Sofia travel tips and stories. Vacations ideas, cruises spa and resorts

If you want to listen to nice music… if you want really to have real coffee or quality drinks… or want taste culinary wonders, we show you top 5 of most exciting places in Sofia, Bulgaria.

 1. “CAPPUCCINO”is the most fashionable club in Sofia. Located at the center of the city the club is very attractive at the night . The atmosphere is ideal for meeting with friends, elegant family or business lunch or private party. “Cappuccino” offers original menu of the Italian cuisine and the rich wine list with plentiful variety of white and red wines from Chile, Australia and New Zealand.
Official site: http://barcappuccino.net

2.  “UPSTAIRS”is charming club, located at the most busiest shopping area in Sofia – “Vitosha” bld. The menu features Italian cuisine and the bar offers a lot of classic and fashion cocktails.  Start the day with freshly baked croissants and coffee… have lunch as in Italy… and try the best “Mojito”.
P.S Dj parties on Friday and Saturday.
3. “MOTTO”is one of  fashionable places, distinguished with of modern design in retro-chic style. Here you can find a pleasant atmosphere accompany with a good cuisine with well selected original dishes. Its trendy settings and the wide variety of alcoholic drinks and cocktails make  Motto one of the few good bars in Sofia.
Official site: htpp://motto-bg.com
4. “OPERA”is at the heart of Sofia, at the National Theater for Opera and Ballet. The cuisine is modern combination of different styles, including sushi, vegetarian, oriental and European ones. The interior is a combination between the baroque architecture of the building and the modern design of the club-restaurant. After dinner the nice atmosphere with Dj’s participation predisposes consumption of exotic cocktails.
Official site: http://opera-bg.info
5.  “CAFE DEL MAR”has its own, simple style with dim light and relaxing chill-out music. The club offers its visitors wide variety of brand drinks and elegant cocktails. Here you can relax of the daily round with discreet conversation with your friends or can organized your small private party.

The Minerva Gallery at the Grand Hotel Sofia Lobby never ceases to delight the art lovers all year round. Afresh flavor is brought by the title of Ralitsa Dencheva’s exhibition – Garden of Soul, which is on display until mid-September. The exhibition of 16 oil canvases conveys an existentialist message – let us discover the flower garden inside ourselves and follow Beauty everywhere, even though it may have wings and we have not, because where there is no Beauty, there is nothing. “I’ve paint the eternally blooming garden of the soul, inhabited by flowers and angels, a garden free of fences and keepers, a treasury that is always open to the beholder. In it one can enter freely and find joy in the simplest manifestations of the soul – just like we find in the most common flowers the whole glory and beauty of the Spring”, says the author.

From 14 September onward, the gallery will host works of another talented artist – Dimitrina Doychinova. Her exhibition, entitled Trajectories was inspired by the energy of the generations before us, searching for spirituality. After a long wondering around the world and encountering different cultures, Doychinova returns to her roots. Nymphs and mermaids, brides and old women – all of these colorful images of the Bulgarian folklore and fairy tales come to the life in her canvases. The painter says: “Trajectories for me are those zones of my nation’s spirit and creativity, feeling and emotions, intertwined in songs and dances, that are incredible source of ideas for my creative work”.

Concurrently (from 12.09) Minerva is going to be the host of the consecutive traditional exhibition of sculptures. This time guest author is one of Bulgaria’s greatest sculptors, Seyfetin Shekerov – Sefo. With as many as 30 independent exhibitions across Bulgaria and abroad, Sefo is an acclaimed artist, sought after by some of the greatest art collectors around the world.The Minerva Gallery is open everyday from 00.00 to 24.00 hours and is located at 1, Gurko Street, Grand Hotel Sofia Lobby, Sofia, Bulgaria. Here is link to their website, where you can view shots of some exponats.

A three hour city tour discovers you the city center with its historical, archaeological nd architectural landmarks.You are accompanied by a professional tour guide speaking the language of your choice.Sofia today is an exciting meeting place of history and present.Traces of the life of Tracians ans Romans,Proto-Bulgarians and Slavs are woven into the city’ busy life today.Some 250 historic,archaeological and architectural monuments have been preserved in the modern capital,the center of the country’s political and cultural life, a tourist destination and hospitable venue of major international forums.

