Some more Sofia

St. Sofia Church is the oldest Eastern Orthodox Church in Sofia. 

The city was named after this church in the 14^th century which is built at the highest point in Sofia. It, however, dates back to the 6th/7th century when it was the site of Serdica's necropolis. During the Ottoman rule it was turned into a mosque, but after an earthquake in 1818 toppled the minaret and another some 40 years later killed the Imam's two sons, it was abandoned and restored as a church after the Liberation. It also has a very interesting bell tower!

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was named after St. Alexander Nevski, a Russian Tsar who saved Russia from invading Swedish troops in 1240 and the patron saint of Tsar Alexander II, who was also referred to as Bulgaria’s Liberator, since it was his troops that finally brought about Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule. The foundation stone of Sofia’s biggest church was laid in 1882 and the church built between 1904-1912 in the Neo Byzantine style.

I also managed to wander a bit further out of the centre to Park National that has the 1300 Years Bulgaria Monument which is barely a monument today. . .

Also took a stroll down the pedestrian mall

and stopped for some lunch