Holiday in Bulgaria 6/6- Plovdiv, Koprivshtitsa

After seeing all the main attractions in Sofia, there is time for another day trip, to visit Plovdiv and Koprivshtitsa in the mountainous region.

Plovdiv is the 2nd biggest city in Bulgaria, and is one of the longest continuously inhabited place in Europe.

Even Alexander the Great had conquered there and left behind part of the city wall. Roman settled next and left behind numerous ruins underground. So far only a theatre is completely uncovered and rebuilt, the Roman stadium is only partially excavated and the rest is still lying under the main pedestrian street.

 

 

The 19th C old center up a small hill, is turned into a living museum, with many houses restored and turned into museums, galleries, shops, hotels and restaurants.

It is really great to wander around to see these Art Revival period buildings. A common feature is the extension done on 2 & 3 floors , a way to minimise land tax, beautiful done. Pay a visit to Klianti House to see the opulent furniture of that era, westernised, but maintained the vibrantly decorated ceilings, a style from the Ottoman period.

Next is Koprivshtitsa UNESCO village, a renovation project supported by Japanese specialists to maintain the 18th-19th C mostly farm houses built on the slope. Again lots of dark wood used and the whole place ooze a peaceful yesteryear’s charm.

Dinner at Staria Chinar, occupying a 3 floors old house, with many rooms to dine in. They serve western and traditional dishes, we tried baked super sweet red peppers, grilled duck hearts, pig ear, game sausage and deep fried calf brain, very unique ingredients and all delicious.


首都Sofia 景點不多，市容又不怎麼值得閒逛，反而山區有很多古城古蹟可欣賞，參加了本地團到Plovdiv 和 Koprivshtitsa。

Plovdiv是歐洲最古老的城市，數千年來持續有人居住。約百年前發現一世紀羅馬人佔據時期建的露天劇場，掘挖後所有雲石座位樑柱已經放回原位，重現當年盛況，現在夏季用作表演場地。

隨後又發掘出羅馬時期的長形競技場，只有部份出土，餘下的大部份，仍然長埋大街下，估計尚有無數古蹟有待發掘。

沿小山而建的老區，是十九世紀時期的富豪大宅集中地，不少被政府收購，維修復元，現在成為博物館、酒店、餐廳和商店。欣賞那年代的有錢人，有品味地展示財富。大量木建築，部分油上濃厚色彩、細緻花紋，為減少付地稅，把二樓、三樓加大，效果優雅美觀，好有看頭。

那是Ottoman 帝國末期，受西方文藝復興感染，內部陳設，以西方枱椅為主，唯一沿用的 Ottoman 設計，是重視天花，各間房子仰觀都有令人目眩的色彩和圖案。

隨後參觀的山區 UNESCO 點Koprivshtitsa，是依山而建的農村，房屋細小些，樸素些，顏色少些，安祥平和，人在其中，也似少沾點塵俗。