32 Facts About Plovdiv

1.

Plovdiv, is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace.

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2.

Plovdiv is the cultural capital of Bulgaria and was the European Capital of Culture in 2019.

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3.

Plovdiv joined the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2016.

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4.

Plovdiv is situated in a fertile region of south-central Bulgaria on the two banks of the Maritsa River.

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5.

On 4 January 1878, at the end of the Russo-Turkish War, Plovdiv was taken away from Ottoman rule by the Russian army.

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6.

On 5 September 2014, Plovdiv was selected as the Bulgarian host of the European Capital of Culture 2019 alongside the Italian city of Matera.

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7.

Plovdiv has been given various names throughout its long history.

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8.

In British English the Bulgarian variant Plovdiv has become prevalent after World War I The Crusaders mentioned the city as Prineople, Sinople and Phinepople.

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9.

Plovdiv is located on the banks of the Maritsa river, southeast of the Bulgarian capital Sofia.

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10.

Originally, Plovdiv's development occurred south of Maritsa, with expansion across the river taking place only within the last 100 years.

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11.

Plovdiv has a humid subtropical climate with considerable humid continental influences.

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12.

Plovdiv has settlement traces including necropolises dating from the Neolithic era like the mounds Yasa Tepe 1 in the Philipovo district and Yasa Tepe 2 in Lauta park.

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13.

Plovdiv served as a sanjak centre within Rumelia between 1443 and 1593, the sanjak centre in Silistra Eyalet between 1593 and 1826, the sanjak centre in Eyalet of Adrianople between 1826 and 1867, and the sanjak centre of Edirne Vilayet between 1867 and 1878.

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14.

Plovdiv which was the biggest and most vibrant Bulgarian city was selected as a capital of the restored country and for a seat of the Temporary Russian Government.

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15.

In 1892 Plovdiv became the host of the First Bulgarian Fair with international participation which was succeeded by the International Fair Plovdiv.

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16.

In that period, Plovdiv became the birthplace of Bulgaria's movement for democratic reform, which by 1989 had garnered enough support to enter government.

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17.

In Plovdiv, there are many churches, two mosques and one synagogue .

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18.

Plovdiv is among the few cities with two ancient theatres; remains of the medieval walls and towers; Ottoman baths and mosques; a well-preserved old quarter from the National Revival period with beautiful houses; churches; and narrow paved streets.

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19.

Old Town of Plovdiv is a historic preservation site known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style.

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20.

Sephardic Plovdiv Synagogue is at Tsar Kaloyan Street 13 in the remnants of a small courtyard in what was once a large Jewish quarter.

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21.

Plovdiv Drama Theatre is a successor of the first professional theatre group in Bulgaria founded in 1881.

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22.

The Evmolpeya choir is another girls' choir from Plovdiv, whose establishing patron, Ivan Chomakov, became the then mayor in 2006.

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23.

On 5 September 2014, Plovdiv was selected as the Bulgarian host of European Capital of Culture in 2019.

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24.

Plovdiv is the economic capital of Bulgaria as it has the country's largest economy and contributes 7.

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25.

The advantages of Plovdiv include the central geographic location, good infrastructure, and large population.

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26.

Plovdiv has an international airport, terminal for intermodal transport, several connections with Trakia motorway, proximity to Maritsa motorway, and well-developed road and rail infrastructure which all led to the development of the city as the leading city in terms of industrial output in Bulgaria.

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27.

Economy of Plovdiv has long tradition in manufacturing, commerce, transport, communications, and tourism.

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28.

Apart from the industrial development of Plovdiv, there has been a significant surge in the IT and outsourcing service sector in the recent years, as well as a double-digit increase in the tourism growth in the city every year for the past 5 years.

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29.

Plovdiv has a large public transport system including around 29 main and 10 extra bus lines.

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30.

Plovdiv has a well-developed cycling infrastructure which covers almost all districts of the city.

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31.

Plovdiv has 78 schools including elementary, high, foreign language, mathematics, technical, and art schools.

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32.

Plovdiv is host of the international boxing tournament "Strandzha" which has taken place since 1949.

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