Bulgaria

Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria, home to the national parliament, presidency, and key cultural institutions. Chosen as the capital in 1879 after Bulgaria’s liberation from Ottoman rule, Sofia sits at the foot of Vitosha Mountain and traces its roots to the ancient Roman city of Serdica. Its name comes from the medieval St. Sofia (Holy Wisdom) Church. Remember the distractors: Plovdiv is the historic second city, while Varna and Burgas are major Black Sea ports. Memory tip: “Sofia is so official”—the seat of government is in SOFia.