History periods of are not always separated from each other with clearly defined boundaries. The processes characteristic of a dawning age are often deeply rooted in preceding times. With the end of the 17th century, the last days of the long period of the Bulgarian Middle Ages also came to an end. It already laid the foundations and the spirit of the new age to come – the age of the National Revival. Still many decades of effort and sacrifice would come to pass before a small and independent Bulgarian territory could appear on the Balkan map.

The 1879 Great National Assembly chose Sofia as its capital city.

This thousand-year-old city entered a new age, as if having shed the burden of the past.

In the first half of the 20th century Sofia became a beautiful and cozy European city. Yet, the Second World War once again changed its fortunes and enforced on it, together with the whole of the country, dependence on a foreign power.

Sofia entered the 21st century once again filled with hope for a better future for the Bulgarian people, for their country and their capital city. This is a book about the ancient history of this city. It needs to be reminded because the dynamics of the city’s development increased its population from twenty thousand to a million and half in less than a century and a half.

Today the residents of Sofia would feel a deeper connection with the city if they are acquainted with its past.