Vacation in Plovdiv
The city of Plovdiv is among the oldest in Europe- built around the same time as Troy and Mycenae. It was built by the Thracians around the three eastern hills (tepeta), building the ancient settlement. In 72 AD it was conquered by the Romans and was integrated into the Roman Empire, becoming a significant crossroad and referred to as “The largest and most beautiful of all cities” by the Roman writer Lucian. The city’s history continued to flourish thought the Middle Ages when it was an important border fortress of the Byzantine Empire and later on under the rule of the Ottoman Empire.
This rich history is imprinted not only in the city’s make up, but is embedded in its spirit. There are more than 2 000 archeological sites of antique remains, among which the most spectacular and well preserved are: the ancient amphitheater, the Roman Odeon, the Roman Stadium.
The surrounding areas, rich in history, cultural significance and natural beauty make Plovdiv a good starting point and base for side vacations. The Bachkovo Monastery was established in 1083 and is believed to be the larges Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Europe an d is admired for its mixture of Byzantine, Georgian and Bulgarian culture.
The all year round resort of Pamporovo, Borovetz which are primarily world renowned as ski vacation resort are only 90 km to the south and 120 km. respectively. The resort is positioned among evergreen pine forests in the southern Rhodope Mountains at an altitude of 1620 m. above sea level. It offers a variety of accommodation and modern skiing facilities which will certainly be appreciated by avid skiers.
Spa resorts such as Hisarya, Banya, and Strelcha are to the south and offer around 50 hotels which offer a wide array of spa and balneology procedures and therapies. These three resorts are rich in mineral springs and culturally- historical significance.
