen cloth wrapped round the feet and legs, and held on with black cords made from hemp, goats hair or strips of leather. In the past footwraps were worn by men and women. with those worn by brides

being fastened with red braiding. More recently these are mostly worn by men who are shepherds and farmers.

Knitted woollens socks - kaltsuniKnee high knitted woollen socks (kaltsuni, lapchuni, terlitsi) or footless knitted gaiters (kaltsi) have replaced footwraps for women and in some areas for men. These are knitted using five needles, and can be plain or patterned in bright colours on a white or black background. Men's socks and kaltsi most commonly have a black background, with multicoloured stripes, which are decorated with small knitted or embroidered patterns. Women's socks can be white or black and are striped or decorated with knitted or embroidered floral patterns.

Ornamental kerchiefs - KaitsaEmbroidery kerchief were widely used with Bulgarian folk costume. These could be tucked into the belt, worn on the head to protect the eyes from the sun, wound around neck, or worn crossed in front of the chest for weddings or festive occasions. Young girls dressed as 'buenek' or 'lazarki' often wear many kerchiefs as part of their costume.

Women's costume - woven fabric beltsLong narrow woven fabric belts, 8cm to 10 cm wide are woven using an ancient technique using small pieces of board called kori. The multicoloured warp threads are passed through small squares of leather, or cardboard with hole in each corner, while the weft threads are held on a bobbin. These squares, one to each colour, usually 2 or 3 colours used, allow the weaver to twist the threads to create small geometrical patterns, in stripes, or wavy lines. From the early 20th century belts from parts of the north were decorated with rows of tiny white or multi coloured beads or and sequins. Belts worn with soukman costume are narrow. These can be woven in stripes, as in the north, or can be made of black woollen cloth, which is decorated with floral embroidery worked in brightly coloured wool. This style of belt is shorted than the woven belts, meeting at the front and being fastened with a metal clip or decorative buckle (pafka). Belts worn with dark coloured soukman are

usually bright coloured, in red, orange, dark red or have coloured stripes. Belts from Sofia region were embroidered on the right side using straight embroidery stitches which follow the direction of the warp and weft.. Belts worn with saya costumes are wider than those worn with soukman. They are usually made of a width of woollen cloth, which is wound around the waist, with the front apron tied over it. This can be one coloured or vertically striped. Belts worn with saya in western Bulgaria are around 6 cm wide.

Men's costume - woven fabric belts (pojas) and leather beltsBelts or waistbands worn by men with both belodreshnik or chernodreshnik are wider than those worn by women, being up to 20 cm wide. These are most commonly made of red woven woollen material or red and white checked material and are worn wound round the waist tightly several times. Narrow leather belts are frequently worn by craftsmen over a fabric belt and shepherds often wear a broad 2 layered leather belt with pouches to store knives etc.

Belts and Belt Buckles /Pafti/

Belt buckle - 19th century, West Bulgaria

Pafti (belt buckles) are a typical Bulgarian adornment, round or oval, cast or wrought, mainly with floral ornamentation, but sometimes with mother-of-pearl appliqus of Jerusalem plates engraved with iconographic scenes.

Folk DancesKopanica

Kopanica is a common name for a type of lively folk dance in Western Bulgaria in 11/16 meter (QQSQQ) counted here as 1-2, 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2. The name is derived from the verb "kopam"

which means to "dig" or to "hoe" and probably refers to the sharp kick-like down and up motions often found in the dance. The term Kopanica seems to be especially used in the Sopluk (Sop) region of West Bulgaria which includes the towns of Sofia, Pernik, Radomir and Kyustendil. There is even a village named Kopanica not far from the town of Pernik! Many musicians and musical arrangers have also composed tunes called "kopanica" which may or may not have a specific dance connected with the melody; the purpose being mostly to show off creative talent and musicianship.

CustomsMany Bulgarian customs and traditions go back to pagan times whilst others have their roots in Christianity. Most deal with the life cycle and the four seasons. Bulgarians devote certain days of the year to honour their past and participate in certain rituals that are not only interesting but also pleasurable as well.

