Timeline of Sofia
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The following is a
timeline A timeline is a display of a list of events in chronological order. It is typically a graphic design showing a long bar labelled with dates paralleling it, and usually contemporaneous events. Timelines can use any suitable scale represen ...
of the
history History (derived ) is the systematic study and the documentation of the human activity. The time period of event before the invention of writing systems is considered prehistory. "History" is an umbrella term comprising past events as well ...
of the city of
Sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
,
Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
.


Prior to 14th century

* 2nd C. CE – Serdica founded by
Trajan Trajan ( ; la, Caesar Nerva Traianus; 18 September 539/11 August 117) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117. Officially declared ''optimus princeps'' ("best ruler") by the senate, Trajan is remembered as a successful soldier-emperor who presi ...
. * 268 CE – Serdica raided by
Goths The Goths ( got, 𐌲𐌿𐍄𐌸𐌹𐌿𐌳𐌰, translit=''Gutþiuda''; la, Gothi, grc-gre, Γότθοι, Gótthoi) were a Germanic people who played a major role in the fall of the Western Roman Empire and the emergence of medieval Europe ...
. * 343 CE –
Council of Serdica The Council of Serdica, or Synod of Serdica (also Sardica located in modern day Sofia, Bulgaria), was a synod convened in 343 at Serdica in the civil diocese of Dacia, by Emperors Constans I, augustus in the West, and Constantius II, augustus in ...
convenes (approximate date). * 4th C. ** Church of St. George **
Amphitheatre of Serdica The Amphitheatre of Serdica ( la, Amphitheatrum Serdicense; bg, Амфитеатър на Сердика, ''Amfiteatar na Serdika'') was an amphitheatre in the Ancient Roman city of Ulpia Serdica, now Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Discovered i ...
built (approximate date). ** Saint Sophia Church, Sofia originates. * 447 – Town burned by
Huns The Huns were a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe between the 4th and 6th century AD. According to European tradition, they were first reported living east of the Volga River, in an area that was part ...
. * 809 - ** Town becomes part of Bulgarian Empire. ** Town renamed "Sredetz." * 987 - Successful resistance to the attacks of the emperor
Basil II Basil II Porphyrogenitus ( gr, Βασίλειος Πορφυρογέννητος ;) and, most often, the Purple-born ( gr, ὁ πορφυρογέννητος, translit=ho porphyrogennetos).. 958 – 15 December 1025), nicknamed the Bulgar S ...
. * 11th C. –
Boyana Church The Boyana Church ( bg, Боянска църква, ''Boyanska tsărkva'') is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, in the Boyana quarter. In 1979, the building was added to the UNESCO W ...
built near town (approximate date). * 1194 ** Town becomes part of Byzantium. ** Town renamed "Triaditsa" (approximate date).


14th–18th centuries

* 13th C. – Church of St. Nicholas built. * 1329 – Town renamed "Sofia." * 1382 – Ottomans
take A take is a single continuous recorded performance. The term is used in film and music to denote and track the stages of production. Film In cinematography, a take refers to each filmed "version" of a particular shot or "setup". Takes of each s ...
Sofia. * 1443 – Town occupied briefly by Hungarian forces under
John Hunyadi John Hunyadi (, , , ; 1406 – 11 August 1456) was a leading Hungarian military and political figure in Central and Southeastern Europe during the 15th century. According to most contemporary sources, he was the member of a noble family of ...
. * 1493 – Kremikovtsi Monastery reestablished near Sofia. * 1494 – built. * 1528 – Black Mosque built. * 1576 –
Banya Bashi Mosque Banya Bashi Mosque ( bg, Баня баши джамия, ; tr, Banya Başı Camii) is a mosque in Sofia, Bulgaria. History The mosque was designed by the famous Ottoman architect Mimar Sinan and completed in 1566, during the years the Ot ...
built. * 1610 – Catholic See of Sophia established.


