Founded more than seven millenia ago, Sofia today is an exciting meeting place of of history and present. Traces of the life of Tracians and Romans, Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs are woven into the city's busy life today. Some 250 historic, archaeological and architectural monuments have been preserved in the modern capital, the centre of the country's political and cultural life, a tourist destination and hospitable venue of major international forums. Its central boulevards which have retained the directions of the four main old city roads are now busy, noisy and colourful.
 

Sighseeing tours of sofia usually start from its center and invariably pass by the remains of the solid fortress walls which protected the city for more than 12 centuries. Here, right in the heart of the city, visitors can see a part of the eastern city gate of the fortress wall of the former Serdica, dating from the 2nd century. Next to it, in the interior courtyard of the Presidency and hotel "Sheraton", rises the famous Roman Rotunda, transformed into the Church of St.George in the 4th century AD, surrounded by a large archaeological complex and a roman street. Right in front is the newly raised monument of St. Sofia - guardian of the city that adopted her name.

  

One of the brightest symbols of Sofia is the magnificent edifice of the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral that emerged after the establishment of the sovereign bulgarian state as a centre of the autonomous Bulgarian Orthodox Church. the altar and the patriarch's throne are sculpted of of multicoloured Italian marble, the icons and murals were painted by the time's foremost artists and the central nave is covered with gold-plated domes, topped by a massive gold cross. The crypt of the cathedral houses the richest collection of masterpieces of Bulgarian icon-painting.

 On the square, surroundung the cathedral, the solemnity of the Monument to the Unknown Soldier with eternal burning flame faces the clamour of an open-air market of national costumes, embroidery and hand-knitted ware and garments, and a small antiquarian and arts exposition.Part of the same square is occupied by the St. Sofia church, dating from the 4th-6th century AD. The church was restored after it was briefly transformed into a mosque in the 19th century, and now accepts visitors in its central nave.
 

Behind the Monumental Cathedral the building of the "St.St. cyril and Methodius" rises, housing the national gallery of foreign arts. It contains unique exhibits of art from Africa, Asia and Europe, Spanish baroque paintings, some Rembrandts and much more ancient and modern art.

 Another symbol of Sofia is the "Ivan Vazov" National Theatre, founded in 1904. Designed in the style of German classicism, it contains many elements of the Seccesion style. The theatre employs some of the country's best actors, many of whom enjoy popularity all over Europe.

The edifice of the National Assembly, built in 1884 with the motto reading "Union makes strength" inscribed on its main facade is the third rightful candidate for the city's emblem.

The former royal palace today houses exhibits of the National Art Gallery, containing a collection of well over 12000 works of art, th oldest dating from 18th century. It was built in 1873 as a Turkish town hall. During the reign of Prince Alexander Battenberg the building was entirely reconstructed on the exterior and inside in the Art nouvean (secession) style, with elements of neo-rococo and baroque.

  The Russian Church "St Nikolai" was built in 1912-1914. The interior of the church contains wonderful majolica ornaments, Russian-style icons among which stands out the icon of St.Nikolai the Wonderworker from the Kiev-Pechora Laura.
  Another remarkable mixture of cultures is the square in front of the Central Halls covered market(1911), where are the Banya Bashi Mosque(1576), the public baths(1913), the Roman ruins with the corner tower of the fortress of Serdica, the Jewish synagogue(1909) and the almost underground church "St Petka Samardjiiska".

  In front of the City Library, amidst the trade streets "Graf Ignatieff", "Rakovsky" and "Vitosha" Blvd. is nestled Slaveikov square - the largest open-air book market of Sofia, remarkable for the old three-tier bronze foutain and the original monument of two of the most prominent bulgarian writers, after whom the square was named.
  There are also numerous theatres, art galleries, monuments, the national opera, business and trade centers, parks, restaurants offering food from all over the world, nightclubs and casinos that enhance the city's diversity and meet the expectations of every kind of visitors of Sofia.