FairyFleur - with a scent of magic: Philippopolis

Do you like to travel? Are you interested in history? Have you ever wondered what is like to walk on the footsteps of old civilizations? Would you like to see how they lived, what their ways of entertainment were?

Well, if you answered “yes” to all of the questions or most of them, then you should definitely visit one of the oldest cities in the world, which was founded 3000 - 4000 BC. It's name is Plovdiv. Althoug the city had various names during his long history: Evmolpia, Philippopolis, Trimontium, Pulpudeva, Puldin... This is just a selection of the many names, which were given to the place.

It is said that Plovdiv is contemporary with Troy and Mycenae, but what’s more interesting it was continuously inhabited: Thracians, Romans, Slavs and Bulgarians. Today Plovdiv is a large city in Bulgaria. The amazing thing is that despite all the centuries that have gone by, you can still see remains from all the inhabitants of this place. Let me give some examples to fire your curiosity:

1. Remains from the Thracian fortress, called Eumolpia

2. The Ancient Stadium - It was built in the 2nd century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. Many events are still held on the scene.

3. The Antique theatre - It was built in the beginning of the 2nd century during the reign of the Roman Emperor Trajan.

4. The Roman Odeon It was built in the 2nd–5th centuries and is the second (and smaller) antique theatre of Philipopolis with 350 seats.

I would like to share a thought of a Roman writer Lucian, which ilustrates the splendor of the city.

"This Plovdiv is the biggest and loveliest of all cities. Its beauty shines from faraway..."

If you decide to visit the city, you must take a walk along the narrow streets of the old town of Plovdiv. Taking a step after step on the pavement there it’s like going back in time – a period of time more peaceful, colorful, exquisite, and unique with the incredible architecture of the houses, built by rich merchants in the 19^th century.

But don’t get the wrong impression. Plovdiv is not just history. It continues its development and nowadays the city has a very modern look perfectly combined with the remains from the past. That’s what makes it so special and amazing. It’s not just a coincidence that its motto is: “Ancient and Eternal” !