Пловдив

The second largest city in Bulgaria

Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world — with over 8,000 years of history, older than Rome, Athens and Constantinople. It is among the six oldest cities in the world in terms of continuity of habitation. The first Neolithic settlements on Nebet Tepe date from the 6th millennium BC. The Thracian settlement of Eumolpia (later Pulpudeva) was conquered by Philip II of Macedon in 342 BC, who settled 2,000 Macedonians here and renamed it Philippopolis. The city withstood the siege of the Celts (278 BC) and the Persians. From 46 AD the Romans called it Trimontium (City of the Three Hills) and made it the capital of the province of Thrace. The ancient marble theater from the 2nd century (time of Emperor Trajan, 108–114 AD) seats over 5,000 spectators and is among the best preserved in the world - today it is an active stage for opera, ballet and concerts. The Roman stadium (also from the 2nd century), 250 m long and 50 m wide, could hold up to 30,000 spectators and is among the largest surviving Roman facilities in the Balkans. In 836, the Bulgarian ruler Malamir conquered the city and it became part of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. The Byzantine historian Geoffrey de Villardouin described Philippopolis as the third largest city in the Byzantine Empire, after Constantinople and Thessaloniki. During the Middle Ages, the city repeatedly passed between Bulgaria and Byzantium. In 1363–1364 it was conquered by the Ottoman Empire and was known as Filibe. Under 500 years of Ottoman rule, the city developed as an important trade and transport hub. The old town — with its unique Renaissance houses — is today an architectural reserve of national importance. After the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), Plovdiv was liberated on January 16, 1878, but remained the capital of the autonomous region of Eastern Rumelia. On September 6, 1885, the Unification took place - Plovdiv and Eastern Rumelia were united with the Principality of Bulgaria, which was one of the key events in the new Bulgarian history. In 2019, Plovdiv was awarded the title of European Capital of Culture, which confirms its position as one of the most significant cultural centers in the Balkans. Today, the city is an important industrial, commercial and educational center with several universities, an international fair (since 1892 - one of the oldest in the world), a lively cultural life and a rapidly developing IT industry. Plovdiv is known as the "City of Seven Hills".