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Sofia

Mayor

Yordanka Fandakova

Biography

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After the north-eastern parts of Bulgaria where the capital of Preslav was locater,were conquered by Byzantium in 972, Sredets became a temporary capital of the First Bulgarian Empire. The Bulgarian Church, headed by Patriarch Damyan, moved here from Drastar City (present-day Silistra). There was a time of continuous economic and cultural growth for Sredets during the Second Bulgarian Empire (1194-1382). The city grew and got its final appearance of a typical medieval city. The streets became narrower, buildings with a typical brick and stone construction appeared, new small churches were erected, and in its vicinity, mostly on the slopes of Vitosha and the Balkan Mountains, many monasteries were constructed. In the last decades of the 14th century, the city took on its present name - Sofia, after the basilica that arose nearby. In 1382, after a three-month siege, Sofia was captured by Ottoman conquerors. Following the liberation of the city from Ottoman rule (04.01.1878), a year later - on 03.04.1879, the First Constituent National Assembly unanimously chose Sofia as the capital of the restored Bulgarian State. In 1879, the first urban development plan of Sofia was drawn up. It transformed the outlook of the city and shaped to a large extent the appearance of today’s city centre. Some of the most prominent architects and builders of the time were attracted from Europe for the construction of the new capital.

Austria / Bulgaria / Germany / Greece / Spain / Grenoble / Sofia / Mobility

European sustainable mobility awards nominees revealed

The four winners will be known in one month

Mar 22, 2021 14:28

Aseniya Dimitrova

Gabrovo / Gdansk / Helsingborg / Krakow / Pleven / Rzeszow / Sofia / Tallinn / Warsaw / Zagreb

30 cities will compete for the European Green Capital and Green Leaf awards

The winners to the prestigious distinction will receive one million euros for environmental initiatives

Feb 18, 2021 16:36

Aseniya Dimitrova

Bulgaria / Sofia / Mobility

Sofia metro to be expanded with six more stations

The project is expected to receive funding from the Recovery plan for Europe

Jan 14, 2021 11:39

Aseniya Dimitrova

Bulgaria / Sofia / Veliko Tarnovo / Energy efficiency

Twenty Bulgarian municipalities are modernizing street lighting

The expected effect is a reduction in carbon emissions and lighting costs

Jan 08, 2021 15:02

Aseniya Dimitrova

Sofia / Development / Public Spaces

Sofia may soon become a more pleasant-looking city

This is what a newly adopted ordinance on the urban environment entails

Dec 18, 2020 13:03

Aseniya Dimitrova

Sofia / Culture and Tourism

Christmas markets to light up Bulgaria's capital of Sofia

Tasty food, wine and an outdoor music program during the winter holidays await you

Nov 20, 2020 12:20

Monika Dimitrova

Sofia / Energy efficiency

Sofia Municipality is creating green belts around schools

Afforestation is a key point in the local administration's climate change adaptation measures

Nov 06, 2020 11:24

Monika Dimitrova

Sofia / Economy and Finance

"Sofia Chooses" campaign heralds Bulgarian capital's first-ever participatorty budget

The projects that receive the most votes will be implemented through the Investment Program of Sofia Municipality for 2021

Oct 08, 2020 08:24

Monika Dimitrova

Sofia / Innovation and Research

Sofia CyberSec 2020 bounces back this month

The second edition of the conference on digital protection will happen after all

Sep 08, 2020 14:21

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Sofia / Mobility

Sofia Metro unveils a new line

Travel for free on line 3 of the subway tomorrow

Aug 25, 2020 08:23

Monika Dimitrova

Sofia / Culture and Tourism

The sixth edition of "Green Libraries" begins in Sofia

Throughout the whole August, residents and guests of the Bulgarian capital will be able to receive a free reader's card for the Sofia Library in their favorite parks and gardens

Aug 03, 2020 09:19

Monika Dimitrova

Sofia / Culture and Tourism / Development

Sofia’s outdoor water park "Vazrazhdane" opens its doors

After years of hard work and legal battles the venue is finally ready to welcome its first customers

Jul 24, 2020 13:01

Anton Stoyanov

Sofia / Development

Sofia Airport concession agreement signed

The airport was handed over to the consortium “Sof Connect” for a period of 35 years

Jul 22, 2020 10:43

Anton Stoyanov

Sofia / Education and Sport / Innovation and Research

Gabriel: Technology does not change anything if it is not in the hands of trained teachers

See the highlights of the conference "Education from A to #, with the participation of Commissioner Maria Gabriel and the Mayor of Sofia

Jul 17, 2020 09:12

Aseniya Dimitrova

Sofia / Education and Sport

Sofia will host an international conference on the topic of digital education

EU Commissioner Mariya Gabriel will join the discussion dedicated to sounding out new approaches to schooling

Jul 02, 2020 13:03

Tzvetozar Vincent Iolov

Sofia / Culture and Tourism / Politics and Reforms

On Trabant’s Wings the City of Sofia Lands at NATO HQ

The famous Bulgarian “Atlantic” Trabant, which “kidnapped” the then Secretary General of NATO Manfred Wörner has been replicated in the new HQ of NATO in Brussels

May 04, 2020 09:28

Anton Stoyanov

Sofia / Energy efficiency

The coloured figures in the parks of Sofia will be replaced with greenery

Mayor Fandakova said that the coloured figure of the sun in front of the National Library and the coat of arms of Sofia will be the only ones preserved throughout the year

Apr 16, 2020 13:17

Monika Dimitrova