Situated in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria boasts a mature and rich history. Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Bulgarians inhabited this land in their time, leaving behind monuments and enriching the world's treasure-house of culture.

Bulgaria occupies 111 000 square km and has a population of 8.8 million. Bulgaria's capital is the city of Sofia with 1.3 million people. Bulgaria is divided into two parts by the Balkan mountain, and also borders the Black sea.

Sofia is the economic, cultural and scientific center of Bulgaria. The city sights are a eclectic mix of architectural styles, largely rebuilt after the WWII bombings and complete with a yellow brick boulevard. Worthwhile sites to add to your visit included the 14th-century church of St Petka Samardiiiska, Vitosha Boulevard - the fashionable avenue of modern Sofia and the National Museum of History. The eastern end of the city is dominated by the neo-Byzantine Alexander Nevski Church, a memorial to the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died In the fight for Bulgaria's independence. Plotschtad Batenberg to the east is the home of fine landscapes and gardens and well worth a visit.