Plovdiv

From Free net encyclopedia

Plovdiv (Bulgarian: Пловдив) is the second largest city in Bulgaria, with a population of 376,918 citizens. It is the administrative centre of Plovdiv Province in southern Bulgaria, as well as the largest and most important city of the historical region of Thrace, famous for its ancient and diverse culture and millenary history. Template:Infobox City

1 Geography and transport
2 History
3 Culture
4 Economy
5 Sights
6 Sports
7 Notable citizens
8 Twinning
9 Universities
10 See also
11 External links

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Geography and transport

The city is located on both banks of the Maritsa in the central part of the Upper Thracian Lowlands. The country is mostly plain, but Plovdiv is particularly known, like Rome, for its seven hills, one of which was destroyed in the beginning of the 20th century. Image:Plovdiv-view-gruev.JPG

A couple of key thoroughfares cross the city, including the one connecting Sofia with Istanbul through Edirne, as well as the one between Sofia and Burgas through Stara Zagora. Plovdiv is regarded as the gate to the Rhodopes, as most people who head for the mountains choose it as their starting point. The city has three railway stations (and an additional railway stop) and three bus stations.

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History

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities of Europe, being older than Rome, Athens, and Constantinople. The first traces of civilization at the place date from the Mycenaean period. Image:RomanTheaterPlovdiv.jpg

Known at the time as a Thracian fortified settlement named Eumolpia, in 342 BC it was conquered by Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, who renamed it Philippoupolis (rendered in Latin as Philippopolis) in his own honour. It was later independent under the Greeks, until it was incorporated into the Roman Empire, under which it was also called Trimontium (City of Three Hills) and served as capital of the province of Thrace. Thrimontium was an important crossroad for the Roman Empire. Via Militaris, the most important military road in the Balkans, passed through. It was one of the most glorious moments in the history of the city. It spread beyond the three hills, and numerous public buildings, shrines, baths, and theatres. Many ruins from Roman times can still be seen in the city.

Although Slavs probably settled in the area around the middle of the 6th century, it became part of the Bulgarian state for the first time in about 815. The city remained in Bulgarian hands until it was conquered by the Byzantine Empire in 970 or 971. Byzantine rule was succeeded by that of the Latin Empire in 1204, although the city was twice occuppied by Kaloyan of Bulgaria before his death in 1207. Under Latin rule, Plovdiv was the capital of the Duchy of Philippopolis governed first by Renier de Trit, and then by Gerard de Strem. In unclear circumstances the city fell under Bulgarian rule during the reign of Ivan Asen II between 1225 and 1229. In 1263 Plovdiv was conquered by the restored Byzantine Empire and remained in Byzantine hands until it was taken by George Terter II of Bulgaria in 1322. Byzantine rule was restored in 1323, but in 1344 the city was surrendered to Bulgaria by the regency for John V Palaiologos as the price for Ivan Alexander of Bulgaria's support in the Byzantine civil war. Plovdiv remained Bulgarian until conquered by the Ottoman Empire in 1369. The name Plovdiv first appears in the 15th century and is derived from the city's Thracian name Pulpudeva, which was rendered by the Slavs first as Păldin (Пълдин) or Plăvdin.

Image:Plovdiv-old-town-gruev.JPG Under Ottoman rule, Plovdiv (then known as Filibe) was a center of the Bulgarian national movement in Eastern Rumelia. While the city was liberated from the Ottomans during the Battle of Plovdiv in 1878, it was not originally part of the newly established Principality of Bulgaria. Instead it was the capital of the semi-independent Region of Eastern Rumelia, when it had a population of about 33,500, of which 45% were Bulgarians, 25% Greeks, 21% Turks, 6% Jews and 3% Armenians, a state that changed rapidly in the following decades. Eastern Rumelia finally joined Bulgaria in 1885 after the Unification of Bulgaria.

Under Communist rule since the end of World War II, Plovdiv was one of the centres of that country's democracy movement, which finally overthrew the pro-Soviet regime in 1989.

Plovdiv hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair three times (1981, 1985, and 1991).

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Culture

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The Bulgarian culture and the Bulgarian cultural heritage do not need references to enter the European or world union of spirituality and thought. Their roots are in the cradle of the European civilization.There are more than 200 archeological sites of culture, 30 of which are of national importance.

As for the remaining mobile monuments of culture, kept in the five Plovdiv museums - Archeological, Ethnographic, Historical, Nature and City Art Gallery - they are more than 30 000 pieces. Speaking of Plovdiv we must mention such world famous sites such as the Ancient Theatre (2nd Century BC), the Roman Stadium (2nd Century BC also), the magnificent color mosaics of the villas, the ones of the Episcopal temple, the "Nebettepe", Archeological complex, the beautiful samples of the National Revival architecture, such as the Balabanov's House, the Kuyumdjiev's House, the houses Georgiadi, Nedkovich, Hindian etc. The Panagyurishte Golden Treasure from the end of 6th sentury BC consists of six uniquely decorated golden utensils weighing 6,164 kg made Plovdiv known far away from Bulgaria.

The Old Plovdiv was made a reservation because of the characteristic features of the National Revival architecture houses, concentrated of the Three Hills - Nebet Tepe, Jambaz Tope and Texim Tepe. With their impressive appearance, magnificent internal decoration, coziness and family spirit they are embodiment of the spirit of their time. ecoration, coziness and family spirit they are embodiment of the spirit of their time. The old churches are an integral part of the Three Hills architectural ensemble.

