A European city with a history of over 8,000 years, close to Romania, hides cobbled streets, ancient ruins and buildings that seem to have remained unchanged over the centuries. At every turn, visitors discover stories of vanished civilizations and markets that were once centers of social and commercial life.
Located in central Bulgaria, the city of Plovdiv is much older than Athens, and archaeological evidence indicates that the area has been inhabited since the sixth millennium BC, during the Neolithic period.
Plovdiv was an important center of Thracian civilization and then developed under Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman rule, becoming a prosperous commercial city, writes express.
The city is famous for its unique combination of old and modern. The old center impresses with beautifully preserved, colorful houses, cobbled streets, while Kapana, Plovdiv’s creative district, is full of cafes, restaurants, art galleries and artisan workshops.
Most of the tourists choose to explore the city on foot, discovering its labyrinth of narrow streets and ideal places for the promenade.
Plovdiv also retains impressive vestiges of its Roman past. The Roman Theater hosts performances and festivals, the ancient stadium, located below the main shopping street, could once host thousands of spectators, and the Ancient Forum remains a symbol of past civic life.
The city of Plovdiv is also notable for its vibrant cultural scene and delicious cuisine, with traditional Bulgarian dishes such as Banitsa, Kavarma or Kebapche, influenced by Turkish, Mediterranean and Balkan gastronomy.
According to travelers at Midlife Travel Tales, this city “deserves to be at the top of the list of European destinations”, being a place that “he will win your heart and make you wonder why you ignored him until now”.
