Hotels in Sofia
Independence Square
In general, the Independence Square in the heart of Sofia stands for the so called Largo /in Bulgarian: Plostad Nezavisimost/ where three imposing classic style edifices, fine examples of the architectural from the Socialism period, are situated gracefully. The yellow-cobblestoned square around the architectural ensemble consists of two lanes with a lawn in the middle, where today the visitor will see the flags of all NATO member states. The Largo is formed by the Knyaz Aleksandar Dondukov Boulevard and Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard, merging from the east to continue as Todor Aleksandrov Boulevard west of the Nezavisimost Square.
As stated above, the Independence Square is surrounded by prestigious buildings but not limited to: TZUM, which is the central department store, the former Communist Party building, the Presidency and the Council of Ministers. In close proximity one can also visit the Roman Rotunda and don’t miss to light a candle in St.Nedelya Church which is just opposite the exquisite Sheraton Hotel.
A decree was issued in 1951, concerning the construction of the Largo. The space in the centre of the city, seriously damaged by the bombing of Sofia during World War II, was cleared in the autumn of 1952, so that the construction of the new buildings could begin in the following years. Hence, the Largo was designed and built in 1950 as its original purpose was to serve as the city representative center. Having in mind the period when this grand square was erected, we would proudly declare that it is considered a prime example of Socialism Classism architecture in Southeastern Europe. Nowadays the Independence Square, lying stately in the heart of Bulgaria’s vigourous capital, is one of the major Sofia’s landmarks.
The former Communist Party House /Bulgarian: Partien Dom/ is now used by the National Assembly of Bulgaria. The light-coloured neo-classical edifice lies at the end of the Independence Square, but it is the evidence how former Communism leaders in Bulgaria made their effort to follow the whole Communism concept and establish a grandiose building with the intention to house the Communist Party central Committee. The impressive building, now one of top Sofia’s landmarks, was designed by a team of prominent architects. It was completed in 1955. In order to represent the Communism in Bulgaria, a massive red star crowned the rocket-shaped spire of the building. However, when Bulgarians attempted to torch the building in 1990, the star was removed in a hasty manner. Subsequently the red star was substituted by the flag of Bulgaria.
The attractive TZUM, Sofia’s central department store, and the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria are located to the left of the former Party House. Once the Largo also featured a statue of Lenin, which was demolished and replaced by the one of St.Sofia. Being a part of the Independence square the fountain between the Presidency and the National Archaeological Museum was also established in 1958.
Sofia’s Central Department Store /TZUM/ lies in immediate proximity to the Council of Ministers, the President's Office and the National Assembly. Built in the beginning of one of the oldest boulevards of Sofia, Knyaz Alexander Dondukov Blvd, this stately building epitomizes the cosmopolitan capital city. The TZUM was designed by the architect Kosta Nikolov in 1956 and it is must-see of the so-called Largo. It is considered a symbol of prosperity and a pride for the country.
The 4th-century red bricked St. George Rotunda behind the Sheraton Hotel is one of the oldest buildings in Sofia . If you are exploring sites at Independence Square, a visit to the fascinating temple is essential. It boasts impressive frescoes and unique ambience.
Sheraton Hotel is housed in magnificently refurbished building at the back of the Presidency, so the striking appearance and key position makes it another landmark at the Independence Square.
Contemporary appearance of the Independence Square and renovations
As the Independence Square is the place where the former Party House rises, it is inevitably a spot of contradictory. Hence, some suggestions have been made to reshape the Party House building since it considered a remnant of a past ideology, so more modern and fine architectural elements need to be introduced. As of 2006 the Independence Square is being reorganized in accordance with the new architectural plan of modern Sofia. The lawn and the flags in the centre are to be substituted by a glass lid on the floor, so that the ruins of the ancient Thracian and Roman city of Serdica can be exposed in an impressive way, and in this way the Independence Square will turn into an tourist attraction in central Sofia.
