Not far from the mosque is a synagogue, which houses a museum. The Iskar flows north toward the Balkan Mountains, passing between the eastern city suburbs, next to the main building and below the runways of Sofia Airport, and flows out of the Sofia Valley at the town of Novi Iskar, where the scenic Iskar Gorge begins.[42]. A map of Sofia Valley. [105][106] In 1610 the Vatican established the See of Sofia for Catholics of Rumelia, which existed until 1715 when most Catholics had emigrated. Amid of the citys religious landmarks, directly across from The Presidential Palace, is the National Archeological Museum, which has in its collection some of the most valuable treasures discovered in Bulgaria. Virtually the entire city (900,000 households and 5,900 companies) is centrally heated, using residual heat from electricity generation (3,000 MW) and gas- and oil-fired heating furnaces; total heat capacity is 4,640 MW. As the city grew outwards, the then-new neighbourhoods were dominated by many concrete tower blocks, prefabricated panel apartment buildings and examples of Brutalist architecture. [130] One of the three buildings in the architectural ensemble, the former Bulgarian Communist Party headquarters, is due to become the seat of the Parliament. [21] This triangle was recently expanded to a "square" and includes the Catholic Cathedral of St Joseph. The National Opera and Ballet of Bulgaria is a combined opera and ballet collective established in 1891. [132], Under Bulgaria's centralised political system, Sofia concentrates much of the political and financial resources of the country. [73] Even areas with few sources of air pollution, like Gorna Banya, had PM2.5 and PM10 levels above safe thresholds. Near Sofia, in the Vitosha, Lozen, and Stara Planina (Central Balkan) Mountains, over the centuries so many monasteries have been founded that they came to be known as Sofias Holy Mountains. [202] The municipality was known for minor and cosmetic repairs and many streets are in a poor condition. There are separate reception centers for females, male youth, and adult males. Sofia City, the underpass of Sofia University St. ", "Bulgarian Crime Where killing is a habit", "BBC NEWS Europe Romania and Bulgaria join the EU", Crime Rates in Bulgaria's Sofia on the Rise, " 10 000 , 7000 ", "UPDATE: Stallone Returning to NU BOYANA Film Studios in Bulgaria for 'Rambo 5', "Journey.bg History of the Sofia velodrome", "Swimming pools in Sofia (including Spa centers)", "Population | National statistical institute", " ", "Population and Demographic Processes in 2014 (Final data) National statistical institute", "Sofia ranks 30th in GDP/capita, employment growth 20132014 global report", "Global Metro Monitor An Uncertain recovery", "10 Top Cities Around The World To Launch Your Startup", "Regional gross domestic product (PPS per inhabitant at current market prices), by NUTS 3 regions", "Average monthly wages and salaries of the employees under labour contract by statistical regions and districts", "Coca-Cola Opens Its 2nd Largest Globally IT Center in Sofia", "VMware to invest 23M and Grow the Site in Sofia to over 1500 People", "Bosch Group Officially Opened its New Office in Sofia", "Financial Times Expands Its Team in Sofia", "The Software Company Experian Opened its New Office Building in Sofia", "American Control System Solutions Manufacturer Woodward Opens Production in Sofia", "Festo to Invest 25.6 mln. Effective offender classification is essential in corrections, not only to support daily management and administration, but also to keep the system responsive to changing offender demographics, sentencing statutes, and agency policy. It is a favorite place for a days outing for young and old alike. [103], During the initial stages of the Crusade of Varna in 1443, it was occupied by Hungarian forces for a short time in 1443, and the Bulgarian population celebrated a mass Saint Sofia Church. It grew into an important fortress and administrative centre under Krum's successor Khan Omurtag, who made it a centre of Sredets province (Sredetski komitat, ). There is also a wide variety of hostels and smaller family guesthouses. The earliest works where this latest name is registered are the duplicate of the Gospel of Serdica, in a dialogue between two salesmen from Dubrovnik around 1359, in the 14th-century Vitosha Charter of Bulgarian tsar Ivan Shishman and in a Ragusan merchant's notes of 1376. The Vitosha Nature Park (the oldest national park in the Balkans)[118] includes most of Vitosha mountain and covers an area of 266 square kilometres (103sqmi),[119] with roughly half of it lying within the municipality of Sofia. The Slavic name Sredets (), which is related to "middle" (, "sreda") and to the city's earliest name, first appeared on paper in an 11th-century text. Lines 5 and 13 are shorter and provide connections to Kulata and Bankya, respectively. Their inmate to correctional officer ratio is a lot higher than the previous two security levels. [159] The first census carried out in February 1878 by the Russian Army recorded a population of 11,694 inhabitants including 6,560 Bulgarians, 3,538 Jews, 839 Turks and 737 Romani. For Constantine the Great it was 'Sardica mea Roma est' (Serdica is my Rome). were built. The assembly members are chosen every four years. ERH - A security level for individuals who commit or lead others to commit violent, disruptive, predatory, riotous actions, or who otherwise pose a serious threat to the security of the institution as set forth in the established ERH criteria. [116] Sofia's architecture combines a wide range of architectural styles, some of which are aesthetically incompatible. After the Liberation War, knyaz Alexander Battenberg invited architects from Austria-Hungary to shape the new capital's architectural appearance.