Share this Article on Facebook Twitter Submit this article to Reddit Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

Sofia

Sofia

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

Sofia , Bulg. Sofiya, city (1993 pop. 1,114,476), capital of Bulgaria, W central Bulgaria, on a high plain surrounded by the Balkan Mts. It is Bulgaria's chief industrial, transportation, and commercial center. Among the chief manufactures are engineering and metal products, foodstuffs, textiles, rubber and leather goods, furniture, footwear, and chemicals.

A Thracian settlement once occupied the site of Sofia. It was taken by the Romans in AD 29 and flourished, especially, under the Emperor Trajan, as Sardica. Destroyed by the Huns in 447, the city was rebuilt (6th cent.) by Byzantine emperor Justinian I and renamed Triaditsa by the Byzantines. It formed part of the first Bulgarian kingdom (809–1018), reverted to the Byzantines (1018–1186), and was included in the second Bulgarian kingdom (1186–1382). Known as Sredets under the Bulgars, it was renamed Sofia or Sophya in 1376. Sofia passed to the Ottomans in 1382 and became the residence of the Turkish governors of Rumelia . Taken by the Russians in the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, it became (1879) the capital of newly independent Bulgaria. During World War II the Russians captured Sofia from the Germans (1944).

The city has a university (founded 1889) and numerous other educational and cultural facilities. It is the see of an Eastern Orthodox metropolitan and of a Roman Catholic bishop and also retains many old churches, mosques, and synagogues. Landmarks include the parliament building, the state opera house, the former royal palace, the Church of St. George (4th–5th cent.), the Church of St. Sofia (6th–7th cent.), the Banya Bashi mosque (1474), and the Alexander Nevski Cathedral.

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Sofia." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Sofia." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Sofia.html

"Sofia." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Sofia.html

Learn more about citation styles

Sofia

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | Copyright

Sofia (Sofiya), Bulgaria Serdnopolis, Serdica, Ulpia Serdica, Sredec, Triadica Originally named after the Serdi, a Thracian tribe. In the 1st century ad Ulpia was added in honour of Marcus Ulpius Trajanus ( Trajan†). The Slavonic Sredec ‘centre’, adopted in the 9th century when the Bulgarians took the city, acknowledges that the city is roughly equi‐distant from the Black Sea and the Adriatic, and between Belgrade, Serbia, and Istanbul, Turkey. It was renamed Triadica, the Greek form of Sredec, when Bulgaria was incorporated into the Byzantine Empire in 1018. The city was occupied by the Ottoman Turks between 1382 and 1878 and they soon named it Sofia after the church of Sveta Sofia ‘Holy Wisdom’ which they converted into a mosque. It has been the national capital since 1879.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Sofia." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Sofia." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Sofia.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Sofia." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-Sofia.html

Learn more about citation styles

Sofia

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

Sofia (Sofija) Capital of Bulgaria and Sofia province, in w central Bulgaria, at the foot of the Vitosha Mountains. Known for its hot mineral springs, Sofia was founded by the Romans in the 2nd century ad. From 1018 to 1185, it was ruled by the Byzantine Empire (as Triaditsa). Sofia passed to the second Bulgarian Empire (1186–1382), and then to the Ottoman Empire (1382–1878). In 1877, Sofia was captured by Russia and chosen as the capital of Bulgaria by the Congress of Berlin. Industries: steel, machinery, textiles, rubber, chemicals, metallurgy, leather goods, food processing. Pop. (2001) 1,096,389.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Sofia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Sofia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Sofia.html

"Sofia." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-Sofia.html

Learn more about citation styles

Sofia

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Sofia ♀ Norwegian and Swedish variant spelling of Sophia.

Also: Sofie.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Sofia.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Sofia.html

Learn more about citation styles

SOFIA

A Dictionary of Astronomy | 1997 | Copyright

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"SOFIA." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"SOFIA." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-SOFIA.html

"SOFIA." A Dictionary of Astronomy. 1997. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O80-SOFIA.html

Learn more about citation styles

Sofía

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Sofía ♀ (Spanish) From Greek. See Sophia.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofía." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofía." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Sofa.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofía." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Sofa.html

Learn more about citation styles

Sofia

A Dictionary of First Names | 2006 | | Copyright

Sofia ♀ Variant spelling of Sophia.
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Sofia1.html

PATRICK HANKS, KATE HARDCASTLE, and FLAVIA HODGES. "Sofia." A Dictionary of First Names. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O41-Sofia1.html

Learn more about citation styles

SOFIA

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2011 | Copyright

SOFIA see infrared astronomy .

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"SOFIA." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"SOFIA." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-SOFIA.html

"SOFIA." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-SOFIA.html

Learn more about citation styles

SOFIA

The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations | 1998 | | Copyright

SOFIA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "SOFIA." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "SOFIA." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-SOFIA.html

FRAN ALEXANDER , PETER BLAIR , JOHN DAINTITH , ALICE GRANDISON , VALERIE ILLINGWORTH , ELIZABETH MARTIN , ANNE STIBBS , JUDY PEARSALL , and SARA TULLOCH. "SOFIA." The Oxford Dictionary of Abbreviations. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O25-SOFIA.html

Learn more about citation styles

Sofia

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

Sofia •Gambia, Zambia •Arabia, labia, Swabia •Libya, Namibia, tibia •euphorbia •agoraphobia, claustrophobia, homophobia, hydrophobia, phobia, technophobia, xenophobia, Zenobia •Nubia • rootbeer • cumbia •Colombia, Columbia •exurbia, Serbia, suburbia •Wiltshire • Flintshire •gaillardia, Nadia, tachycardia •steadier • compendia •Acadia, Arcadia, nadir, stadia •reindeer •acedia, encyclopedia, media, multimedia •Lydia, Numidia •India • belvedere • Claudia •Cambodia, odea, plasmodia, podia, roe-deer •Mafia, raffia, tafia •Philadelphia • hemisphere •planisphere • Montgolfier • Sofia •ecosphere • biosphere • atmosphere •thermosphere • ionosphere •stratosphere • headgear • switchgear •logia • nemesia • menhir

Show all research tools

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

  • MLA
  • Chicago
  • APA

"Sofia." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Sofia." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Sofia.html

"Sofia." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-Sofia.html

Learn more about citation styles

Free newspaper and magazine articles

Sofia's Story: A Victory for Life.(Sofia Alomia)
Magazine article from: National Right to Life News; 9/1/2006
Sofia Metro Company's Profit Quadruples in 2010 Y/Y.
News Wire article from: Sofia News Agency; 5/11/2011
SOFIA VERGARA: Craig David hopes his sexy ex marries Tom Cruise; She's a...
Newspaper article from: Sunday Mirror (London, England); 3/20/2005

Facts and information from other sites

Pictures from Google Image Search

Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture
Click to see an enlarged picture

See more pictures of Sofia

Related topics

  Be the first to connect related topics with this page!