After you explore a guided city tour with visit to the most interesting parts of Sofia you will enjoy a magnificent lunch at the unique “Pancharevo” Lake, located in the suburbs of the capitol. The “Swan” restaurant, situated on the bridge of the lake, offers cozy atmosphere and plenty of delicious food – grilled meat, fresh salads and fish.Beautiful nature, elegant atmosphere, excellent cuisine and a high standart service are an ideal combination for each customer to enjoy and feel the pleasure of.The incomparable view to the lake makes the garden a preferable place for relaxation in the summer season.Visit to this beautiful place – away from the noise of the big city will bring you back to nature.

Mountain range Vitosha is the closest mountain range in the territory of Sofia, Bulgaria city. On 5 kilometers from the center of Boiana. The waterfall of Boiana stored a river a beautiful waterfall in the mountain range is most great. The Boiana river is below tame, but Up starts to rage on and be changed on an enormous waterfall.

The waterfall is high 15 undergrounds. If you look overhead over him, you will see the full view in Sofia. The sight is amazing and fair. When rising you need on it to know that it is little aggressively! Be prepared! At the waterfall everything has in sight set relatively its nature, not dirtied. It is much placid and calm, only for walkabout besides. The self-noise is being heard It Water falls. It is particularly beautiful in the spring, when the snow tapered. The water is huge and is being discharged Aim As well vehemently down. Do one walkabout You see alone this nature element. A fantastic point for time off and outing is Vitosha to you except this range.

The Boiana waterfall is again an interesting object in the winter. It is known as an entity for an arctic clambering. The water freezes over and loiters about as two arctic natural languages. To the supporters of the strong aces this clambering will be much interesting. Rise more frozen ice is real shiver. The waterfall is easily accessible from to “The Kopitoto”. The drive to there is for nearly 1 hour, as the bigger part is equal in the way. Other way that is has as well got from for the river Boiana, it’s longer but easy. This is one of the things of the nature, that a human bows down!
Boiana Waterfall – it will foot the hint to you with is beauty its pure nature as well!

Height stone fence separate the church of world renown from our noisy and vain world. Cross a doorstep to big Porter falling among in one other time, sinking into oblivion in the thick of wood to the large park. Hard wooden door with a iron repose cover lead to interior a church. In front of look open up originally facade.
A monument of medieval Bulgarian architecture and the art of church mural painting. The building comprises three parts. The eastern part, which is the oldest one, was built in the 11th century. The frescoes in Boyana Church date from three different epochs, the 11th, the13th and the 14th-15th century. It has become famous for the great artistic value of the frescoes of 1259. The frescoes are among the most valuable works of medieval European painting for their vivid use of Renaissance techniques and motifs. The oldest church is a to storey, built in the end of 10th century. It’s widened thought the 13th century at the time of Second Bulgarian Kingdom. Amazing art value have a world famous wall-paintings-240 numbers to medieval painters(“Boyanian Master”).
Boyana Church is located 8km from Sofia at the foot of the mountain Vitosha, in the sofian quarter Boyana. It’s one of little totally reserved monuments reached ours days, witness for important contribution to Bulgarian monument art in European culturally space.

