Are you looking to explore the history of Sofia through the ages? There are a number of historical destinations in Sofia including the time-honored buildings, monuments, palaces, and parks where you can learn about the glorious past of Sofia. The presence of these historical sites and museums will take you on a walk through Sofia ‘s rich history.
If you are willing to have an in-depth historical information about Sofia, we recommend that you take a wonderful guided tour to cover the major historical attractions. Also, check the opening and closing time for each so that you can organize your time. Make sure that you go through the complete list of historical places in Sofia for a great trip!
Top Historical Places in Sofia
Let's witness the history of Sofia with these top historical places - monuments and landmarks:
-
Cathedral Saint Alexandar Nevski
(1338 Votes)
This magnificent eastern Orthodox cathedral is one of the largest in the world. Its most striking feature is its great, gold-plated dome that’s 45 metres high. The architecture is neo-Byzantine – it was built only in the early 20th century in memory of the 200,000 Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian and Bulgarian soldiers, who died in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878. Inside, it&r...Read more -
The Rotunda Of St George
(1125 Votes)
This Roman church, built in the 4th century in a square in the ancient town of Serkika, is the oldest building in the city. It’s famous for the frescoes on its walls. The oldest frescoes however, are definitely from Byzantine-Roman times, and are probably as old as the church. The view of the church from the outside is a little jarring though, seeing how the church is in the courtyard bet...Read more -
Saint Sofia Church
(1265 Votes)
Though overshadowed in size by the nearby Alexander Nevski church, the Saint Sophia church is far more important to the city’s history. It was built in the 6th century on the site of some even older churches, and an ancient necropolis. During its hay-days in the 14th century, the church’s fame was so great that it conferred it’s own name to the city – the city of Serdika...Read more -
This is one of the prettiest Russian churches – a white building of green roofs and golden domes. Built between 1907-1914, the church is famed for its walled paintings by Russian artists – murals in reds and greens and golds. Even more famous though, is the Archbishop Seraphim Sabolev’s remains in crypt. The Archbishop was thought by many to be miracle worker, and even today, ...Read more -
Housed in the oldest remaining Ottoman building in Sofia, the museum’s artefacts cover objects from Palaeolithic to Medieval Ages. The finds cover the rise of the Thracian and Odrysian kingdoms; there are necropolis artefacts such astombstones, statues of idols, ceramics from Pontia (now Sozopol) and Odessos (now Varna); Greek and Roman Sculptures; a copy of the Madara Horseman sculpture ...Read more -
Petko and Pencho Slaveykov were a father-son duo of Bulgarian writers. This square is named after them, and you’ll see a sculpture of the pair on of the benches. It’s the most popular square in Sofia. Historically, it’s been in use since 1515, when there was just a mosque, two police stations and a coffee-house here. Since 1990, the square has become a very popular spot for bo...Read more -
The Russian Tsar Alexander II and his troops liberated Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1876 after centuries of rule. The grateful country consequently had a statue built in his honor. The 14 metre high sculpture is bronze and neo-classical with a massive Neo-Renaissance cornice. It’s a favourite place for tourists to get their pic clicked. -
This is an intriguing attraction. It’s basically a public park, with all the usual strolling, picnicking, relaxing and people watching appeals. The twist is that it’s dedicated to world peace and to the world’s children. The great central monument has a sculpture of doves, and a collection of bells from around the world. The idea is to go each bell and ring it. The area is get...Read more -
The museum is famous for its collection of pastoral woodcarving from the 19th and 20th centuries. Most of these are household items, but you’ll also find musical instruments, furniture and decoratives. There is a lovely embroidery collection with a significant folkloric influence. Most of the museum focuses on describing Bulgarian traditional life, during weekdays and weekends. The buildi...Read more