Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities not only in Bulgaria but also in Europe. Located in the city of unique syenite hills in the west Upper Thracian Plain, on both sides of the river Maritsa. The magnitude of this city is the second largest in the country. Located in the city 270 kilometers west of Bourgas and 150 km east of Sofia.

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The excavations on the territory of Plovdiv, scientists have found many Roman, Ottoman, and Byzantine ancient Thracian cultural discoveries, as well as many cultural monuments since the Bulgarian Revival. Now the city of Plovdiv — a modern business center. Now the city has plenty of shopping centers, office buildings, as well as the offices of many enterprises and companies. After Sofia, Plovdiv is the second in size, population and importance of the city in the country.

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The first settlement on the site of the present town dating back the Bronze Age. Around 1000 BC in these places formed a settlement Evmolpias, got its name in honor of the king Evmolpiass. Was a settlement on three hills, Taksim Tepe, Tepe and Nebet Dzhambaz Tepe. These huge hills perfectly protected the city from invaders.

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Father of Alexander the Great, Philip II, is the founder of the city. He captured the city in the year 342 and gave him a new name — Philippopolis. During the Macedonian rule in the city it was built a lot of huge temples, buildings and huge stadium. Stadium preserved to this day, and next to it the sculptor Kiril Naydenov was erected a monument to the emperor Philip II of Macedon. The rise and the economic and cultural development of the city of Plovdiv had the period of the Bulgarian Renaissance. While in the city, create masterpieces and created many great Bulgarian writers, poets, painters and artists.

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Now the city is divided into two parts of the river Maritza, which are interconnected by six huge bridges. In the smaller northern part is the so-called town Fairgrounds. The first exhibition was held in the city in 1892, and eventually developed into an annual festival.