19th century

* 1818 – Earthquake. * 1829 – Town occupied by Russian forces. * 1858 – Earthquake. * 1863 –
St Nedelya Church Sveta Nedelya Church ( bg, Катедрален храм "Св. великомъченица Неделя" в София or църква „Света Неделя“, translit=Sveta Nedelya) is an Eastern Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of ...
rebuilt. * 1878 – Town liberated by Russian forces. * 1879 ** Capital of
Bulgaria Bulgaria (; bg, България, Bǎlgariya), officially the Republic of Bulgaria,, ) is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern flank of the Balkans, and is bordered by Romania to the north, Serbia and North Macedo ...
relocated to Sofia from
Veliko Tarnovo Veliko Tarnovo ( bg, Велико Търново, Veliko Tărnovo, ; "Great Tarnovo") is a town in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. Often referred as the "''City of the Tsars''", Veliko Tarnovo ...
. ** Area of city: 3 square kilometers. * 1881 – Population: 20,501. * 1882 – Royal palace built. * 1884 – Boris' Garden (park) laid out. * 1886 –
National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...
building constructed. * 1888 **
Sofia University Sofia University, "St. Kliment Ohridski" at the University of Sofia, ( bg, Софийски университет „Св. Климент Охридски“, ''Sofijski universitet „Sv. Kliment Ohridski“'') is the oldest higher education i ...
founded. **
Sofia Central Station The Sofia Central Railway Station ( bg, Централна железопътна гара София, translit=Tsentralna zhelezopatna gara Sofiya) is the main passenger railway station of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, as well as the largest r ...
and Sofia Zoo open. ** Dimitar Petkov becomes mayor. * 1890 – 31 May: "Destructive thunderstorm." * 1891 –
Eagles' Bridge Eagles' Bridge ( bg, Орлов мост, ''Orlov most'' ) is a bridge over the Perlovska River in downtown Sofia, capital of Bulgaria.''Travel Sofia: Illustrated Guide, Phrasebook and Maps'', MobileReference, 2010 The bridge and junction where it ...
and Lions' Bridge built. * 1893 ** Bulgarian Literary Society relocates to Sofia. ** Population: 46,593. * 1897 – Battenberg Mausoleum erected. * 1898 – Central Hunters' Society headquartered in Sofia.


