Plovdiv – The Ancient City
The architectural and historical reserve “Ancient Plovdiv” is situated in the central part of Plovdiv on the Three Hills (Nebet, Taksim and Dzhambaz tepe) and on an area of about 35 hectares. It has been formed as a result of a continuous life for centuries, from the Prehistoric, Thracian, Hellenic, Roman, Late Antiquity, Medieval, Renaissance and Post-liberation periods to the present day. The combination of the predominant Antiquity, Middle Ages and Renaissance into a single core within the modern city is unique in our country.
From the Roman period and the late antiquity in the architectural and historical reserve “Ancient Plovdiv” the most preserved are the Ancient Theater, the Ancient Forum, the Roman Stadium, early Christian basilicas, public and private buildings, water pipes, street network and parts of the fortress walls built during the antiquity and the Middle Ages . Since the Renaissance period, authentic architecture has been preserved, as well as several church and school buildings.
Plovdiv is 2 hours drive from the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia, 4 hours from the Black Sea and approximately 4 hours from the Aegean Sea. It originated in the fertile Thracian valley, between the Rhodope Mountains and the Balkan Mountains, among seven hills in the past and the wide Maritsa River, which flows through it today. This magical place has been attracting as a magnet settlers for centuries, welcoming and sending tribes and peoples. And step by step builds its historical memory.
Ancient Plovdiv – the oldest city in Europe
Life in these places has left really early traces, 8000 years ago date the first settlements, and it has not been interrupted so far. That is why Plovdiv is considered to be the oldest city in Europe on the continuity of settlement and is among the six oldest cities in the world on the same sign. The place is a kind of history textbook where you can get acquainted with the features of almost all the historical eras and periods that have left a lasting impression on the city and shaped its manifold nature.
The antique face of the city is represented by the mystical Thracians with their sanctuary on the northern hill Nebet Tepe, with the first fortress walls of the time of Philip II of Macedonia (342 BC) and a number of well-preserved archaeological sites from the Roman period of the city I-IV c.): Antique Theater, Antique Stadium, Antique Forum. This is the city in Bulgaria with the most revealed Roman mosaics, some of which are shown in Trakart Art Gallery, at the Archeological Subway. During the period I-IV century, Plovdiv was the largest shopping center in the Roman province of Thrace, with its splendor and aristocracy, has led all chroniclers to admire and worship him.
The heart of Thrace, however, is not only woven by history. The contemporary appearance of the city is no less varied, colorful and attractive. Here you can stroll along the noisy main street, shop in the prestigious shops of leading European and world brands, sit down in the cafeteria in one of the many restaurants in the city center, taste local delicacies, relax and have fun. Nightlife lovers can visit many pubs and nightclubs, some of which are located on the northern side of Kapana, in the central part of the city.
The Modern Plovdiv
The modern appearance of the city is complemented by its green spaces. These include the hills in the first place. They are rocky, but their landscaping began in the 1880s and ended in the 1930s to become the green lungs of the city. The large parks also originated in the 1880s and were made by the famous Swiss botanist Lucy Sevallas, called by the local inhabitants “the Minister of Flowers”. He created the city garden in 1881 on the occasion of the first trade show, to which today there are rare botanical species and centuries-old trees, telling legends about the past times of greatness and splendor, wisdom and life experiences accumulated over the centuries.
Nowadays Plovdiv is unique, ancient, wonderful, artistic, spiritual and challenging.
More about places to visit in Bulgaria, you can read here.
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