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Alexander Nevski Memorial Church

Completed in 1912 in honour of the Russian casualties of the 1877-78 War of Liberation from Ottoman Rule. Gold-domed, it is the finest piece of architecture in the Balkans. The interior decoration is made of Italian marble. Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold, and mosaics that embody the spirit of the finest Eastern Orthodox traditions. A superb collection of icons - the best in Bulgaria - can also be seen in the Crypt.

St. George Rotunda

The rotunda is under the protection of UNESCO. Restoration work has revealed three layers of medieval frescoes, which had been hidden by plaster since the sixteenth century. According to the historians and archeologists those frescoes date to the middle of 10 th century and portray 22 prophets. The impressive cupola bears a fourteenth-century portrait of Christ, surrounded by four angels. To the east lie excavated foundations of the Roman settlement of Serdica. Nowadays the church is a museum.

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St. Sophia Basilica

The 4th-6th century basilica was built during the reign of Justinian. It has survived intact with 1600- year-old mosaic details. Beside the wall of the church is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. According to popular lore, St Sophia's miraculous powers protected the building over the centuries, warding off human invasions and natural disasters to keep the church as an example of the elegant, austere, and symmetrical architecture of the age.

The National Palace of Culture (NDK)

The biggest Congress Centre in the Balkans. It is located in the centre of the city and faces the Vitosha Mountain. In July 2005, the National Palace of Culture was proclaimed the best congress centre in the world for the year by the International Organization of Congress Centres.

Curiously, more than 10,000 tons of steel were used for the construction of the NDK - 3,000 more than the Eiffel Tower.

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St. Nedelya Church
(Opposite the Sheraton Hotel)

Built in medieval times and known as the Church of the Blessed Sveti Kral. It was most likely originally built in the 10th century and had stone foundations and an otherwise wooden construction, remaining wooden until the middle of the 19th century, unlike most other churches in the city. The current building was reconstructed after 1925 when it was almost completely destroyed by a bomb explosion.

VASSIL LEVSKI MONUMENT

Vassil Levski was the principal architect of the campaign to free Bulgaria from the oppression of the Ottoman Empire. The monument marks the spot where he was hanged by the Turks in 1873.

SOFIA UNIVERSITY

The country's most prestigious university.
It was built a decade after Sofia became Bulgaria's capital in 1879 with funds bequeathed by the brothers Evlogi and Christo Georgiev.

DRAGALEVTSI

A suburb in the woods at the foot of Mount Vitosha. About 3 km further on is DRAGALEVTSI MONASTERY, founded during the reign of King Ivan Alexander. Frescoes date back to the C15. The church, which is part of the original monastery, often sheltered the Apostle of Freedom Vassil Levski during the C19.

Boyan Chruch

A suburb at the foot of Mount Vitosha, notable for the BOYANA CHURCH, built in the C11. Frescoes are claimed to be among the oldest and most interesting examples of East European Medieval art. Like Rila Monastery, the BOYANA CHURCH has been listed by UNESCO as a part of the world s cultural heritage.

THE RUSSIAN CHURCH

MOUNT VITOSHA

It has become very much a part of Sofia owing to its accessibility by means of the cabin lifts at Knyazhevo and Simeonovo. Cherni Vrah, the highest point, gives wonderful views over the whole region. The winter ski-resort Aleko lies at 1868 m and the ski season lasts from early December until late spring. The beautiful scenery makes the whole area attractive throughout the year.