In Bulgaria, history meets beautiful landscapes

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I didn’t know much about Bulgaria or the countries in Southeastern Europe. However, as I visited more and more countries, my curiosity to see more places (even those outside the radar of most Filipinos) rose. 

The feeling of waking up in a new city is still exciting even after all these years since my first international trip as an adult. I made sure I passed through Bulgaria before I ended my trip around Europe. 

Exploring Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital

Sofia has a long and interesting history that dates to the 8th century BC. Its beginnings were a settlement the Thracian established. 

The Romans later conquered the community and named it Serdica. As the centuries went on, Bulgarian identity and consciousness formed with influences from the Russians, Ottomans, Byzantium, Romans, and the Soviet Union.

I took long walks around the city (with the occasional metro ride) to soak it all in. I was so used to the hustle and bustle of big cities in Asia (born and raised in Quezon City here), so Sofia’s laidback energy was a welcome surprise despite it being the capital of Bulgaria. 

The most prominent piece of architecture and building in the city is the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. Its picture will most likely appear in your search engine results page when you do a quick search of Sofia, Bulgaria. 

The massive Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an architectural feat. All photos by Joshua Berida

The Bulgarians had the massive cathedral built to honor the Russians, Ukrainians, Romanians, Finnish, and Moldavians that helped liberate Bulgaria from the Ottomans in the late 19th century. 

Construction of the church began in the 1880s. Its sanctification took place in the 1920s. Its monumental size and domes make it an attention-grabbing cathedral. Its cavernous interior is just as beautiful as its exterior with its chandeliers and detailed religious art and icons. I spent around an hour inside the cathedral before moving on.

Sofia has ancient roots that make it a remarkable city to visit. Empires and governments have risen and fallen throughout the city’s history. The Serdica Archaeological Complex provides a glimpse into one of the city’s old iterations as a Roman city. 

I saw vestiges of walls, streets, and houses, some of which are right next to a metro station. The Church of St. George is a relic of the past within Serdica’s walls. It used to be a Roman bath before it became a church over the centuries.

The Ottomans left their mark on the city during their reign that spanned several centuries.

True to its rich cultural heritage, Sofia has an Ottoman-era mosque, the Banya Bashi. It is a recognizable city landmark that dates to the 16th century. It’s the city’s only functioning mosque and dates to the 16th century. 

A walk around Sofia is like walking through history with its diverse mix of influences. I saw its Roman, Ottoman, Byzantine, and Slavic influences from the architecture to the food and to the religious practices. 

The area I frequently returned to was Vitosha Boulevard. Bars, shops, and restaurants line the street. It’s the perfect place to sample local cuisine (which I did a few times) or look for familiar Western food. 

I would recommend Shtastlivetsa Restaurant – Vitoshka if you’re looking for Bulgarian food. The service and food are good and it’s an atmospheric place to dine in. Prices are on the high side, but you’re not in Sofia so often, so why not?

Bulgaria’s spiritual, cultural treasure

Amid the mountains is one of the most famous, important, and largest Eastern Orthodox monasteries in the country — the Rila Monastery. 

St. John of Rila established the monastery in the 10th century. From its humble beginnings, the complex grew in size over the centuries and has been a focal point of the artistic and spiritual development of the Eastern Orthodox church from the medieval to Ottoman times in the region. Because of its cultural significance, it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  

The Rila Monastery is both a popular attraction and a pilgrimage site.

I visited the monastery as a day trip from Sofia. It’s one of the most popular attractions in the country. Both tourists and locals alike visit the site. I found the frescoes of the church striking with their colorful and detailed depictions of religious figures and events. 

At times the place felt like a theme park because of the number of people coming and going, but I still felt the religious devotion of some of the Bulgarians. It’s a pilgrimage site for Eastern Orthodox practitioners that want to deepen their faith.

Scenic adventure through Seven Rila Lakes

After checking out some of Bulgaria’s cultural treasures, I decided to go on a day hike to the Seven Rila Lakes. I joined a tour to simplify the transfers from the city to the park and back. I was willing to pay extra for this convenience. 

Our group queued at the base station for the chairlift to the start of the trek. The lift provided beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, a foreboding of what’s to come during the hike. 

The trail started with one of its most challenging sections, a rocky climb uphill. The reward was spectacular views of the mountains and lakes. It was only the first part of the trek and I was already impressed with what I saw. The trail continued on a flat and easy to navigate surface with scenic 360 degree views. 

Rewarding views of the Seven Rila Lakes await after the hike.

The lakes are more than 2,000m above sea level and are named after their most distinguishing feature, such as the shape of a kidney or a tear. 

As our group hiked up to higher ground, we got better overlooking views of most of the lakes in one photo. The last section was a tiring uphill climb, but one that provided the best views. We had our lunch/snack at this spot before the descent and returned to the chairlift station. 

The hike was a highlight of my trip to Bulgaria. However, I was pleasantly surprised at what I discovered during my visit. I liked the food which was a mix of cuisines in the Balkan region and Turkish influence. 

The intersection of old and new in Sofia makes it a noteworthy city to visit. The country is an affordable destination (relative to other countries in Europe) and can serve as a hub for exploring the rest of the Balkans and nearby countries. I took the overnight train from Sofia to Istanbul full of good memories. – Rappler.com