Situated in the heart of the Balkan Peninsula, Bulgaria boasts a long and rich history. Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Slavs and Bulgarians inhabited this land in their time, leaving behind monuments and enriching this treasure trove of culture. The geographical position of Bulgaria, on the crossroads between Europe and Asia, is reflected in the rich and ancient history of Bulgarian culture, architecture, cuisine, customs and traditions.
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. About 1.68 million people live in its metropolitan area. The city is at the foot of Vitosha Mountain. Being in the centre of the Balkan peninsula, it is midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, whereas the Aegean Sea is the closest to it.
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Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC. Being Bulgaria's primate city, Sofia is a hometown of many of the major local universities, cultural institutions and commercial companies. Sofia is one of the top 10 best places for start-up business in the world, especially in information technologies. Sofia is Europe's most affordable capital to visit as of 2013.
The name of the city changed several times to Sredets, Tradiatsa and finally Sofia, a name that the city was given to during the 14th century. Two years after Sofia was captured by the Russians in 1877, after five centuries of Turkish rule, it was pronounced as capital city of Bulgaria.
