Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It is the second largest city
in the country and is located on the banks of Maritsa River. Its unique location
on these ancient crossroads has stimulated strong cultural and political influences
from East and West civilizations, and yet maintained its unique cultural identity.
Being older than most of the oldest towns like Rome, Athens, Carthage or Constantinople,
an almost contemporary of Troy, Plovdiv is a town built upon layers of towns and its
culture has developed upon layers of cultures.
Plovdiv is a town that had the exceptional destiny to be a witness of a lot of historical
vicissitudes. Its eight-millenary history gives it the right to be regarded as a coeval of
human civilization and one of the most ancient towns in Europe. The town is a point of intersection
of cultures and epochs, religions and beliefs, a crossroad, connecting countries and continents.
Its key position on the road Europe – Asia makes it a significant merchant and cultural centre.
Plovdiv is a picturesque town, with many parks and gardens, museums and archaeological monuments.
The most remarkable of them rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatre built by Emperor
Mark Avrelii during the II century A.D. Its magnificant arcade adorned with marble statues is
simply breath-taking. Theatre and opera performances are still staged here on warm summer nights.
The Roman Stadium was constructed during II century reproducing the layout of the stadium in Delphi,
Greece, and the marble seats accommodated 30 000 spectators of games and gladiator fights.
Some archeologists think that games from the Septimus Severus time (193 - 211) took place there .
Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved
streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside.
The Old Plovdiv nowadays is an original living museum, an architectural phenomenon with many of
the houses of those times' most prominent bulgarians turned into museums, galleries hosting various
art exhibitions, festivals and biennials, and even tourist dormitories. The Djumaya Mosque is a precious
architectural monument in the center of Plovdiv dating back to the 14-15 century. It is a model of the
oldest Moslem religious temples still preserved not only in Bulgaria but in the entire Balkan Peninsula.
The Djumaya Mosque is an extremely solid building with thick stone walls, covered by lead domes and a
polygonal minaret. It is very interesting to see the ancient sun-dial. People believed that it weighs
off the eternity or the time of the sultan's reign. It is open for visitors every day.The oldest churches
in Plovdiv are "St. Constantine and Elena", "St. Marina", "St. Petka", "St. Nedelia", "The Holy Virgin".
All of them are architectural monuments of great value possessing precious iconostases, icons, frescoes
The Ethnographic Museum in Plovdiv is situated in a beautiful house of the National Revival period,
built in 1847. the exposition is divided in 5 departments and illustrates the lifestyle and culture
of the population in the Plovdiv region – agriculture and handicrafts; national costumes and textiles;
folklore costumes and musical instruments; architecture of the National Revival period.
The principal facade of the house faces west, giving onto a spacious and well-kept garden. It consists
of two clearly differentiated bodies: middle part projecting far forwards, and side wings drawn back.
The spirit of Plovdiv gives rise to the creative power of its artists, writers and musicians.
Well known in the country and abroad are cultural events like the International Chamber Music
Festival which has been taking place in the Old Town for more than thirty five years; the National
Autumn Exhibitions in the houses of the Old Town, also dating from over thirty years; The Golden
Chest International Television Film Festival, organized for more than two decades together with the
Bulgarian National Television; the Golden Rhyton Documentary Film Festival; the Verdi Festival which
draws the admirers of opera to the Ancient Theatre one of the most attractive places in the Old Town;
the annual Easter and Christmas Musical festivals; The International Folk Festival, which is one of the
most exotic and popular cultural events at the end of the summer.
Some recent initiatives also arouse interest – the Scene on Crossroads International Theatre Festival;
the Week of Contemporary art, which takes place inside the historic and architectural monument Starinna
Bath; Impressia Art Fair; Autumn Salon of Arts; the Festival of the Old Town. Aside from all the
cultural events, Plovdiv is also an important trade centre. Since 1892 the International
Plovdiv Fair - one of the oldest and biggest on the Bolkans - is conducted twice annually in the
beginning of May and in September, attracting participants and visitors from a wide range of countries.
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