Plovdiv

The Essential

Highly recommended

Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second most important city, appeals to visitors on account of its original layout. Split into two by the famous River Marica, it comprises 6 steep granite hills. From its prestigious past, it has retained fine relics of the Thracian civilisation, as well as Roman monuments, old Turkish mosques and above all an exceptional group of houses built at the time of the National Awakening. A tour of its historic centre, on Unesco's World Heritage list, offers a delightful experience.