The fertile plains of the Mariza River have nurtured civilization for millennia. The Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Slavs, Bulgarians, and Turks have all called this region their home. This melting pot of cultures has created a uniquely Bulgarian identity. In the streets of Bulgaria’s crown jewel, Plovdiv, you can find Roman ruins, mosques, and Shopska salad. Here you will find some of the best that Bulgaria has to offer.
For those seeking a one-of-a-kind travel experience, the captivating city of Plovdiv and the Bulgarian heartland should be on your list. From the awe-inspiring ancient Roman amphitheater to the picturesque and vibrant houses of the Old Town, Plovdiv offers a diverse range of attractions that cater to different interests. Whether you’re a history aficionado, a food enthusiast or simply looking for a scenic location for your next holiday, Plovdiv is the perfect choice.
Bounded by the Balkan and Rhodope Mountains, the Thracian Valley has always been a natural homeland. The modern city of Plovdiv only continues an ancient legacy of settlement in the region. The city was founded in 342 BC as Philippopolis by the father of Alexander the Great over an existing Thracian settlement. It would eventually grow into one of the most prosperous cities in the Roman Empire, and soon the entire valley was filled with Roman cities, such as Hisarya (Diocletianopolis) and Stara Zagora (Ulpia Augusta Traiana). The fall of the Roman Empire saw the region depopulated and repopulated several times, and these great cities fell into ruin. Plovdiv would remerge as a minor Bulgarian settlement in the Middle Ages until its conquest by the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century.
As the capital of the Thracian Valley, or Eastern Rumelia, as the Ottomans referred to it, the city grew, and the region once prospered again. As a result of its prosperity, the city was filled with avenues of stately homes and mosques, and the city was a center of the arts. Likewise, it is fair to call the city Bulgarian, as on the eve of Bulgarian Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, Bulgarians comprised 45% of the population, with the rest split between ethnic Turks and Greeks.
Following the final unification of Rumelia with Northern Bulgaria in 1885, the city and the region would play a critical role in forming a Bulgarian national identity. The city’s charming architecture and cultural heritage would define the entire country’s visual identity going forward. 16th and 17th-century homes of the Bulgarian elite in Plovdiv were used as templates for the emergent Bulgarian Revivalist Style. This continues into the modern period, with much Modernist Architecture built under the communist regime reflecting this style.
