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Sofia

Capital of Bulgaria since 1878; population (1991) 1,221,000. Industries include textiles, rubber, machinery, and electrical equipment. It lies at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains.

History

Sofia was of great importance in Roman times, when it was known as Serdica, especially under the emperor Constantine in the 4th century AD. As part of the Byzantine Empire, it was of strategic importance as it was on the road linking Constantinople and Belgrade. It was captured by the Turks 1382 and became part of the Ottoman Empire until chosen as capital of the newly independent state of Bulgaria in 1878.

features 4th-century rotunda of St George's church; ruins of Serdica; 6th-century church of Sveta Sofia; 13th-century Boyana church; Banya bashi mosque (1576); Alexsandar Nevski memorial church (1924); mausoleum of Georgi Dimitrov (1949).

Blagoevgrad Ghiuselev, Nicola Hartnett, Josh(ua) Daniel Johansson, Scarlett Jonze, Spike

Serdica Signor Bruschino, Il, ossia Il figlio per azzardo Sofiya Welitsch, Ljuba