Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and the 12^th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. Sofia is an ancient city with foundations of an old town wall dating back to the 7^th century BC being discovered. Throughout time the area has been occupied by the Celts and Romans, it came under the control of the Ottoman Empire giving the city a clear Turkish feel, and then the Russians and finally the Bulgarians had a hand in its development.

Sofia’s architecture

Sofia’s long history has led to a collage of architectural styles all thrown together in an interesting, if haphazard fashion. Roman Christian buildings stand alongside the Medieval Serdica fortresses with stark Soviet era block housing in between. The city does contain some excellent examples of Byzantine architecture in the centre, most notably Boyana Church and the very unique, round St Georges Church from the 4^th century.

Oborishte, Sofia’s central district is famous for its Neo-Renaissance and Viennese architecture along with its distinctive green and yellow cobblestones. The city also contains a rare example of Islamic architecture in the Banya Bashi Mosque and the massive edifice of the Stalinist Gothic construction, the Largo.

Parks and gardens

The city has a very good attitude to open green spaces and many avenues are lined with centuries old trees, small luscious parks and squares scattered around. The Borisova Gardens, along with the imaginatively named southern, western and northern parks make up the main greenery of the city. There are also the delightful City Garden and Doctors Garden at Sofia’s heart, along with the Vitosha National Park, which stretches into the Vitosha Mountains.

Cultural visits

Sofia is the main centre for cultural exposure and there are a number of excellent theatres, galleries and museums demonstrating the country’s talents. The Ivan Vazov National Theatre has a program of classical performances, while the National Operatic and Ballet has a long and prestigious history in the city.

The National Gallery predominantly displays the works of Bulgarian artists whilst exhibitions of international acclaim can be found at the National Gallery of Foreign Art where you will find examples from all over the world. Pieces range from Buddhist to Renaissance Dutch paintings and Durer to Rodin.

Sofia’s attractions

One of Sofia’s most popular and impressive sights is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, a wonderful 19^th century construction of golden domes and columns. The Central Sofia Synagogue is another notable building that is worth a visit, along with the small but still very atmospheric Sveta Petka Samardjiyska church.

Bulgaria is also renowned for its natural spas and springs and the Public Mineral Baths in Sofia are a beautifully decorative and therapeutic place to visit. Plans are in place to open a museum on the site but for now you can appreciate the building and sample the waters.

Accommodation in Sofia

The Radisson Blu Grand Hotel in Sofia offers its guest the ultimate in Bulgarian luxury. Beautifully decorated rooms with views across to the magnificent golden domed cathedral. There are 134 elegant quarters with comfortable spacious rooms, marble bathrooms and the options of dining in the delicious Glass Bar or impressive Flannigans Restaurant.

Sofia offers its visitors a combination of tastes and styles, fabulous architecture, tasty food and a friendly cosmopolitan atmosphere on the Baltic Peninsula.

If like me you’re always looking at the next new place to make your mark with you can see some awesome places but the thought of buying a house seems like a huge overwhelming process, here are some helpful tips to make the experience much easier.

Buying a home will likely be one of the biggest decisions you make in your life. It is an investment that will last you many years or even decades, involves a great deal of money, and should not be taken lightly.

Many first time home buyers find the process of buying their first home to be quite overwhelming, as there are many new things to learn. There can be a lot of hassle and stress involved in the home buying experience, but there doesn’t have to be. With careful planning, attention, and preparation, you can reduce the stress of buying a home and make it as hassle free as possible.

Here are some helpful tips for buying a house with no hassle:

• Find out if the person you are buying the house from is waiting on the sale of their new house to come through. If you become part of a chain then if their sale collapses they will not be able to sell their home, and you will not be able to move in.
• Use an experienced and reliable estate agent. An estate agent knows the business inside and out and can do wonders to help you find the right house.
• Hire an excellent conveyancing solicitor, who will help you with the legal details of buying the home and make it as easy as it can be. All of the legal fine print is too much of a hassle to deal with on your own.
• Ask as many questions as possible. When you are looking at a potential home to buy, ask about any possible problems, concerns, repairs or other issues. If you are not satisfied with the answer, do your own research. If you find out about something in advance, you can save yourself a lot of hassle down the line.
• When you are viewing a home, bring your family and everyone else who is going to be living there. You might fall in love with a particular home, but you can never be sure that everyone else is going to like it in the same way. You can save yourself a lot of hassle and conflict if you can all see the home at the same time and reach a consensus.
• Speak to the neighbors and ask them what it is like to live in that area. You might find out about a possible problem that could cause you some headaches.
• Using online resources, you can find out what the average house price has been for homes on that particular street which have sold recently. This is a great way to compare and find out whether you are getting a reasonable price for the property.

These tips will make the process of finding your dream home as hassle free as possible!