Hram-pametnik Aleksander Nevski (St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church)
Said to be Sofia’s most photographed monument, Alexander Nevski is a magnificent neo-Byzantine cathedral-sized church, topped by copper and golden domes. Considered the heart of the city, it was built between 1882 and 1912, in honor of the Russian soldiers, who fell when the Russian army helped liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878. The church takes its name from Alexander Nevski, credited with saving Russia from Swedish troops in 1240 and the patron saint of the family of the tsar at that time, Alexander II – also known as Tsar Osvoboditel, the ‘Tsar Liberator’ – who led the army that drove out the Turks.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Stauropigial Memorial-Church rises in the center of Sofia, in a big square bearing its name. Its importance is determined by the proximity of the National Assembly, the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, the ancient St. Sophia Orthodox Church, the Synodal Palace, the Higher Institute of Mechanical and Electrical engineering, the Higher Institute of Art, the St. Cyril arid Metodius National Library and the St. Kliment Ohridskl Sofia University. Its foundation-stone was laid in 1882, building work began in 1904 and the church was completed in 1912. Built under the guidance of chief architect Professor Alexander N. Pomerantsev in co-operation with his gifted assistants, architects Alexauder N. Sniirnov and Alexander A. Yakovlev, at present the St. Alexander Nevslky Memorial-Church is a source of legitimate pride for the Bulgarian people and love for the Russian people. In its dimensions it is without an equal on the Balkan Peninsula, while the aesthetic achievements of its architecture and ornamentation rival those of the most renowned monuments of this kind in the world.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial-Church is an impressive five nave basilica of a cruciform domed type with basic Byzantine style elements, influenced in some parts by eastern models. Its builtup area is 3,170sq.m . and its total volume about 86,000sq.m. Its external length is 73.50m. and the width 50.52m. From the pavement level to the tower cross, the height of the memorial-church is 50.52 m, that of the central dome 46.27m and of the roof bridge 28m. The main dome has a commanding position over a number of half-domes, rounded and straight on the apses of the church which lend it impressive stateliness. It is balanced by the lighter, soaring tower which gives the entire edifice the character of a monument.

On the eastern side of the monitorial-church there are three altar apses, the central one of which, in comparison with the two lateral, projects and forms a semicircle. Over this apse, from a slightly receding point, rises the semispherical part of the main body of the church. There are similar projections, one on the southern side and another on the northern. Over the semidoms of these projections, on a broad cylindrical drum rests the main dome in the shape of an inverted bowl. Its diameter measures 18 m.

On the western side of the main three-door vaulted entrance of the northern rises the bell tower which ends in a dome. The latter is placed on threefold columns, between which there are wide apertures. Through them one sees the twelve bells, the largest of which is weighs 11,758 kg, the second largest 6,002 kg, the third 2,911 kg and the smallest 10 kg. On a nice and calm day the ringing of the largest bell is heard as far as 30km from Sofia. Below the bells ,it a considerable height over the main entrance is placed the mosaic icon of St. Alexander Nevsky by the Bulgarian artist Professor Anton Mitov.

The interior’of the St. AIexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Memorial-Church strikes one with its dimensions, the harmony of its architectural lines, its spaciousness and rich artistic decoration. The inside represents three naves and two aisles, the central nave considerably wider and lateral ones. Its central part is placed between four massive pillars which support the drum of the main dome through triangular spherical surfaces. All three naves are connected by high arches while smaller arches link them with the aisles.

Famous Russian and Bulgarian artists took part in the decoration of the St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral. it is in formless which depict the Trinity, sciences from the Old and New Testament, apostles prophets, Russian and Bulgarian saints and some events from the history of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. One is particularly impressed by the murals: “The Atmighty” by the Prof. Peter E. Myassoedov, in the interspace of the central dome; “The Eucharist” by Prof. M. Sudkovski, on the eastern wall of the central altar of the church; “The Wedding at Cana in Galilee) by the well-known mosaicist Prof. Vladimir D. Boiotnov, on the wall surface of the southern arched recess; “Twelve Year Jesus in the Shrine” by Prof. Ivan Mrkvicka, on the wall surface of the northern arched recess; the large fresco “The Last Judgment” by Academician A. A. Kisselev, over the stand of the choir, which is reminiscent of V. M. Vasnetsov’s fresco of the same name in Vladimir’s Cathedral in Kiev; “The Resurrection of Lazarus” and “The Resurrection of the Son of the Widow from Nain” by A.M. Korin; “The Sermon on the Moun” and “Christ Blesses the Children” by Prof. I. Lanskoi; “The Taming of the Storm” by Prof. Nikola Marlnov; “St. Mary Magdalene” by Assen Belkovski; “St. Ivan of Rila Returns the Gifts to King Peter” by Academician G. Zhelyaskov; “The Temptation of Jesus Christ” and “The Beheading of St. John the Baptist” by Prof. Ivan Mrkvicka. The latter is a mural of great impact, originality and masterful execution.