Koledari

Koledari is a term that refers to the orthodox Christmas carolers in Bulgaria, Macedonia and Ukraine. The name koledari comes from the Church Slavonic word for Christmas i.e. Koleda. In Bulgaria this type of caroling is called koledaruvane. The carolers traditionally start their rounds at midnight on Christmas Eve. They visit the houses of their relatives, neighbours and other people in the village. The caroling is usually performed by young men, who are accompanied by an elder one called stanenik. Each caroler carries a stick called gega. They wish the people from the village health, wealth and happiness. Bulgarians celebrate Christmas for three days. In the past, on the first day, after going to church, in the village square goes a bidding for the buns baked by the girls. It was a matter of honor for a young man, who was in love with a girl, to buy off her bun from the staninik, no matter how much he had to pay. Folk legends say that if you borrow salt on Christmas and dont return it, you will have trouble with your eyes. If your ear aches on Christmas this is an indication that an angel has passed by you. And you have to make the sign of the cross three times and whatever you think of will come true. Children must not play with fire on Christmas for they will wet their bed the whole year. You must not count the stars on that night or your hands will be covered with warts.

After the long Christmas fasting people eat some of the Christmas offering the pig. This is the name day of all whose name begins with "R" Radka, Radko, Radostin, Radost, Russi, Rumen, Rumyana. The second day is the day of those who have the names of Hristo, Hristina, Yosif. The third day of Christmas is Stefans Day. Nameday of Stefan, Stefanka, Stoil, Stoyan, Stoyanka, Stanimir. The ones who have a nameday are given gifts and bathed, people sing songs and play the horo dance.

Kukeri

Sofia region On New Year's Eve and Zagovezni in Bulgaria special rituals called Mummer's games take place. The Mummer's games are performed by men only. They put on special masks hand-made by each of the participants. Most of the masks are constructed by wood. Different colored threads are glued on it as well as pieces of multicolored fabrics, mirrors and other shiny elements. The masks representing a ram, a goat or a bull are considered the strangest. Their necessary part of the Mummer's games proves the thesis that the origin of the mummer's games is connected to the ancient Dionysius' games. The impact that the masked mummers make gets even bigger by the sound of the copper and bronze bells that hang on them. Some of the masks have two faces. On one of the sides the nose is snub and the face is goodhumored and on the other the nose is hooked and the face is ominous. Those masks symbolize the good and the bad which coexist in the world and are inevitable. A very important thing for the symbolic of the masks is the color of the decoration. The red is the most used one - a symbol of the fertility of the reviving nature, of the sun and the fire; the black color embodies the earth and her goddess mother and the white is a symbol of water and light. The mummer's games aim to scary and sweep away forever the evil spirits and the weird sisters

with the help of the special magic dances and the scary masks, so that the crops for the next year are rich. The visit to all the houses in the village is made only at night time, because they should not see the sun when they are outside. After they have gone around the whole village the Christmas singers gather together on the meadow early in the morning where all the people from the village have gone. They entertain them with games and dances. They jump high so that the crops are tall, jingle the bells and wave their swords and friezes. The kukeri separated in two groups fight each other and the results of the fight show how good the New Year will be. They believe that if blood drops on the ground the year will be fertile. The ritual ends with a big horo in the centre of the village. They make a feast with the food and the money they have gathered during the carnival. In the night before St. Vassil's day the troop goes from house to house making jokes with the hosts. They receive money and bread. During the visits whenever they meat people on the streets, strangers or people gathered for the show the mummers make comic and even cynical jokes and play different games. The spectacles joke and tease them all well. The parade is noisy and funny. The games are full of joy, conflicts, different costumes and persons, comical plays and improvisations. It is a real national celebration full of freshness, humor, satire, a theatre in the open in which both the spectacles and the people making the games are performers. Laughter has special magical powers so people laugh to influence the flora and fauna. Quite often the function of magic is full of theatric elements. The kukeri traditionally visit the peoples' houses at night so that "the sun would not catch them on the road." After going around the village they gather at the square to dance wildly and amuse the people. The ritual varies by region but its essence remains largely the same.

