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Sofia, Bulgaria

Sofia
София
City
Sofia skyline.jpg
1-Sofia-parliament-square-ifb.JPG
Party House by night, Sofia (by Pudelek, cropped by ArionEstar).JPGNDK Sofia 2012 PD 06.jpg
Basilica of St. Sophia1.jpgStatue of Sveta Sofia.jpgZx620y348 2628889.png
1st row: Sofia skyline from the National Palace of Culture
2nd row: National Assembly Square (Monument to the Tsar Liberator, National Assembly, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral)
3rd row: Largo; National Palace of Culture
4th row: Saint Sofia Church; Statue of Saint Sofia; Tsarigradsko shose and Capital Fort
Flag of Sofia
Flag
Coat of arms of Sofia
Coat of arms
Nickname(s): Serdica, Sredetz (older names)
Motto: Grows, but does not age
(Расте, но не старее, Raste, no ne staree)
Sofia is located in Europe
Sofia
Sofia
Sofia location within Europe
Coordinates: 42°42′N 23°20′E / 42.70°N 23.33°E / 42.70; 23.33Coordinates: 42°42′N 23°20′E / 42.70°N 23.33°E / 42.70; 23.33
Country  Bulgaria
Province Sofia City
Cont. inhabited since 7000 BC
Neolithic settlement 5500–6000 BC
Thracian settlement 1400 BC
Government
 • Mayor Yordanka Fandakova (GERB)
Area
 • City 492 km2 (190 sq mi)
 • Urban 1,344 km2 (519 sq mi)
 • Metro 10,532 km2 (4,066 sq mi)
Elevation 500–800 m (1,707–2,888 ft)
Population (31 December 2015)
 • City Increase 1,260,120
 • Urban Increase 1,543,377
 • Metro Increase 1,681,666
Time zone EET (UTC+2)
 • Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+3)
Postal code 1000
Area code(s) (+359) 02
GDP(nominal) 2013
 - Total €32 billion
 - Per capita €26,700
Car plates C, CA, CB
Website www.sofia.bg

Sofia (/ˈsfiə/ or /ˈsɒfiə/ or /sˈfə/;) (Bulgarian: София, Sofiya,pronounced [ˈsɔfiə, ˈsɔfjə]) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. The city has a population of 1.26 million, while 1.68 million people live in its metropolitan area . The city is located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the western part of the country, within less than 50 kilometres (31 mi) drive from the Serbian border. Its location in the centre of the Balkan peninsula means that it is the midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, whereas the Aegean Sea is the closest to it.

Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC. Being Bulgaria's primate city, Sofia is a hometown of many of the major local universities, cultural institutions and commercial companies. Sofia is one of the top 10 best places for start-up business in the world, especially in IT technologies. Sofia is Europe's most affordable capital to visit as of 2013.


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