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Town history
Founded in 4th century BC, one of the oldest towns in Europe, it was seized by Philip II of Macedonia and incorporated in the territory of Ancient Macedonia in 342 BC.
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Eumolpia, Trimontium, Julia, Ulpia, Flavia, Poulpoudeva, Filippopolis - these are all different names of the town from Thracian and Roman times.
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Named Philippopolis in the 3rd - 1st centuries BC, the town flourished and grew to be one of the largest in Thrace.
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Nowadays
The city of Plovdiv combines an interesting past with a lively present. Today, Plovdiv (376,000 residents) is the second important cultural and economic centre of Bulgaria and the major administrative centre of Plovdiv region.
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It is the host of various arts festivals and trade fairs each year. The first international trade fair in Plovdiv was held in 1892.
Nowadays, there are two fairs each year - the largest such events on the Balkans. |
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On the hills where Plovdiv is situated today, public and private buildings with impressive dimensions have been preserved.
Mostly fragments - columns, capitals, friezes, mosaics, bas-reliefs and street pavements remain today from the city's ancient buildings - the Forum, the Stadium, the Amphitheatre of Philip II of Macedonia, basilicas, thermae, houses and administrative buildings.
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The Antique Theatre (2nd century), seating 3,000, has been completely restored and performances are again presented here.
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Old Plovdiv on Trimontium was the centre of the Bulgarian National Revival architecture at its height. Developing in a natural way, the Bulgarian building traditions form the core around which the new styles of the time evolved.
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With multi-coloured facades, yoke-shaped bay-windows, abundant decoration and furnishings, Plovdiv's two- and three-storey houses are as eye-catching as ever, fairly resembling little palaces.
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Must-see
There are many more things to see in Plovdiv: museums, churches, exhibitions, the workshops of the traditional masters of old Bulgarian arts and crafts on Strumna Street - coppersmiths, furriers, potters.
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