Lazarovden

Lazarovden is a christian feast named after Saint Lazarus. This name is a symbol of health and longevity. Lazarovden is celebrated on the 8th day before Easter and it is on a different day every year, but it is always on Saturday. On this day is made the rite Lazaruvane. On Lazarovden willow branches are placed on doors. Young women called lazarki collect flowers for making wreaths on

the next day called Tsvetnitsa. They go around the village, sing songs and bless people for health and happiness. The host gives them eggs, fruit or money. Lazarovden brings spring spirit and good mood. In the past it was believed that a maiden that had not been lazarka cannot be married.

LegendsFor a long time people have been interested with the rich diversity of nature, have been eager to know the history of the names of mountains and their peaks, of rivers, lakes, fortresses, bridges, churches and monasteries. No matter what type the legend is- historic, religious or mythical- the common feature is the mans reason and strength that can surmount difficulties. Here is an example of a legend about the origin of the names of two mountains in the region of Sofia.

Legend of the Vitosha and Lyulin

A long time ago Vitosha and Lyulin Mountains had no names. The villagers called Vitosha the great ridge and Lyulin the long ridge. In one of the nearby Vitosha villages there was a very beautiful girl, called Vita. She was the eldest child who helped her parents with the sheep - the main livelihood of the local people. One day her eyes saw in the distance the Iskar River, running like a silver belt across the Sofia fertile field, disappearing in the folds of the mountain.Amazed with the scenery around her, Vita started singing. Her voice was strong and clear and it was heard in nine villages. Another shepard called Lyulin was grazing his flock on the long ridge. He was a quiet and humble man, able to play the fiddle. And when he heard the powerful voice of Vita, joined in quietly with his gudulka. When the girl finished her song, he shouted, because he wanted to hear her voice: - Vitooo! - Shtooo! - Vita answered and the echo carried away the words which people heard as Vitoshoo! And it happened that the young fell in love without having met before. They both were eager to be together. There was nobody to leave their flocks to, so that they could meet and have a talk. They were not allowed to take their sheep to the other piece of land. Years ran like a river, children grew older. Vita grew old enough to get married. Bachelors from neighboring villages came to ask her for a wife, but she refused them all. She loved Lyulin and wanted to marry him but she was ashamed to share her feelings with her mother. She didnt have an older sister or a friend to whom to disclose his heart. Lyulin also loved Vita and wanted to marry her, but he was afraid to tell his parents, too. He feared that they would not like Vita being a tomboy. Lyulins mother would approve of a hard-working housewife not a woman grazing the flocks.

Meanwhile a lot of matchmakers rich and poor, beautiful and ugly from many villages came to ask Vita for a wife. One day came a messenger from a remote village saying that the best mason wanted to marry Vita. Every year masons left their native villages to build houses for nine months in different parts in the country, so they needed a strong woman to take care of the house, while they were away. Vita had such reputation. When Vita came back home in the evening and sat down to dinner, her mother said: - Tomorrow, your brother will go with the sheep. Matchmakers from good families and craftsmanship came to ask you for a wife . You must make up your mind and no longer make us a laughing stock! Vita said nothing. The next morning when the family got up, there was no trace of Vita. Her mother was looking for her, but in vain. Somewhere in the distance they heard her singing followed by the shout of Lyulin keeping the sheep on his "long ridge": - Vitooo! - Shtooo! - Vita answered and the nearby villages echoed with their voices. What people heard was Vitoshoo! Vitas mother realized that this time their daughter had really made them a laughing stock, so she went up to a height above Knyazhevo and cursed in tears: - Thunder to hit you, daughter, to harden you, where you stand and to make you as black as the soil. And Lyulin, who lies to you, to be turned into a land and rock. It suddenly got dark. Heavy black clouds loomed and a scary thunder cracked the land. Vita, who was standing on the great ridge, dropped off it while Lyulin, standing on the long ridge, was struck by a thunder. From this day on people call the two mountains Vitosha and Lyulin after the names of the beloved couple. There are many interesting, beautiful and deeply moving historic legends. Many of them are connected with a very sad phase of Bulgarian history. One of them is the legend about Urvich fortress.

Legend about the betrayal of UrvichThe inhabitants of the whole region built the stone fortress over the steep precipice. The Turks put it under a long siege, but without success. The pasha was under pressure from the Sultan to conquer the fortress, because this would leave a free path to Sofia. One day, a woman from Bistritsa village was pasturing her flock of sheep and looking proudly at the f