Awash in art galleries, bohemian cafes, museums and highbrow house museums, it’s little wonder Plovdiv has been named the European Capital of Culture for 2019. A smaller, less stressful city than Sofia, pretty Plovdiv is an ideal walking city; as a lively university town, it’s also on the fun frontline, with laid-back bars galore.
The past lives on in Plovdiv’s atmospheric Old Town, largely restored to its mid-19th-century appearance and marked by winding cobblestone streets. Lined with historic homes, antique shops and creative salons, Plovdiv differs from ‘Old Towns’ in that eminent artists still live and work within its tranquil confines. The neighbourhood boasts Thracian, Roman, Byzantine and Bulgarian antiquities, most impressive being the Roman amphitheatres – the best-preserved in the Balkans and still used for performances.
Most of Plovdiv's main sights are in and around the fantastic Old Town. Its meandering cobblestone streets, overflowing with atmospheric house museums, art galleries, antique stores, are also home to welcoming nooks for eating, drinking and people-watching.
Roman AmphitheatreHISTORIC SITE
Plovdiv’s magnificent 2nd-century-AD amphitheatre, built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, was only uncovered during a freak landslide in 1972. It could hold about 6000 spectators. Now largely restored, it's one of Bulgaria's most magical venues, once again hosting large-scale special events and concerts. Visitors can admire the amphitheatre for free from several lookouts along ul Hemus, or pay admission for a scarper around.
Roman StadiumHISTORIC SITE
While the once-huge 2nd-century Roman Stadium is mostly hidden under the pedestrian mall, there are stairways from different sides allowing for at-your-leisure exploration. A new onsite 3D movie (adult/student 6/3 lv; 10 showings daily) offers an immersive experience into the stadium's glory days as a venue for gladiator matches.
Roman OdeonRUIN
Constructed between the 2nd and 5th centuries AD, the Odeon was once the seat of the city council. It now hosts occasional performances in its tiny reconstructed amphitheatre: check out the original columns. It's adjacent to the tourist information centre.
Ethnographical MuseumMUSEUM
This intriguing museum houses 40,000 exhibits, including folk costumes, musical instruments, jewellery and traditional craftworks such as winemaking and beekeeping. Built in 1847, it's Plovdiv's most renowned National Revival–period home; the gorgeous garden and exquisite exterior are reasons enough to make a visit here.
Church of Sveti Konstantin & ElenaCHURCH
This is Plovdiv’s oldest church and one of its most beloved: the riotous frescoes and gilded iconostasis within belie its broody exterior. The original church – dedicated to Emperor Constantine the Great and his mother, Helena – was built in AD 337; what stands today dates to 1832.
Dzhumaya MosqueMOSQUE
This, the second-oldest working mosque in Europe, was originally built in 1364, then demolished and rebuilt in the mid-15th century. With a 23m-high minaret, it was the largest of Plovdiv’s more than 50 Ottoman mosques.
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