Sofia City: Brief History

If you are planning your first visit to Sofia city, you should be aware that you are to see one of the oldest capitals in Europe. The history of the city can be traced back to the Neolithic age or around 5000 BC. The ancient city arose north of the hot mineral springs close to Eleshnitsa river and was named Serdika, coming from the name of the local Thracian tribe that was living in the area. The settlement flourished during the 1-4 century AD and since the mod 6th century it become an important economic and administrative center called Traiditsa.

Some years later, in 809, the town became part of the Bulgarian state under the name Sredets and from the beginning of 15th century its name was changed to Sofia, which comes from Greek and means Holy Wisdom. Sofia city became the official capital of the recently liberated Bulgaria on 3RD April 1879 after a Constituent Assembly. At that time the population of Sofia was around 12 000 people and many new urbanization projects have been undertaken. After 1945, Sofia city became the power center of the Communist party and it is at that period when many large buildings were constructed including the Presidency, the Parliament, the central department store. Many large factories were also constructed, as well as large apartment complexes for the people to live in.