The Stara Zagora municipality is situated in Central Southern Bulgaria on an area of 1 019 sq. km. Its territory encompasses the vast fields of the Upper Thracian Lowland and parts of the Sarnena Sredna Gora Mountain. The administrative centre Stara Zagora is the largest town in the Upper Thracian Lowland. It serves as a central connection of the Bulgarian railway network, which connects its with all Bulgarian towns, and also with the towns of Eastern and Western Europe. The nearest Black Sea harbour is Bourgas (180 km to the east), the nearest Aegean Sea harbour Alexandroupolis (in Greece) is about 300 km away, and the nearest duty free zone is in the town of Plovdiv (80 km to the west). 

Quick facts about city of Stara Zagora
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Стара Загора
Location: South-Central Bulgaria
Distance to capital city: 192 km from Sofia
Latitude: 42.433 N
Longitude: 25.642 E
Altitude: 200 - 299 m above the sea level
Province: Stara Zagora District
Municipality: Stara Zagora Municipality
Area size of city of Stara Zagora: 85.786 sq km
Population: 141 597 inhabitants (to 01/01/2007)
Post code (ZIP): 6000
Phone code: 042 from Bulgaria; 003542 from outside.

History
Mostly due to its central position this town has a rich and most interesting history. In the 6th century BC it was a major Thracian settlement called Beroe. In the 2nd century the Romans built the town and call it Augusta Trayana (to the name of the emperor Trayan), which is soon to become one of the greatest and most famous towns in Roman Thrace. At the beginning of the 6th century the town was destroyed , later on to be populates by incoming Slavic tribes, who named it Vereya. For some time in the mid of 8th century it was conquered by the Bizantine Empire and renaimed again, this time in honour of the Empress - Irinopolis. In the 9th century the town became an administrative centre of a vast district under the name of Borui. It was as late as the 12th - 14th century that the district was named Zagore wherefrom much later its contemporary name derived. Under the Turkish Rule it was known as Eski Hisar (old fortress) and after 1488 - as Eski Zaara ("zaara" meaning  a fertile area).
During the Revival Stara Zagora is an important economic centre populated by Bulgarians mainly, extremely active in the sphere of Bulgarian educational revival and national liberation movement.

Landmarks
The Town Museum of History.
The Bereketska Mogila (Hill) (west of Kolyo Ganchev Quarter) is the biggest prehistoric settlement excavated in Bulgaria. It is 17 metres high. its diametrical dimensions at the base are over 250 metres. Close to the District Hospital scientists have found the biggest dwelling mounds in Bulgaria. Therein were the remains of two ancient dwellings dated back to the neolith - the middle of the 6th millenium BC and they are the best preserved such finds in Europe to date. Working hours: 9 a.m. - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The antique forum Augusta Trayana (The Bishop Methodi Kousev blvd., on the back of the Law Court) is one of the most monumental facilities built in the Roman city of Augusta Trayana. Working hours: 9 a.m.  - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Late antiquity floorage mosaic - 4th century (Gen. Stoletov str., behind the Opera House). Preserved is only the guest hall of a rich house, situated in the centre of Augusta Trayana. Only the floor has stood up to the declay of time and it is an impressive and lavishly ornamented square hall of about 10 x 10 metres. The composition, the colours chosen and the craftsmanship employed make it one of the most impressive examples of provincial Roman art of the 6th century. Working hours: 9 a.m.  - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
Late antiquity municipal building with mosaics (4th - 6th century) can be seen in the cash hall of the Central Post Office, where archaeologists have excavated a big building of the south-eastern end of Augusta Trayana in the immediate vicinity of the city walls. The floor of the official building is covered with a colourful mosaic, which employs allegorical and zoological symbols to represent and illustrate the seasons  of the year and the endless spiral of life. Working hours: 9 a.m.  - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday.
The Defenders of Stara Zagora 1877 Memorial Complex is a 50 meter high monument erected in 1977 on the historical Chadar Hill to commemorate 100 years from fierce battle for the liberation of the country during the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-1878 when the Bulgarian volunteers, waving the national colour - the sacred Samara Flag - went to their maiden battle. It stands proud in the Bulgarsko Opulchenie Park on the outskirts of the town.
Youri Gagarin Astronomic Observatory and Planetarium (located on the top floor of the High School of Foreigh Languages "R. Rolane").
The Art Gallery hosts more than 4000 works of art from all genres. The golden fund of the gallery keeps a rich collection of medieval Bulgarian icons and prints as wel as works from Georgi Danchov, Stanislav Dospevski, the Mitov Brothers, Ivan Penkov, Tseno Todorov, Vladimir Dimitrov - the Master, David Perez, Dechko Uzunov, etc. (Working hours: 9 a.m.  - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday).
The Hilendar Convent (in the yard of the St. Dimitur Church) is a reconstruction of the original convent with the Hilendar Monastery at Sveta Gora, which actually functioned in the town before being finally burned down when the town  was put  on fire for the last time. In those days Levski lived there for three years. A central place has the exhibition "Levski in Stara Zagora" (Working hours: 9 a.m.  - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday).
The House-Museum "Town Life in the 19th century" (close to the center of the town) is located in Hadzhiangelov's House, which was built in 1833 by a master-builder from Debur and is a typical representative of the later type of symmetrical architecture with no portico (Working hours: 9 a.m.  - 12 a.m. and 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday).
Geo Milev House Museum is a rich, modern and well arranged museum to visit Working hours: 8.30 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Monday through Saturday).
Metodii Koussev Park (Ayazmoto - the Spring) is a big, artificial green park arranged over the slopes of the Sredna Gora in the northern part of the town. Its creator was the notable restoration activist Bishop Metodii Koussev and planting began in 1895. Today the park spreads over an area of 2600 decares and is a true botanical garden with various kinds of trees and flowers from all over the world. In the park there are the St. Theodor Tiron Church, the memorial to Aleko Konstantinov, a zoo, joging alleys, sport facilities and is an excellent place for outdoor recreation among exotic nature. Metodii Kousev Memorial (1838 - 1922) is the worl of the sculptor Valentin Starchev and the architect Tanko Serafimov. The opening ceremony was held on 1 November 1996.
Stara Zagora is a big cultural centre. The Geo Milev Theatre of Drama stages its plays in the beautiful building of the Old Theatre House in the centre of the town; The State Opera House; The State Puppet Theatre. Stara Zagora is a university centre, as well.

Surrounding areas
Stara Zagora Mineral Baths is a balneological resort, 15 km north-west of the town with an open mineral pool and numerous opportunities for recuperation and rest, boarding and entertainment. In the immediate vicinity a Roman bath from the 2nd century (161 - 163) was found, which the citizens of ancient Augusta Trayana used. In the area of Mechi Kladenets (Bear's Well) archaeologists have discovered old copper mines (from the Copper-Bronze Age - the 4th millenium BC), which are one of the oldest and biggest of their kind in Europe.
The resort is a departure point for a wholeday hiking tour along a marked track to Kavakliika Chalet in the Surnena Sredna Gora Mountain. The baths are reached by regular town bus line. The resort village of Yagoda is located 20 kilometres north of Stara Zagora - it has an open-air mineral pool. One can get to it by passing through the 14-kilometre long historical Zmeevski Pass, by the famous village of Zmeevo known for its excellent zmeevski white pelin wine. All buses between Stara Zagora and Kazanluk can be taken, as well as the train for Toulovo.