20th century

* 1903 ** Bulgarian Social Democratic Workers' Party (Narrow Socialists) headquartered in Sofia. **
Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church The Sveti Sedmochislenitsi Church ( bg, църква „Свети Седмочисленици“) and formerly The Black Mosque ( tr, Kara Camii) is a Bulgarian Orthodox church in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was created between 1901 an ...
inaugurated. * 1904 – National Theatre founded. * 1905 – National Archaeological Museum opens. * 1907 **
Central Military Club The Central Military Club ( bg, Централен военен клуб, ''Tsentralen voenen klub'') is a multi-purpose monument of culture building in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, located on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard and Georgi ...
built. ** Population: 82,187. ** The
Monument to the Tsar Liberator The Monument to the Tsar Liberator ( bg, Паметник на Цар Освободител, ''Pametnik na Tsar Osvoboditel'') is an equestrian monument in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was erected in honour of Russian Empero ...
was inaugurated on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard in Sofia * 1908 ** Bulgarian Opera Society established. ** City becomes capital of the
Kingdom of Bulgaria The Tsardom of Bulgaria ( bg, Царство България, translit=Tsarstvo Balgariya), also referred to as the Third Bulgarian Tsardom ( bg, Трето Българско Царство, translit=Treto Balgarsko Tsarstvo, links=no), someti ...
. * 1909 – Sofia Synagogue built. * 1910 – Population: 102,812. * 1911 ** Central Sofia Market Hall opens. ** Union of Bulgarian Chitalishta headquartered in Sofia. * 1912 –
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Alexander Nevsky Cathedral may refer to the following (alphabetically by country, then by town): * Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Baku in Azerbaijan * Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia in Bulgaria * Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn, Estonia * Al ...
built. * 1913 – ''L'écho de Bulgarie'' newspaper begins publication. * 1914 ** Levski Sofia (sports club) founded. ** Russian Church consecrated. **
Vrana Palace Vrana Palace ( bg, Дворец "Врана", translit=Dvorets "Vrana"; formerly ; ) is a former royal palace, on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It is today the official residence of former royal family of Bulgaria. While the ...
built near Sofia. * 1919 – Simplon Orient Express (
Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
–Sofia) begins operating. * 1922 – National Opera established. * 1925 ** 16 April:
St Nedelya Church assault The St Nedelya Church assault was a terrorist attack on St Nedelya Church in Sofia, Bulgaria. It was carried out on 16 April 1925, when a group of the Military Organisation of the Bulgarian Communist Party directed and supplied by the Soviet M ...
. ** Thracian student society founded. * 1926 –
Vladimir Vazov Vladimir Minchev Vazov ( bg, Владимир Минчев Вазов) (14 May 1868 – 20 May 1945) was a Bulgarian officer. He led the Bulgarian forces during the successful defensive operation at Dojran during the First World War. Biography V ...
becomes mayor. * 1927 – Kino Vlaikova (cinema) established (approximate date). * 1929 –
Ivan Vazov National Theatre The Ivan Vazov National Theatre ( bg, Народен театър „Иван Вазов“, ') is Bulgaria's national theatre, as well as the oldest and most authoritative theatre in the country and one of the important landmarks of Sofia, the ...
rebuilt. * 1930 –
Church of St Paraskeva The Church of Saint Paraskevi ( bg, църква „Света Параскева“, ''tsarkva „Sveta Paraskeva“'', Byzantine Greek: ''Ναός Αγίας Παρασκευής'') is a partially preserved medieval Eastern Orthodox church in Ne ...
built. * 1934 ** City becomes seat of Sofia Oblast. ** Population: 287,095; department 1,152,053. ** French Institute built on Slaveykov Square. * 1939 ** Bulgarian National Bank built. ** Area of city: 42 square kilometers. * 1940 –
Sofia Court House The Sofia Court House ( bg, Съдебна палата, ''Sadebna palata,'' literally Palace of Justice) is a building in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, accommodating several courts in the city. Stylistically a simplistic yet monumental struct ...
built on Vitosha Boulevard. * 1943 –
Bombing of Sofia in World War II The Bulgarian capital of Sofia suffered a series of Allied bombing raids during World War II, from mid 1941 to early 1944. Bulgaria declared war on the United Kingdom and the United States on 13 December 1941. The Southern Italy-based Allied a ...
by Allied forces. * 1944 –
Bombing of Sofia in World War II The Bulgarian capital of Sofia suffered a series of Allied bombing raids during World War II, from mid 1941 to early 1944. Bulgaria declared war on the United Kingdom and the United States on 13 December 1941. The Southern Italy-based Allied a ...
by Allied forces. * 1946 – City becomes capital of the
People's Republic of Bulgaria The People's Republic of Bulgaria (PRB; bg, Народна Република България (НРБ), ''Narodna Republika Balgariya, NRB'') was the official name of Bulgaria, when it was a socialist republic from 1946 to 1990, ruled by the ...
. * 1949 – Sofia Power Plant commissioned. * 1951 – ''Vecherni Novini'' newspaper begins publication. * 1953 –
Vasil Levski National Stadium Vasil Levski National Stadium ( bg, Национален стадион „Васил Левски“), named after Bulgarian national hero and revolutionary Vasil Levski (1837–1873), is the country's second largest stadium. The stadium has 43 ...
and National Opera and Ballet building open. * 1955 – Communist Party Centre built. * 1956 – Park Hotel Moskva built. * 1959 – Borisova Gradina TV Tower erected. * 1962 –
Boyana Film Nu Boyana Film Studios ( bg, Ню Бояна Филм) are film studios situated in Sofia, Bulgaria. The film production complex was opened in 1962 and was state owned until 2005 when it was bought by one of the longest-running independent film c ...
studio established. * 1963 –
Georgi Asparuhov Stadium Georgi Asparuhov Stadium ( bg, Стадион „Георги Аспарухов“), due to sponsorship currently known as Vivacom Arena – Georgi Asparuhov ( bg, Виваком Арена – Георги Аспарухов), nicknamed Gerena ( ...
opens. * 1964 – Population: 739,200 urban agglomeration. * 1965 – Theatre 199 founded. * 1968 – City hosts
World Festival of Youth and Students The World Festival of Youth and Students is an international event organized by the World Federation of Democratic Youth (WFDY) and the International Union of Students after 1947. History The festival has been held regularly since 1947 as an eve ...
. * 1974 –
Sofia Central Station The Sofia Central Railway Station ( bg, Централна железопътна гара София, translit=Tsentralna zhelezopatna gara Sofiya) is the main passenger railway station of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, as well as the largest r ...
rebuilt. * 1976 – Hemus Hotel built. * 1977 – Princess Hotel Sofia built. * 1978 – CITUB Administrative Building built. * 1979 –
Hotel Rodina Hotel Rodina is a high-rise four-star hotel located in the centre of Sofia, Bulgaria. With height of about 104 metres and 25 stories, it is one of the tallest buildings in the city. It has 500 rooms, 6 luxury apartments and 9 conference rooms. Hi ...
and Vitosha New Otani (hotel) built. * 1981 –
National Palace of Culture The National Palace of Culture (, ; abbreviated as , NDK), located in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, is the largest, multifunctional conference and exhibition centre in south-eastern Europe. It was opened in 1981 in celebration of Bulgaria's 13 ...
opens. * 1984 – Population: 1,097,791 (estimate). * 1991 **
New Bulgarian University New Bulgarian University ( bg, Нов български университет, also known and abbreviated as НБУ, NBU) is a private university based in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Its campus is in the western district of the city, known ...
and Higher Islamic Institute established. ** Aleksandar Yanchulev becomes mayor. **
Odeon Cinema Odeon, stylised as ODEON, is a cinema brand name operating in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway, which along with UCI Cinemas and Nordic Cinema Group is part of the Odeon Cinemas Group subsidiary of AMC Theatres. It uses the famous name ...
active. * 1993 – June: Union of Democratic Forces demonstration. * 1995 – Stefan Sofiyanski becomes mayor. * 1997 ** January: . ** Sofia Film Festival begins. * 1998 –
Sofia Metro The Sofia Metro ( bg, Софийски метрополитен, translit=Sofijski Metropoliten, also colloquially called ) is the rapid transit network servicing the Bulgarian capital city Sofia. It began operation on 28 January 1998. , the Sofi ...
begins operating.


