35 EUR / - 1-3 pax. - 35 EUR - 4-10 pax - 25 EUR - 10 or more - by request

Directly in front of the Sheraton Hotel you will see the St. Nedelya Church, situated on the square of the same name. Built at the end of the 19th century, it is the direct successor of several smaller churches from mediaeval times and lies directly above the crossroads of ancient Serdica. In 1925 it was largely destroyed in a bomb blast assas¬sination attempt on Tsar Boris III, in which over 200 people were killed, although the intended victim was spared. Its central location makes it the focal point for locals and you may well be able to observe a wedding, christening or funeral. Crossing the square, make your way to the courtyard area behind the Sheraton Hotel, where you will find the St. George Rotunda. 

Set among the excavations of ancient roman ruins, this charming round red brick church dates back to the 4th century (although it did not be¬come a church till the 6th century) and is Sofia's oldest preserved building. Having undergone major restoration work, it was reopened to the public in 1998 for the first time in 70 years. Three layers of frescoes can still be seen, the oldest dating back to the 10th cen¬tury. Nowadays it often hosts small art exhibits. 

Flanking the courtyard at the opposite end is the Presidency, the administrative quarters of Bulgaria's president. The beautifully attired guards of honour outside the entrance are well worth a snapshot. Looking diagonally across from the Presidency you will see an imposing white colon¬naded building, flanked by major traffic routes on either side. This is the former Communist Party Headquarters (until August 1990) and marks the top end of an area known as the 'Largo' with its unique yellow brick road, a major showpiece of postwar Sofia. Look up and you will notice something distinctly missing. The red star! This was removed after the collapse of the communist era. 

Take a little detour to the new hotel Arena di Serdica on Budapest St., to see the beautifully excavated part of the ancient Roman amphitheatre. Access to the exposition is free, Tue - Sun from 10.00 - 16.00hrs. 

The recently erected (2001), larger than life statue of Sofia overlooks the main intersection across from TZUM retail centre and the Hotel Sheraton. The 24-metre high bronze and copper sculpture weighing four tons is the creation of Bulgarian artist Georgi Chapkanov and architect Stanislav Konstantinov. Sofia holds the symbols of fame and wisdom in her hands and wears the crown of Tjuhe - the goddess of fate. In the underpass directly in front of TZUM, nestled among the cafes and shops, is the tiny church of Sveta Petka Samardzhiiska, built in the 14th century. The church is hardly visible above street level as under Turkish rule churches were only allowed if they did not rise higher than ground level. Frescoes from three different periods can be seen here on the upper level. Admission is by donation. 

Behind TZUM at the beginning of Maria Luisa Blvd is Sofia's only mosque, the Banya Bashi mosque, built in 1576 by Hadji Mimar Sonah. Banya, the Bulgarian word for bath, refers to the adjacent magnificent Baths that were completely derelict and are cur¬rently being painstakingly restored to their former splendour. The restored baths will also eventually house the first City Museum dedicated to the History of Sofia. The area in front of the baths has just been beauti¬fied and reopened to the public. Locals form long queues to collect the warm mineral water at the tapped springs in the park area. 

Crossing over Maria Luisa Blvd you will see the beautifully restored Halite, the former food market built in 1909. Once again the main focus of the shops inside is food, with stalls selling fresh fish and special dietary foods, as well as a variety of other shops. On the mezzanine level overlooking the hall there is a food-court offering a variety of fast food. In the basement area, surround¬ed by more Roman ruins, is a Bulgarian self-service restaurant. 

From the Halite you have two options. To the south side you can take a stroll along Sofia's only pedestrian area, Pirotska Street, with its cafes and shops, or on the north side you can walk along Ekzarch Josif Street to Sofia's synagogue, another beautiful building renovated in the last five years. Built between 1905 and 1909 by Austrian architect Gruenanger (it has just celebrated its 100th anniversary) the build¬ing is a smaller replica of the Sephardic synagogue in Vienna, which was destroyed during the Second World War. 

From the synagogue, if you still feel you have the energy, you might like to take a stroll through the backstreets to the Zhenski Pazar (Ladies Market). This is Sofia's big¬gest and cheapest market where you can find everything from fruit and vegetables to household products including Bulgarian ceramics. It is always busy and extra caution regarding your valuables is advised. If you make your way through the market you will come out at Lion's Bridge. 

From here you can walk up Maria Luisa Blvd. back to your starting point. 

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PRICES: 
- 1-3 pax. - 35 EUR 
- 4-10 pax - 25 EUR 
- 10 or more - by request 
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