Plovdiv

Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, situated in the south-central part of the country. It lies along the Maritsa River and is situated amid six hills that rise from the Thracian Plain to a height of 400 feet. The city has historically developed on seven syenite hills, some of which are 250 metres high. Because of these hills, Plovdiv is often referred to in Bulgaria as 'The City of the Seven Hills'. Plovdiv is a cultural hub in Bulgaria and was the European Capital of Culture in 1999 and 2019. The city is an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational centre. Plovdiv has a rich history, with evidence of habitation dating back to the 6th millennium BCE. The city was subsequently a Thracian settlement, later being conquered and ruled by various empires, including the Romans, Byzantines, and Ottomans. Today, Plovdiv is a popular tourist destination, with many historical and cultural attractions, including the old Trimontium quarter, the Roman walls, and the medieval ruins of Tsar Ivan Asen II's fortress and Bachkovo monastery