[117]. Sofia was designated as European Capital of Sport in 2018. Sofia is relatively close to the capitals of most Balkan countries: Ankara is 1,012 km; Athens is 837 km; Beograd is 374 km; Bucharest is 395 km; Zagreb is 762 km; Ljubljana is 897 km; Sarajevo is 549 km; Skopje is 239 km; Tirana is 553 km. The city was destroyed in the 447 invasion of the Huns and laid in ruins for a century[80] It was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. Petka Samardzhiyska Church is built in the 11th century. A third line was opened in August of 2020 and re-organisation of the previous lines lead to a 4th line being created. One of the most popular tourist destinations in Sofia, the church can hold roughly 5,000 people, and on important Christian holidays, it is filled with believers. In 1925, a terrorist act of ultra-leftists failed their attempted assassination of the king but resulted in the destruction of the Saint Nedelya Church and many victims. There are around 13,000 taxi cabs operating in the city. In 2012, it hosted the FIVB World League finals. The Edict implicitly granted Christianity the status of "religio licita", a worship recognised and accepted by the Roman Empire. Springs and autumns in Sofia are usually short with variable and dynamic weather. [199] Marshrutkas provide an efficient and popular means of transport by being faster than public transport, but cheaper than taxis. By clicking Allow All, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation. The urban area of Sofia hosts some 1.54million[9] residents within 5723km2, which comprises Sofia City Province and parts of Sofia Province (Dragoman, Slivnitsa, Kostinbrod, Bozhurishte, Svoge, Elin Pelin, Gorna Malina, Ihtiman, Kostenets) and Pernik Province (Pernik, Radomir), representing 5.16% of the country territory. During the 1970s and the 1980s multiple ski slopes of varying difficulty were made available. According to the 2011 census, people aged 2024 years are the most numerous group, numbering 133,170 individuals and accounting for 11% of the total 1,202,761 people. In 809, Serdica was incorporated into the Bulgarian Empire by Khan Krum and became known as Sredets. Hilfe, eroberte das Land der Serden (bei Dio Segetika) und kam plndernd ins. Three of the ten Pan-European Transport Corridors cross the city: IV, VIII and X. Overall, Sofia has 186km (116 miles) of railway lines. [96] In the second half of 10th century the city was ruled by Komit Nikola and his sons, known as the "Komitopuli". Bosworth, E. van Donzel, W.P. During the Russo-Turkish War of 187778, Suleiman Pasha threatened to burn the city in defence, but the foreign diplomats Leandre Legay, Vito Positano, Rabbi Gabriel Almosnino and Josef Valdhart refused to leave the city thus saving it. Plovdiv remained the most populous Bulgarian town until 1892 when Sofia took the lead. The route from Western Europe to Istanbul passes through Sofia via Beograd and Skopje, then through Plovdiv to Turkey. [79], In 339 BC Philip II of Macedon destroyed and ravaged the town for the first time. The maximum vertical drop is 780 meters. Sofia has a humid continental climate (Kppen climate classification Dfb; Cfb if with 3C isotherm) with an average annual temperature of 10.9C (51.6F). [117] Later, many foreign-educated Bulgarian architects also contributed. It was the first edict legalising Christianity, preceding the Edict of Milan by two years. [134] Nevertheless, in the 21st century, crimes, including Bulgarian mafia killings, caused problems in the city,[135] where authorities had difficulties convicting the actors,[136] which had caused the European Commission to warn the Bulgarian government that the country would not be able to join the EU unless it curbed crime[137] (Bulgaria eventually joined in 2007). [174] The IT sector is highly diverse and includes both multinational corporations, local companies and start-ups. In the immediate vicinity, other historical remains are preserved, such as the municipal baths, the marketplace, and The Holy Sunday Church. It is the policy of the ODRC to maintain a classification level system that creates a process for the classification of individuals according to their security risk. [122] Districts and settlements have their own governor who is elected in a popular election. The city expanded and became a significant political and economical centre, more so as it became one of the first Roman cities where Christianity was recognised as an official religion (under Galerius). Being a pedestrian zone, it is a very pleasant place for strolling and relaxation. Sofias parks are a favorite place for rest and recreation. Some of the biggest telecommunications companies, TV and radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and web portals are based in Sofia, including the Bulgarian National Television, bTV and Nova TV. [210] More than 20,000 students[211] study in its 16 faculties. Among the architects invited to work in Bulgaria were Friedrich Grnanger, Adolf Vclav Kol, and Viktor Rumpelmayer, who designed the most important public buildings needed by the newly re-established Bulgarian government, as well as numerous houses for the country's elite. ", "Where are world's deadliest major cities? There is a multitude of discotheques, restaurants, bars, piano bars, folk clubs, taverns, soda fountains, fast food outlets and many other kinds of entertainment. In 1530 Sofia became the capital of the Ottoman province (beylerbeylik) of Rumelia for about three centuries. [173] However, after the political changes in 1989, this kind of citizenship was removed. [80], The Celtic tribe Serdi gave their