Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria. It is an important strategic, industrial, trade, scientific, cultural and communication center. The town is situated on six hills in the Upper Thracian lowland on an area of 53 square kilometers along the banks of the Maritza River. Plovdiv boasts an old and rich history, the oldest records dating as far back as the New Stone Age. During the 1st century before Christ the Thracians founded an ancient settlement, which Philip Macedonian later conquered, named Philipopolis and turned to a fortress. The favourable geographical position and good climatic conditions contributed to its upsurge during the following epochs. According to the administrative division of the country, Plovdiv is the center of Plovdiv region, which has 16 municipalities with 215 settlements. In Plovdiv Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance and modern culture are interwoven in a unique way, turning it into an attractive tourist center.

Quick facts about City of Plovdiv
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Пловдив
Location: South-Central Bulgaria
Distance to capital city: 131.714 km from Sofia
Latitude: 42.15 N
Longitude: 24.76 E
Altitude: 100 - 199 m above sea level
Province: Plovdiv District
Municipality: Plovdiv-city Municipality
Area size of City of Plovdiv: 101.981km²
Population: 343 662 inhabitants (to 01/01/2007)
Post code (ZIP): 4000
Phone code of : 032 from Bulgaria, 0035932 from outside.

History
The most ancient inhabitants of these areas date back to the New Stone, Stone-copper and Bronze Ages. During the 1-st millennium B.C., the Thracians founded the ancient settlement of Eumolpius. In 342 B.C. the town was conquered by Philip II, the Macedonian, the town was named Philippopole and was turned into a fortress. With its fall under Roman rule, it was turned into a key economic, cultural and political center of Thracia province. The Romans named the town Trimontzium. During the next two centuries it was many times ruined and set on fire by the huns and the gothic tribes.
At the end of 6-th century the Slavs populated the area and named the town Puldin In 815 Khan Krum included it within the boundaries of Bulgaria. In 1364 the Ottoman Empire conquered the town and called it Phillibe. Being left in the far most back area of the Ottoman Empire, it had lost its strategic location and gradually declined. It was only during the Revival Period that Plovdiv regained its glorious name of a large economic and cultural center.

Landmarks
The Roman Stadium was constructed during II century reproducing the layout of the stadium in Delphi, Greece, and the marble seats accommodated 30 000 spectators of games and gladiator fights. Some archeologists think that games from the Septimus Severus time (193 - 211) took place there . The flashiest competitions were the Alexandrian games, which were just like the Greek Olympic games. The main sport branches were disk throw and spear throw, running, jumping, fighting. The games were organized every 4 years and continued a few days.
The Djumaya Mosque is a precious architectural monument in the center of Plovdiv dating back to the 14-15 century. It is a model of the oldest Moslem religious temples still preserved not only in Bulgaria but in the entire Balkan Peninsula. The Djumaya Mosque is an extremely solid building with thick stone walls, covered by lead domes and a polygonal minaret. It is very interesting to see the ancient sun-dial. People believed that it weighs off the eternity or the time of the sultan's reign. It is open for visitors every day. Chifte Bania is another architectural monument. The building was an old Turkish bath which has separate sections for men and women. It is situated at the crossing of Boulevard Tzar Boris III Obedinitel and Blvd.Shesti Septemvri. The bath is restored and turned into a center for contemporary art. Different cultural activities like exhibitions, symposia and others take place here.
The Ancient theatre is the oldest building of Roman time that has survived. The spectators' seats formed an ampitheatre divided into two rings of 14 rows each. The names of the respective city quarters were chiseled on the benches in each sector. Simply everyone had to sit where he belonged. The stage, today a scene of many cultural activities in the town of the hills, is two-level and exhibits the remarkable architectural mastery of the ancient Romans. Other ancient landmarks are Nebet Hill, an archeological complex from Thracian time with preserved remains of their settlement, and Hissar Kapia - the eastern gate of the fortress, constructed more than 2000 years ago. On the territory of today's trade center lie the remains of Roman stadium from the II nd century, which was the arena for the Roman games conducted at the time- running, fighting, shooting, fighting with gladiators. The stadium is a semicircle, 180 meteres long.
Plovdiv is one of the oldest and most colourful towns in Bulgaria. The whole of Plovdiv's six millennia long history can be traced in the Old Town. It is declared an archaeological reserve and covers the three-hill area where the town was located originally.  Lots of history has been written here - Thracian, Roman, Greek, Turks and even the Hun left their marks. Influences of European architectural styles can be noticed in almost every building and house. Here the Antiquity and Renaissance are combined in one. There are remains of ancient settlements, fortified walls, towers, underground passages. One of the most interesting landmarks is the Amphitheatre, which is restored and today is used as an open scene for different cultural activities. Another landmark is the Renaissance houses. They are characteristic with luxuriant inner and outer architecture - the work of the Bulgarian masters from the end of 19th century. You can visit Chifte Banya Bath, Djumaya mosque; see the clock tower on Sahat hill and many churches, connected with different periods of the Bulgarian history.

Surrounding areas
Bachkovo monastery ranks second only to Rila monastery both with regard to size, and architectural significance. It is situated 30 km from Plovdiv in Bachkovo village. According to the historians it was founded during Byzantine slavery in 1083. Its founders are two Georgian brothers - Grigorii and Apasii Bakuriani. In his fiefs, Grigorii built a monastery, devoted to the woman-mother and called it Petrichki. The monastery had a rapid history. It was attacked and robbed more than once. Its bloom was during the 13th century, more precisely during the reign of Tzar Ivan Alexander (the second church-donor of the monastery). An important period for the monastery was the 14th century. Regarding the architecture, the monastery presents as joined rectangular buildings that form an enormous inner yard, in which are located the churches: St. Trinity, St. Archangels and St. Nikola. The older church , St. Archangels, is a basilica, uni-domed building with overarches.
In August 2000, a sensational discovery was made near the village of Starosel, about 45 km away from Plovdiv. Archaeologists found an enormous Thracian  Temple/grave whick dates back from the 4th-5th century BC. It is believed to be of a Thracian ruler, possibly Sitalces I, the first king of the Thracian Odrisian kingdom. It is surrounded by a stone wall (up to 5 m high and 240 m long) made of huge stone blocks. The Thracian temple has one front and two side stairs, a long corridor between 5 metres high stone walls. The actual temple consists of a facade, a rectangular premise and a round premise with an unknown ceiling construction - a unique semi-cylindrical arc and dome. The entrances were closed with massive stone gates. Tens of burail mounds were found nearby, some of them containing tomb-mausoleums of Thracian rulers of the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The tombs contain extremely valuable articles - golden jewlry, a set of silver adorning as part of horse ammunition, full armament and other pieces of high scientific, art artistic and museum value. The cult complex is a unique evidence of the Thracian orphic belief in our lands. The complex became attractive for tourists long before its final arrangement and opening.
The Wonderful bridges are unique rocky phenomenon situated about 65 km south of Plovdiv. The bridges are most probably the result of an ancient cave collapsing in an earthquake. The bigger one is 45 m high, 20 m thick and 96 m long. The feeling while staying under it is really amazing! About 150 m further is the second bridge that looks like a 60 m long tunnel. After the formation of the bridge the river disappears in the ground and after 1.5 km the water comes up again. The typical roses of the Rhodopes namely: (Haberlea rodopenzis) grow on the rocks in the bridges. In 1949 the unique bridges were declared a protected area. Just beside the Wonderful bridges there is a tourist chalet where you can have a lunch, relax and enjoy a splendid view. Not far away is another chalet called Skalnite Mostove (the Cliff Bridges).

See the gallery of Plovdiv