Sofia 2016 (part 1)

[cityskyscrapers]

Sofia (София) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. The city has a population of 1.26 million. From 1946 to 1990 Bulgaria was ruled by the Bulgarian Communist Party (BCP) and the country was closely allied with the Soviet Union. If you like commieblocks districts you've come to the right place. All photos taken with the Sony RX100 compact camera from 12 to 14 October 2016.

Central Market Hall (Централни софийски хали)

1. This market hall opened in 1911.


2.


3. in the basement there are some ruins from Roman times.



Spring water

4. In the city center everybody can tap free hot spring water.


5. Some people load their car or van with as many large full water bottles as they can.


6.


7.



Beli Dunav reidential area

8.


9.


10.


11.


12.


13.



Zhenski Pazar (Women’s market)

14.


15.



Sofia Metropolitan (Софийско метро)

16.


17. Central train station, opened in 1974.


18.


19. Kiosk in a metro station with tiny hatch/window through which you make your purchase, as is also common in Russia.


20. The first metro line opened in 1998, the stations have a sleek retro design.


21.


22.



Lyulin residential area

23.


24.


25.



Miscellaneous

26. The Borisova Gradina TV tower of 106 meters (348 feet), used for television broadcasts from 1959 to 1985.


27. The National Theater "Ivan Vazov" (Народен театър "Иван Вазов") from 1907.


28. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Храм-паметник Свети Александър Невски), built between 1892 and 1912. The most famous tourist attraction of Sofia.


29. SS. Cyril and Methodius National Library (Национална библиотека "Свети Свети Кирил и Методий"), built in the period 1940-1953.


30.


31. Sofia Synagogue (Софийска синагога) from 1909.


32. Largo (Ларго), a group of three buildings in Socialist Classicism style, built in the 50s. Striking is the former headquarters of the Bulgarian Communist Party.


33.


34.


35.


36.


37. The "1300 years Bulgaria" monument celebrates the founding of the country. After it was completed in 1981 the monument felt into disrepair because of poor construction.


38. On the right is the dilapidated monument.


39.


40. The merchandise is nicely displayed but you make your purchase through the hatch/window.


More in part 2.

[photoLith]

What an utterly depressing looking place, but they sure do have nice looking transit at least.

[kool maudit]

I like Sofia, the city is compact but imposing and the mountain setting gives it a special feel.

It reminds me of Belgrade, but there's something more determinedly Eastern to it... hard to define...

[Echoes]

When I was in Turkey and Greece in 2015, I badly wanted to make the trip to Sofia but never did. I feel drawn to these eastern European places somehow.

Looking forward to part 2.

[Murphy de la Sucre]

Weird Sofia speaks Russian huh.

[SymphonicPoet]

Lovely! I'm catching this a little late, as I don't get on this page very often, but as Echoes said, I'm looking forward to part two. (Maybe just a little further up the page.)

[Nightsky]

Seems like Sofia has both beautiful places, historical and modern, and grey depressing places from the communist times. A fascinating city. The metro reminds me of the one in Washington DC, looks very modern!

[sopas ej]

Great pics!

And where exactly are the depressing places that some of you are talking about?

[Nightsky]

Originally Posted by sopas ej

Great pics!

And where exactly are the depressing places that some of you are talking about?

^^^For example. But anyway, all cities have depressing places. And like I said in the post, overall it is a quite beautiful city. And btw, the pics are really great!

[sopas ej]

Those are no more depressing than this:


During the Cold War in the US, Americans made fun of "commie blocks," saying they all looked the same and were "depressing." Yet Americans put money down to live in cookie-cutter mass-produced houses that all looked the same.

Sorry to change the subject.