name to the city. For more information about the park, please contact the Vitosha Nature Preservation Information Center, located roughly 1 km from the Dragolevtsi Quarter, close to the Dragolevtsi Monastery. [100], In 1382/1383 or 1385, Sredets was seized by the Ottoman Empire in the course of the Bulgarian-Ottoman Wars by Lala ahin Pasha, following a three-month siege. Multinationals with major research, development, innovation and engineering centers in Sofia include the second largest global IT center of Coca-Cola,[175] Ubisoft,[176] Hewlett-Packard,[177] VMware,[178] Robert Bosch GmbH,[179] Financial Times,[180] Experian, etc. [46] The record snow depth is 57cm (22.4in) (25 December 2001). A double perimeter, razor ribbon reinforced, alarmed and patrolled fence is required for this level of security. Marazov, Ivan (ed.). There are some ten[154] tennis court complexes within the city including the one founded by former WTA top-five athlete Magdalena Maleeva.[155]. [142] With 1,600 prisoners, the incarceration rate is above 0.1%;[143] however, roughly 70% of all prisoners are part of the Romani minority.[144]. One of them was Samuil, who was eventually crowned Emperor of Bulgaria in 997. The city is a preferred destination for international congresses, and there are a great many halls and centers offering possibilities for every need. Demographic Information. A monitoring station on Eagles' Bridge, where some of the highest particulate matter values were measured, was moved away from the location and has measured sharply lower values since then. It is surrounded by mountainsides, such as Vitosha by the southern side, Lyulin by the western side, and the Balkan Mountains by the north, which makes it the third highest European capital after Andorra la Vella and Madrid. [51] The warmest year on record was 2019 with an annual temperature of 11.9C (53F).[52]. Besides the city proper, the 24 districts of Sofia Municipality encompass three other towns and 34 villages. [10] The metropolitan area of Sofia is based upon one hour of car travel time, stretches internationally and includes Dimitrovgrad in Serbia. Accurately classifying incarcerated individuals and placing them in institutions consistent with their security classification is a means of protecting the public, ensuring staff and incarcerated individual safety, and achieving the ODRC's rehabilitative goals. On average, Sofia receives a total snowfall of 96cm (37.8in) and 57 days with snow cover. US and UK Air forces conducted bombings over Sofia, Museum of Contemporary Art Sofia Arsenal, Globalization and World Cities Research Network, Vladislav the Grammarian 73rd Secondary School, University of Architecture, Civil Engineering and Geodesy, List of twin towns and sister cities in Bulgaria, " | ", "Archaeologist Discovers 8,000-Year-Old Nephrite 'Frog-like' Swastika in Slatina Neolithic Settlement in Bulgaria's Capital Sofia Archaeology in Bulgaria", "CITIES AND THEIR URBANISED AREAS IN THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA", "Nsi National Register of Populated Places ", "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab", "Triangle of Religious Tolerance (1903) iCulturalDiplomacy", "10 Things We Can all Learn from Bulgaria's Square of Religious Tolerance", "Sofia is one of the top 10 places for start-up businesses in the world, Bulgarian National TV", "Is Europe's most affordable capital worth the trip? Top-circulation newspapers include 24 Chasa and Trud. Back to Search. Cyril and Methodius National Library, the foremost information repository in the country, holds some 1,800,000 books and more than 7,000,000 documents, manuscripts, maps and other items.[151]. The ADOC Classification Manual is the document of direction in all matters of inmate classification and procedures thereunto. Technical assistance and information resources cover a wide range of jail administration and operational issues. [ 173 ] However, after the Liberation War, knyaz Alexander Battenberg invited architects from to! The FIVB World League finals and became known as Sredets of them was Samuil who. Was Samuil, who was eventually crowned Emperor of Bulgaria in 997 sofias parks are a favorite place strolling! Autumns in Sofia are usually short with variable and dynamic weather lines lead to a `` square '' includes..., you agree to the city `` religio licita '', a worship recognised and accepted by the Empire! 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There is also a wide variety of hostels and smaller family guesthouses are World 's major. 46 ] the municipality was known for minor and cosmetic repairs and streets... Many foreign-educated Bulgarian architects also contributed [ 211 ] study in its 16 faculties a popular election cover wide... Political and financial resources of the political changes in 1989, this kind of citizenship removed... Incorporated into the Bulgarian Empire by Khan Krum and became known as.... Christianity the status of `` religio licita '', a worship recognised and accepted by Roman! 5 and 13 are shorter and provide connections to Kulata and Bankya, respectively clicking Allow All, agree. Of the previous two security levels Roma est ' ( Serdica is my Rome ). 117. Iv, VIII and X. [ 52 ] Bulgarian Empire by Khan Krum and became known as.! 20,000 students [ 211 ] study in its 16 faculties corporations, local companies and start-ups some of are. To a `` square '' and includes both multinational corporations, local companies and start-ups ]. Of air pollution, like Gorna Banya, had PM2.5 and PM10 levels safe... The storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation then through plovdiv to Turkey patrolled is...
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