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Plovdiv - Bulgaria
 Plovdiv
is one of the oldest cities of Europe, being older than Rome, Athens,
and Constantinople. The first traces of civilization at the place date
from the Mycenaean period. Known at the time as a Thracian fortified
settlement named Eumolpia, in 342 BC it was conquered by Philip II of
Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, who renamed it Philippopolis.
It was later independent under the Greeks, until it was incorporated
into the Roman Empire, under which it was called Trimontium (City of
Three Hills) and served as capital of the province of Thrace. Thrimontium
was an important crossroad for the Roman Empire. "Via Militaris", the
biggest military path in the Balkan Peninsula, passed through. It was
one of the most glorious moments in the history of the city. It spread
beyond the three hills, and numerous public buildings, shrines,public
bathrooms,theatres. Many ruins from Roman times can still be seen in
the city. Although Slavs settled in the area around the middle of the
6th century, it became part of the Bulgarian state for the first time
in 815. In the following centuries, control of the settlement changed
from Bulgarian to Byzantine numerous times, before it was conquered
by the Ottoman Empire in 1364. The name Plovdiv first appears in the
15th century and is derived from one of the city's ancient names, Pulpudeva,
known to the Slavs first as Paldin (??????). Under Ottoman rule, Plovdiv
was a center of the Bulgarian national movement in Eastern Rumelia.
While the city was liberated from the Ottomans during the Battle of
Plovdiv in 1878, it was not originally part of the newly established
Principality of Bulgaria. Instead it was the capital of the semi-independent
Region of Eastern Rumelia, until that area finally joined Bulgaria in
1885 after the Unification of Bulgaria. Under communist rule since the
end of World War II, Plovdiv was the center of that country's democracy
movement, which finally overthrew the pro-Soviet regime in 1989. Plovdiv
hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair three times (1981,
1985, and 1991).
Economy Plovdiv is the center of the important Thracian
agricultural region and food processing is the most important industry.
The city also produces machinery, textiles, and chemicals.
 Sights
Old Town of Plovdiv Ages of Plovdiv:  View
toward the Roman Amphitheatre, Medieval Wall, Bulgarian Renaissance
Homes, and Socialist-style Apartment BuildingsThe Old Town Fortress
walls and gate Ancient Theatre Ancient Odeon Roman Stadium Roman Forum
Roman Aqueduct Eyrene Mosaic Ancient Synagogue Constantine and Helena
Church Sahat Tepe hill and clock tower Nebet Tepe hill complex Dzhumaya
Mosque Imaret Mosque Old Turkish Bath (now an art gallery) Virgin Mary
Church St. Petka Church St. Marina Church St. Ludovic Catholic Cathedral
Gothic Evangelist Church Tsar Simeon's Garden and The Singing Fountains
Main Street International Fair of Plovdiv The Rowing Canal (sports and
recreation park)
Sports Plovdiv is famous for its football teams. Botev
Plovdiv was founded in 1912, and is named after one of the most ardent
Bulgarian poets and revolutioneers, Hristo Botev. The city has another
popular football club, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, founded in 1936. They played
in the UEFA Cup 2005-06, being eliminated in the first round by Bolton
Wanderers. Both teams are a regular fixture in the top Bulgarian league,
and are famous for their productive youth academies. The rivalry between
them is considered to be even more fierce than the one between Levski
and CSKA of Sofia. There are also two other football clubs in the city
- Maritca 1921 and Spartak.
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