| Sofia’s city centre stands upon the foundations of the original Roman settlement, Serdica, although the remains of this city are several meters below ground level. The best starting point for a walking tour is Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya, the city’s main traffic hub. From here, a grid of streets radiate out towards the inner ring road, which forms an irregular octagon around town. The main attractions are enclosed within this space and are all within walking distance of one another. From Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya, Maria Louiza Boulevard runs north, to the city’s sole surviving functioning mosque, Banya Bashi Dzhamiya (Banya Bashi Mosque). Close by, Tsentralnata Banya (Central Baths), Tsentralni Hali (Central Food Halls) and the Synagogue form a hub of early 20th-century monuments. The boulevard proceeds through an area that becomes progressively run-down as it nears the Central Station. Just off to the left lies Zhenski Pazar (Women’s Market). |