Sofia: Balkans’ Rising Star

Posted on June 5, 2022

In the southern-central area of the Balkans, sitting midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, lies the Bulgarian capital of Sofia. With a population of almost 1.3 million, Sofia is the 14th-largest city in the European Union. The city is surrounded by a vista of mountains with Vitosha to the south, Lyulin to the west, and the Balkan Mountains standing tall to the north.

Words by Steve Kennedy & Photography by Peter Steyn —In the southern-central area of the Balkans, sitting midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, lies the Bulgarian capital of Sofia.

With a population of almost 1.3 million, Sofia is the 14th-largest city in the European Union. The city is surrounded by a vista of mountains with Vitosha to the south, Lyulin to the west, and the Balkan Mountains standing tall to the north.

While the city is set amidst stunning natural attractions, the centre itself can be described as somewhat rundown. With a lack of charmingly designed buildings, Sofia looks more like a Brutalist-style cityscape. Yet, looks can be deceiving, and there is so much more to the capital than its exterior image. Even that is starting to change, with a lot of work taking place to revitalise its heart, making it a more vibrant metropolis to explore.

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Cathedral Saint Alexandar Nevski, Sofia, Bulgaria

Banya Bashi Mosque, Banski Square, Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia Synagogue, Sofia, Bulgaria

The lion sculpture in front of Temple Sveta Sofia, Bulgaria

Kids at The Monument to the Soviet Army, Knyazheska Garden, Sofia, Bulgaria

The lion sculpture in front of Temple Sveta Sofia, Bulgaria

The Presidency, and NOT Guards at Ministry of Education and Science, Sofia, Bulgaria (OR The Presidency building? http://sofia-guide.com/attraction/presidency-building-sofia-president-bulgaria/