The iconostases, the big and small bishop’s thrones, the pulpit, the rail lattices of the solea, the balustrade of the choir stand, the entire flooring of the church and the seat of the priests along the wall of the altar apse are done in onyx and marble brought from all parts of the world, in a Byzantine style, interspersed with Old-Bulgarian patterns. One is particularly impressed by the small columns in light-green “onyx brazillano”; the two magnificent columns dividing the front of the central iconostasis, freshened by wide bands of light-ochre veined Moroccan (onyx ro”ge); the columns of the small bishop’s throne – “rouge oriental”; the dark-green columns of the iconostasis, the pedestal of the thrones and the large columns below the balcony of the choir – “verde di mare”, the rectangular tablet with the state insignia of the time placed in the middle of the back wall of the big bishop’s throne – “onyx d’or”, etc. The walls and pillars of the memorial-church are sheeted to a height of two meters with light-green artificial marble, manufactured by tire Berlin firm “Axeno Brothers”, which his a startling and unattainable similarity whit the natural product.

The ceiling of the canopy of the big bishop’s throne and the space over the central altar are ornamented with high-grade glass mosaics of a Venetian type, which in the former are figural and in the latter symbolic. The figured [mosaics were designed by the Bulgarian Prof. A. Mitov, and executed In Italy by the firm Paolo Triscornia di Freddo – Carrara. The symbolic mosaics over the central altar were done by the same firm on the spot, after the designs of architect Yakovlev, one of Prof. Pornerantsev’s assistants.

The royal gates of the three iconostases and the gates of the chapels in the narthex are in bronze with galvanized gilding on the face. Such are also the cornices over the side altars, the tympanum over the holy gates of the central iconostasis, the crown of the big bishop’s throne, etc.

The illuminates in the interior of the church, such as chandeliers, icon-lamps, candlesticks, are in copper alloy with double galvanize(l gilding. They are pieces of exquisite work in Byzantine style done by the firm of “Schmidt and Sohn” in Munich . The largest of the chandeliers, the central one, has three crowns, it hangs at a height of 27m, weighs some 2 000 kg, and has 136 electric candles.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Patriarchal Cathedral Memorial-Church is equipped with a special stream and air, installation. It consists of four ventilation caloorific systems which play a dual role. The Vienna’s firm “Zentralheizungswerke” supplied the installations. An alarm and intercommunication system ensures the correct and safe operation of this installation. The air conditioning installation and the intercom system are housed in the crypt of the memorial-church.

The crypt runs below the entire interior of the church, porch altar and 1s3.75 m high. Its ceilings are vaulted in various ways and are interesting from an architectural point of view. Here is also the “foundation-stone” of he church , marked by by a large rectangle, covered by a pyramided roof. At present it is used as an exhibition hall and branch of National Art Gallery.

Inside, the central altar is dedicated to St Alexander Nevski, the southern altar to St Boris (who brought Christianity to Bulgaria) and the northern altar to Saints Cyril and Methodius (who created the Cyrillic alphabet). A total of 32 Russian and 13 Bulgarian artists worked on the delicate murals. The Icon Museum is located in the crypt, to the left of the main entrance. Here, over 300 icons and mural frescoes from the country’s many monasteries, tracing the development of Bulgarian icon-painting from the late ninth century up to the end of the 19th century. There are English labels, as well as a guidebook available in Bulgarian and English. The square in front of the church, Ploshtad Aleksander Nevski, hosts stalls selling souvenirs, dubious antiques and bric-a-brac throughout the year.

Ploshtad Aleksander Nevski
Transport: Bus to Ploshtad Aleksander Nevski.
St Alexander Nevski Memorial Church
Opening hours: Daily 0700-1800; services 0800 and 1700, Sat 1800, Sun 1700.
Admission: Free.

Icon Museum
Tel: (02) 877 697.
Opening hours: Wed-Sun 1000-1700.
Admission: Lv10.