Why Plovdiv?
Because Plovdiv is a city that will enchant you and win you forever.
With a inimitable atmosphere of creativity and coziness.
With a sensation of eternity…
With artistic and affable people – the citizens of Plovdiv.
And because everyone will find here something for himself and each will leave here a piece of his heart.
Because this is Plovdiv – ancient and eternal, magic and reality, one spanless world.
The oldest European city sprawls along both banks of the Maritsa River and is famous as “the City of the Seven hills”, though only 6 remain today. The first prehistoric settlements in today’s Plovdiv territory date way back to the VI millennia BC.
Eumolpia, Philippopolis, Trimontium, Pulpudeva, Paldin – these are only a few and most famous of all the names given to the marvellous Plovdiv in his long history.
Established as a Thracian center, it is growing in the Age of Philip II of Macedonia, flourishes in the heyday of the Roman and Byzantine empires, preserves itself somewhat in the years of the Ottoman Empire and again reaches its rise during the Revival period.
After the Liberation Plovdiv becomes the capital of the vassal province Eastern Rumelia. Since the Unification of Bulgaria declared on 6th September 1885 Plovdiv has been the city ranked second both in size and significance – industrial, commercial, communication, educational, sports and cultural centre.
Plovdiv was proclaimed by “The Daily Telegraph” in 2011 as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Europe and 6th in the world. In 2012 Plovdiv took 3rd place (following Rome and Athens) in another prestigious list – “Top 10 Most Beautiful Ancient Cities in the World”, and in 2013 became a member of World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF).
Earned the glory of “Cultural capital of Bulgaria”, in 1999 in Plovdiv with unparalleled success was held a European Cultural Month, and today the City of the Seven Hills is a candidate for European Capital of Culture in 2019.
(taken from the website of the Tourist Information Centre Plovdiv, http://www.visitplovdiv.com/)
