Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and it remains a relatively undiscovered melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures. Its urban fabric comprises a vast range of architectures, with structures by the ancient Thracians, the Romans, the Byzantines, as well as works from the Bulgarian medieval era, the Ottoman Empire, and the modern day, including the peculiar period of communist historicism and modernism.
This book presents the city and its capacity to produce a singular architectural experience by tracing its geography and dissecting its historical layers. Architectural Guide Sofia catalogues not only monuments and sites overlooked by standard tourist guides, but also the city’s most recent buildings, highlighting innovative works by contemporary architects.
The book profiles 200 selected structures from different eras, explores the genesis of the local architectures, and analyses the architectural details born out of clashes of various stylistic influences. Maps, illustrations, and an extensive bibliography help readers and travellers experience the extraordinary diversity of Sofia’s built environment.
Sofia is one of the oldest cities in Europe, and it remains a relatively undiscovered melting pot of Eastern and Western cultures. Its urban fabric comprises a vast range of architectures, with structures by the ancient Thracians, the Romans, the Byzantines, as well as works from the Bulgarian medieval era, the Ottoman Empire, and the modern day, including the peculiar period of communist historicism and modernism.
This book presents the city and its capacity to produce a singular architectural experience by tracing its geography and dissecting its historical layers. Architectural Guide Sofia catalogues not only monuments and sites overlooked by standard tourist guides, but also the city’s most recent buildings, highlighting innovative works by contemporary architects.
The book profiles 200 selected structures from different eras, explores the genesis of the local architectures, and analyses the architectural details born out of clashes of various stylistic influences. Maps, illustrations, and an extensive bibliography help readers and travellers experience the extraordinary diversity of Sofia’s built environment.
