Plovdiv

Plovdiv, the second biggest town in Bulgaria, is one of the oldest cities in Europe – its history dates back to 4000 years BC.

Built around seven hills, Plovdiv boasts plentiful Roman ruins and an enchanting Old Town of cobbled streets and timber-framed 19th century painted houses.

Old Plovdiv is a living museum of the Bulgarian Renaissance period where visitors enjoy relaxing strolls along the steep cobbled lanes, lovely houses with large bay windows and slender columns, latticed eaves and heavy oak gates, quiet green yards and rippling marble fountains. Every house here has its own style and ambience.

Plovdiv’s magnificent second century AD amphitheatre, built by Emperor Trajan, is one of the best preserved ancient theatres in the world. The famous ethnographic museum houses some 40 000 exhibits, including traditional costumes and musical instruments, jewellery and traditional craftwork like weaving, metalworking, winemaking and beekeeping.

Traditional tools displayed range from grape-crushers and wine-measures to apparatuses used for distilling attar of roses.

Plovdiv area is one of the most developed wine regions in Bulgaria famous for its red wines: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Mavrud.