2. Bulgaria (/bʌlˈɡɛəriə, bʊl-/ ( listen);
Bulgarian: България, tr. Bǎlgariya), officially
the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgarian:
Република България, tr. Republika
Bǎlgariya, pronounced [rɛˈpublikɐ
bɐɫˈɡarijɐ]), is a country in southeastern
Europe. It is bordered by Romania to the
north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west,
Greece and Turkey to the south, and the
Black Sea to the east. With a territory of
110,994 square kilometres (42,855 sq mi),
Bulgaria is Europe's 16th-largest country.
Geography
3.
4. Sofia (/ˈsoʊfiə/ or /ˈsɒfiə/ or /soʊˈfiːə/; Bulgarian: София, tr. Sofiya,
pronounced [ˈsɔfiə, ˈsɔfjə] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of
Bulgaria. 1.26 million people live in the city and 1.68 million people live
in its metropolitan area. The city is at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the
western part of the country. Being in the centre of the Balkan peninsula,
it is midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, and closest to
the Aegean Sea.
Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000
BC.Being Bulgaria's primate city, Sofia is a hometown of many of the
major local universities, cultural institutions and commercial companies.
Sofia is one of the top 10 best places for start-up business in the world,
especially in information technologies. Sofia is Europe's most affordable
capital to visit as of 2013.
The capital city Sofija
6. The Saint Sofia Church (Bulgarian: църква
„Света София“, tsyrkva „Sveta Sofia“) is
the second oldest church in the Bulgarian
capital Sofia, dating to the 4th-6th century.
In the predecessor building took place the
Council of Serdica held most probably in
343 and attended by 316 bishops. In the
14th century, the church gave its name to
the city, previously known as Sredets
(Средец).
Back
Saint Sofia Church, Sofia
7. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Bulgarian:
Храм-паметник „Свети Александър Невски“, Hram-
pametnik „Sveti Aleksandar Nevski“) is a Bulgarian
Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built
in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church
of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it 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 second-largest cathedral located
on the Balkan Peninsula, after the Cathedral of Saint
Sava in Belgrade.
Back
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
8. St. Nedelya Church (Bulgarian: Катедрален храм
"Св. великомъченица Неделя" в София or
църква „Света Неделя“ Sveta Nedelya) is an
Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of
Bulgaria, a cathedral of the Sofia bishopric of the
Bulgarian Patriarchate. Sveta Nedelya is a
medieval church that has suffered destruction
through the ages and has been reconstructed
many times. The present building of the temple is
among the landmarks of Sofia. It was designed by
the famous Bulgarian architectural team Vasilyov-
Tsolov. Back
St. Nedelya Church
9. Considering its relatively small area, Bulgaria has variable and complex climate. The country
occupies the southernmost part of the continental climatic zone, with small areas in the south
falling within the Mediterranean climatic zone. The continental zone is predominant, because
continental air masses flow easily into the unobstructed Danubian Plain. The continental
influence, stronger during the winter, produces abundant snowfall; the Mediterranean
influence increases during the second half of summer and produces hot and dry weather.
Bulgaria is subdivided into five climatic zones: continental zone (Danubian Plain, Pre-Balkan
and the higher valleys of the Transitional geomorphological region); transitional zone (Upper
Thracian Plain, most of the Struma and Mesta valleys, the lower Sub-Balkan valleys);
continental-Mediterranean zone (the southernmost areas of the Struma and Mesta valleys,
the eastern Rhodope Mountains, Sakar and Strandzha); Black Sea zone along the coastline
with an average length of 30–40 km inland; and alpine zone in the mountains above 1000 m
altitude (central Balkan Mountains, Rila, Pirin, Vitosha, western Rhodope Mountains, etc.)
Climate in Bulgaria
10. Bulgarian cuisine (Bulgarian: българска кухня, bǎlgarska kuhnja) is a
representative of the cuisine of Eastern Europe. It shares characteristics with
other Balkans cuisines. Bulgarian cooking traditions are diverse because of
geographical factors such as climatic conditions suitable for a variety of
vegetables, herbs and fruit. Aside from the vast variety of local Bulgarian dishes,
Bulgarian cuisine shares a number of dishes with the Russian, Turkish, and
Greek cuisine.
Bulgarian food often incorporates salads as appetizers and is also noted for the
prominence of dairy products, wines and other alcoholic drinks such as rakia.
The cuisine also features a variety of soups, such as the cold soup tarator, and
pastries, such as the filo dough based banitsa, pita and the various types of
börek.
Main courses are very typically water-based stews, either vegetarian or with
lamb, goat meat, veal, chicken or pork. Deep-frying is not common, but grilling -
especially different kinds of sausages - is very prominent. Pork is common, often
mixed with veal or lamb, although fish and chicken are also widely used. While
most cattle are bred for milk production rather than meat, veal is popular for
grilling meats appetizers (meze) and in some main courses. As a substantial
Bulgarian food