Plovdiv (Пловдив) Overview

Churches, galleries, Roman ruins, and 19th-century National Revival structures pack picturesque Plovdiv (pop. 350,000). The city’s historical and cultural treasures are concentrated among the Trimontium (three hills) of Stariya Grad (Стария Град; Old Town). To reach the 2nd-century   Roman amphitheater (Антиен Театър; Antichen Teatur) from pl. Tsentralen (Централен), take a right off Knyaz Aleksandr (Княз Александр) on Suborna (Съборна), then go right up the steps along Mitropolit Paisii. Built in the 2nd century at the order of Trajan the Roman Emperor, this marble masterpiece is the oldest Roman building in Bulgaria; it now hosts concerts and shows, such as the Verdi Opera Festival in June and July (☎032 63 23 48; 8-20lv) and the Festival of the Arts in late summer. (Amphitheater open daily 9am-7pm. 3lv.) At the end of ul. Suborna on Dr. Chomakov 2, the Museum of Ethnography (Етнографски Музей; Etnografski Muzey) exhibits artifacts like kukerski maski (masks used to scare away evil spirits). Concerts also take place in its courtyard throughout the summer. ( ☎032 62 42 61. Open Tu, Th, Sa-Su 9am-noon and 2-5pm; W and F 2-5pm.4lv, students 2lv. Cash only.)

  Plovdiv Guesthouse , ul. Suborna 20, (Съборна), is worth staying at for its incredible breakfast alone. This beautiful guesthouse is a nice place to relax and is much calmer than most hostels. (☎032 622 432; www.plovdivguest.com. Dorms 20 lv. Laundry 2lv. Free Wi-Fi, Internet 2lv/hour. Cash only.) Trains run to Burgas (4-6hr., 7 per day, 13.40lv), Sofia (2-3hr., 15 per day, 8.10lv), and Varna (6.5-9hr., 5 per day, 17.40lv). Buy international tickets at Rila, bul. Khristo Botev 31A. (Христо Ботев. ☎032 64 31 20. Open M-F 8am-7:30pm, Sa 8am-2pm. Cash only.) Buses to Sofia (2hr., 1-3 per hr., 10lv) leave from the Yug (г) station, bul. Khristo Botev 47 (☎032 62 69 37), opposite the train station. Internet is available at Speed, Knyaz Aleksandr 12. (Княз Александр. 1lv per hr. Open 24hr.) The municipal tourist information center is at pl. Tsentralen 1. (☎032 65 67 94; tic@plovdiv.bg. Open daily 9am-7pm.) Postal Code: 4000.

Daytrip From Plovdiv: Bachkovo Monastery. In the Rodopi mountains 28km south of Plovdiv lies Bulgaria’s second-largest monastery, Bachkovo Monastery (Баковски Манастир; Bachkovski Manastir; ☎03 32 72 77) . Built in 1083, the main church holds the Icon of the Virgin Mary and Child (Икона Света Богородица; Ikona Sveta Bogoroditsa), which is said to have miraculous healing powers. (Open daily 8am-8pm. Free.) Hiking paths lie uphill from the monastery; don’t miss the waterfall. The Smolyan bus (30min., 1-2 per hr., 4lv) leaves from platform #1 at the Rodolpi station in Plovdiv; ask to go to Bachkovo. (Kassa open 5:30am-8pm.)