Most of them have the same appearance as they had it at the middle of the last century. Those are "St.St. Konstantin & Elena", "St. Marina", "St. Nedelya", "St. Petka" and the "Holly Mother of God" Cathedral. There is a Roman Catholic Church in Plovdiv - "St. Ludvig". There are Protestant and Armenian-Gregorian church as well. There are two mosques in Plovdiv that remained from the time of the Ottoman invasion.

The spirit of Plovdiv bears the creative power of its artists, writers and musicians. The Chambre Music International Festival, which takes place in the Old Town more than 30 years now; the "Golden Chest" International TV Film Festival, organized jointly with the Bulgarian National Television more than two decades; the "Golden Rithon" International Festival of Documentary Films - joint initiative with the National Film Center, which dates back to 1980's; the Verdi Festival, whose venue is one of the most attractive places in the city - the Ancient Theatre; Easter and Christmas musical festivals; the International Folklore Festival that is one of the most exotic events at the end of the summer - all those are well known events in Bulgaria and abroad. Very interesting are some new initiatives - the "Stage on a Crossroad" International Theatre Festival, the Week of Modern Art, that takes place in the Ancient Public Bath, the "Impessia" Art Fair.

In 1999 Plovdiv was host of the "European Month of Culture Program". On the traditional stages in the city and on alternative culture spaces, the program realized the biggest culture forum in Bulgaria at the turn of the century. Raina Kabaivanska, Gena Dimitrova, Lyudmil Anguelov, Bamberg Symphonic's, Michael Nyman, Hanna Schygulla, Goran Bregovich and his "Weddings and Funerals Orchestra", Metallica, Appocalyptica, Grand Funk, Richie Blackmore and many others took part in it. The existing infrastructure of the Plovdiv city adds to the development of the culture activities. The Plovdiv's Drama Theatre is an inheritor of the first professional theatre group in Bulgaria founded in 1881. Even it was founded in 1948 the Plovdiv Puppet Theatre remains one of the leading institutions in this genre. Founded in 1953, Plovdiv Opera achieves serious professional acknowledgements not only in Bulgaria, but in Germany, Denmark, Spain, Italy. Another post of the Plovdiv culture is the Philarmonic, founded in 1945. Works of the classic and of the modern symphony are included in its repertory. Soloists such as Dmitry Shostakovich, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Boukov, Mincho Minchev worked with the Plovdiv Philharmonic. The orchestra toured in almost all of the European countries. Brillant with its originality and professionalism is the "Trakia" Folklore Ensemble. Founded in 1974, it has performed thousands of concerts in Bulgaria and more than 40 countries of the world. The "Trakia" Traditional Choir enters the world musical elite after its nomination for the Grammy Awards.

As a city of rich traditional musical culture Plovdiv has a wide range of genres - from the religious chants of the "Philipopolis" Chamber Ensemble, to the classic choirs - Plovdiv Boys Choir, "Detska kitka" Choir, Women Chamber Choir, to the jazz - legend "White, Green, Red". Plovdiv is the city of artists. Indicative is the fact that the first art exhibition was held here. From the middle of the 19th century though to this day Plovdiv host hosts such names as Dimiter Zograf, Zahari Zograf, Stanislav Dospevski, Gueorgui Danchov. After the Liberation in 1878 - Ivan Mrkvichka, Anton Mitov. The basic figures of the modern art also worked here - Hristo Stanchev, Sirak Skitnik, David Peres, Tzanko Lavrenov, Zlatyo Boyadjiev. So were the founders of the Plovdiv School of the 60's - Yoan Leviev, Kolio Vitkovski, Dimiter Kirov, Georgui Bojilov, Encho Pironkov, Hristo Stefanov. There are more than 300 artists in Plovdiv. The narrow streets of the Old Town are not only source of inspiration, but a natural place of exhibitions as well. More than 20 private galleries take care of the art market.

The city's traditions as a literature center are kept by the first in Bulgaria public library - the "Ivan Vazov" People's Library, by the 19 "chitalistes" (supplementary of the library), by the numerous bookkeepers and publishers. Now the "Ivan Vazov" People's Library is second biggest national bookkeeping institution, owning rare Bulgarian and European publications. The modern Plovdiv publishing houses add their significant contribution to the image of the book market in the country and representing the Bulgarian literature abroad.

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Economy

Plovdiv is the centre of the important Thracian agricultural region and food processing is the most important industry. The city also produces machinery, textiles, and chemicals.

The Plovdiv International Fair, since 1892, is the largest fair in the country and all of Southeastern Europe, gathering companies from all over the world on an exhibition area of 95,000 m².

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Sights

The Old Town
Fortress walls and gate
Ancient theatre
Ancient odeon
Roman stadium
Roman forum
Roman aqueduct
Eyrene mosaic
Ancient synagogue
Constantine and Helena Church
Sahat Tepe hill and clock tower
Nebet Tepe hill complex
Dzhumaya Mosque
Imaret Mosque
Old Turkish Bath (now an art gallery)
Virgin Mary Church
St Petka Church
St Marina Church
St Ludovic Roman Catholic Cathedral
Gothic Evangelist Church
Tsar Simeon's Garden and The Singing Fountains
The main street
International Fair of Plovdiv
The Rowing Canal (sports and recreation park)

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Sports

Plovdiv is famous for its football teams. Botev Plovdiv was founded in 1912, and is named after one of the most ardent Bulgarian poets and revolutioneers, Hristo Botev. The city has another popular football club, Lokomotiv Plovdiv, founded in 1936. They played in the UEFA Cup 2005-06, being eliminated in the first round by Bolton Wanderers. Both teams are a regular fixture in the top Bulgarian league, and are famous for their productive youth academies. The rivalry between them is considered to be even more fierce than the one between Levski and CSKA of Sofia. There are also two other football clubs in the city – Maritsa 1921 and Spartak Plovdiv.