Interesting Facts About Plovdiv, the Oldest City in Europe
If you’ve already booked your flight to Bulgaria from London, one of the places in Bulgaria that you must visit is Plovdiv. Plovdiv is a historically significant place, which many claim to be the oldest city in Europe.
Indeed, Plovdiv is not the only claimant to the title of the oldest city in Europe. Nessebar, also a Bulgarian city, is believed to be equally old, as are Athens in Greece and the port city of Cadiz in Spain.
Plovdiv belongs to the Thrace region of Bulgaria and has a history that goes back to 6,000 years. There are traces of a Neolithic settlement in Plovdiv, which are not hard to find. This Neolithic settlement is believed to have moved to Plovdiv from a Thracian city called Eumolpias, which was renamed as Philippoupolis and went on to become a major city in Rome referred to as Trimontium.
Plovdiv has been home to several civilizations. The Ottoman and Byzantine empires ruled here, as did the ancient Bulgarians. Today, Plovdiv is one of the most important cities in Bulgaria and the largest, in terms of population, after Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
Here are some interesting facts that you should know about Plovdiv.
Plovdiv is called the City of the Seven Hills – Plovdiv is built on 7 hills around the Maritsa River. For this reason it has been historically referred to as the City of the Seven Hills. One of the hills was demolished over a hundred years ago, and there are only 6 hills now, however, the name has stuck.
There are Signs of Roman Empire Everywhere in Plovdiv – There are any number of Roman remains in Plovdiv. You can see them everywhere - public buildings, baths, theatres and shrines. There’s a Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv that has survived into this day. There are Roman stadiums and aqueducts as well that can be found. If you are a student of history, you will be fascinated by the remains of the Roman Empire in Plovdiv.
Plovdiv is an Affordable Tourist Destination – Not only is Plovdiv a popular tourist destination, it is also a very affordable one. If you are backpacking through Europe, you must certainly spend at least some time in Plovdiv. Plovdiv’s hotels and restaurants are quite cheap, as are the holiday packages.
The City of Museums - There are many popular museums in Plovdiv which showcase so much of Bulgaria’s culture and history. Most of the museums here, such as the Archaeological Museum, charge only a nominal fee to tourists for entrance, not more than 1 or 2 Euros. The Historical Museum is popular as well and captures the city’s history from the 16th century. The Ethnographic Museum is a must visit, as are the aviation museum and the Museum of Natural Science, which has the largest aquarium in Bulgaria.
The Old Town of Plovdiv is Quite Something! Old Town, which lies at the heart of Plovdiv, is a treasure trove of European history. All buildings here have been built in the style of the Bulgarian Renaissance movement. You will enjoy walking on the medieval streets and get a sense of how life was like in Bulgaria 500 to 600 years ago.
Experience Bulgarian Culture at Its Finest -Plovdiv has 30 art galleries, which showcase artworks from top Bulgarian artists. Plovdiv has the second largest library in Bulgaria, with over 1.5 million books, many of which hundreds of years old.