Independence Square on the map of Sofia
Other streets, boulevards and squares in Sofia
Hotels in Sofia
- Anel Hotel
- Arena di Serdika Boutique Hotel
- Grand Hotel Sofia
- Hilton Sofia Hotel
- Holiday Inn hotel
- Hyatt Regency Sofia Hotel
- Intercontinental Sofia (ex Radisson Blu Grand Hotel)
- Sofia Hotel Balkan a Luxury Collection Hotel (ex Sheraton Hotel)
- Best Western Hotel Europe
- Best Western Premier Sofia Airport
- Central Hotel
- City Hotel
- Crystal Palace Hotel
- Downtown Hotel
- Festa Sofia Hotel
- Geneva Hotel
- Gloria Palace Hotel
- Hill Hotel
- Hotel Coop
- Les Fleurs Hotel
- Metropolitan hotel
- Novotel Sofia
- Ramada by Wyndham Sofia City Center
- Rodina Hotel
- Rosslyn Central Park Hotel
- Rosslyn Thracia Hotel
- Salt Palace Hotel
- Sveta Sofia Hotel
- The Stay Hotel Expo Center
- VEGA Hotel Sofia
- Vitosha Park Hotel
- Akord Hotel
- Aleksander Palace - Advi
- Arte Hotel
- Best Western Losenets Hotel
- Best Western Plus Bristol
- Brod Hotel
- Budapest hotel
- Earth and People hotel
- Hemus Hotel
- Legends hotel
- Light hotel
- Lion Hotel
- Maxim Hotel
- Meg-Lozenets Hotel
- Montecito Hotel
- Park Hotel Moskva
- Rocentro /ex Renaissance Hotel/
- Slavyanska Beseda Hotel
- Sofia Place Hotel
- Medic Hotel
Upcoming events in Sofia
- Sofia Dance Week 2010
- Art festival in Sofia city
- Scorpions in Sofia city 2010
- International Feline Show in Sofia
- Paco De Lucia performs in Bulgaria
- Drumset Competition 2010- Sofia Drum Day
- TOP 100 DJs party Monarchy performs in Bulgaria
- Chris Norman performs in Bulgaria 2010
- Harlem Gospel Choir performs in Bulgara
- Yann Tiersen's concert for Students Holiday
- Disco Legends Boney M concert in Bulgaria
- Legendary Firewind performs in Sofia
- Barclay James Harvest performs in Bulgaria
- Vaya Con Dios in Bulgaria
- 15th Sofia International Film Festival
- Absent Minded
- Concert of the queen of fado Marisa in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Guano Apes in Bulgaria
- Toto Cutugno in Bulgaria
- Manu Chao in Sofia city
- Children of Bodom in Bulgaria
- Alphaville in Sofia
- Rosalia de Souza in Bulgaria
- Vassil Vassilev and Chambao
- 100 Gypsy Violins in Bulgaria
- Raul Midon in Bulgaria
- Omega- the most successful Hungarian Rock Band gigs in Bulgaria
- Joe Cocker
- Roxette in Sofia, Bulgaria 2011
- Isthar in Sofia city
- Sting in Bulgaria
- CINDERELLA & MR.BIG in Bulgaria
- Dragana Mircovich and Vesna Zmijanac gig in Bulgaria
- Michel Legrand in Bulgaria
- Linkin Park in Bulgaria
- Mellow Music Festival
- Omara Portuondo and Buena Vista Social Club in Bulgaria
- ARASH feat. Rebecca concert in Bulgaria
- Mor Karbasi’s concert in Bulgaria
- Alice Russel in Sofia city
- Gipsy Kings gig in Bulgaria
- Jean Michel Jarre in Bulgaria
- Eric Sardinas concert
- Pooh gigs in Bulgaria
- Manhattan Transfer's concert in Bulgaria
- Hindi Zahra’s concert in Bulgaria
- Amon Amarth concert in Bulgaria
- Sade gigs in Bulgaria in November
- Genesis gigs in Bulgaria
- Julio Iglesias concert
- Sofia Rocks festival 2012
- Jennifer Lopez- concert in Bulgaria
- Depeche Mode performs in Bulgaria in May 2013
Places to go in Sofia
- St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
- Boyana Church
- National Museum of History
- Alexander Nevsky Crypt Icon museum
- Vitosha Nature Park
- “Ivan Vazov” National Theatre
- The St. Petka Samardjiska Church /St. Petka of the Saddlers/
- Borisova Gradina Park (Central Park)
- Bulgarian National Gallery for Foreign Art
- St. George Rotunda-the oldest Eastern European Orthodox church
- Bulgarian National Gallery of Arts
- National Archaeological Museum
- Fountains in Sofia
- Public gardens and green areas
- St. Sofia church- ancient Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia
- St. Nikolay Russian church
- Sofia botanical garden
- Church of the Holy Seven
- Sofia Zoo
- Bulgarian Natural History Museum
- Sofia City Art Gallery
- Pancharevo lake
- Ethnographic Museum
- St. Nedelya church
- Museum of Earth and Man
- Sofia University Botanic Garden
- Cathedral of St Joseph
- Independence Square
- Boyana waterfall
- Alexander Nevski Square
- King Alexander Battenberg Square
- National Assembly's building in Sofia
- Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard
- Vitosha Boulevard
- St. Paraskeva Church
- Eagle's Bridge
- Atanas Burov Square
- St. 40 Martyrs Church
- Oborishte street
- Rila monastery
- Slaveikov square
- National Palace of Culture
- National Library St. St. Cyril and Metodius
- Banya Bashi Mosque
- Jewish synagogue in Sofia
- Lion's bridge
- Law Courts
Deals & discounts in Sofia
News from Sofia
- Bulgaria’s National history museum included in the EU project “Museums present Europe”
- International Festival of the Masquerade Games in Pernik town, Bulgaria
- Ice Bar in Sofia city
- Burgas, Varna, Sofia – included in 100 Global Cities Destination Ranking
- Skiing in Vitosha mountain
- Sofia hotels in top 10 capital cities worldwide
- Festival “Skiing and snowboarding in the city” is held in Sofia
- Days of challenges in Sofia city
- Bon Jovi visits Bulgaria in 2013
- No restored ski equipment at Vitosha Mountain
- New cultural and historic route Sveta Gora
- International kids folklore festival in Sofia city
- Low cost flights from Sofia airport to Budapest
- Ski competition at Vetrovala in Vitosha Mountain today
- 16th International Sofia Movie festival
- Sofia is the cheapest holiday destination in Europe
- Christmas traditions will be presented in Ethnographic museum in Sofia
- Central Mineral bath in Sofia becomes a museum and SPA centre
- Sofia is the cheapest holiday destination in Europe
- 3 Airline Carriers Stop Winter Flights to Sofia
- A growth of 6,6% of passengers at Sofia airport
- Tourist information centre opened at Sofia Airport
- Gipsy Kings performance is postponed
- French Movie Festival in Sofia city
- Cheapest hotels in Sofia city