21st century

* 2001 ** November: Protest. ** Iceberg Sofia hockey team formed. * 2003 ** Radio Nova begins broadcasting. ** City plan "Sofia 2020" adopted. * 2004 –
Central Bus Station Sofia Central Bus Station Sofia ( bg, Централна автогара София, Tsentralna avtogara Sofiya; abbreviated as CBS) is the main bus station of Sofia, Bulgaria. Its building was opened in 2004 and covers an area of , of which the waiting ...
opens. * 2005 ** Boyko Borisov becomes mayor. ** landfill protest. * 2006 **
Mall of Sofia Mall of Sofia is a shopping centre in the centre of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. It was opened on 9 June 2006 and is located at the intersection of Aleksandar Stamboliyski Boulevard and Opalchenska Street in the centre of the city. Part of the ...
in business. ** Kino Cineplex opens. ** Cathedral of St Joseph rebuilt. * 2007 **
Olympia Sofia Olympia Sofia (Олимпия София) is a Bulgarian women's football club from the capital city Sofia, currently playing in the Bulgarian AFG, the top division of Bulgarian women's football. In 2010–11 season the team wоn the Bulgarian ...
women's football club established. ** Bulgaria becomes part of the European Union. * 2008 **
Sofia Pride Sofia Pride Parade is a peaceful march of LGBT people and their relatives and friends, which combines social and political protest with entertainment such as live concerts. It takes place every year in the month of June in Bulgaria's capital Sofi ...
begins. ** 3 July: 2008 Chelopechene explosions. * 2009 ** Sofia Middle East & North Africa Film Festival begins. ** Yordanka Fandakova becomes mayor. ** Benchmark Tower built. * 2011 ** September: Anti- Roma demonstration. **
Armeets Arena Arena Sofia ( bg, Арена София, ) is a multi-purpose indoor arena located in Sofia, Bulgaria. Opened in July 2011, it has a seating capacity of 12,373. It was formerly called Arena Armeets after the Bulgarian insurance company Armeets pur ...
and Sofia Arsenal Museum of Contemporary Art opens. ** Sopharma Business Center towers built. * 2012 ** Line 2 of
Sofia Metro The Sofia Metro ( bg, Софийски метрополитен, translit=Sofijski Metropoliten, also colloquially called ) is the rapid transit network servicing the Bulgarian capital city Sofia. It began operation on 28 January 1998. , the Sofi ...
began operation. ** Population: 1,241,396. * 2013 ** February: Protest against the Borisov cabinet. ** June: Protest against the Oresharski cabinet. *2015 – Capital Fort became the tallest building in Sofia with its 126 meters (413 ft). *2017 – Millennium Center was completed. *2020 –
Sofia Metro The Sofia Metro ( bg, Софийски метрополитен, translit=Sofijski Metropoliten, also colloquially called ) is the rapid transit network servicing the Bulgarian capital city Sofia. It began operation on 28 January 1998. , the Sofi ...
Line 3 is set to open.


See also

*
History of Sofia The history of Sofia, Bulgaria's capital and largest city, spans thousands of years from Antiquity to modern times, during which the city has been a commercial, industrial, cultural and economic centre in its region and the Balkans. Antiquity ...
*
List of mayors of Sofia This is a chronological list of mayors of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, since that post was established after the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878. The first governor of Sofia was Petr Alabin. Initially, the mayors of Sofia were assigned by the ...
* Timelines of other
cities A city is a human settlement of notable size.Goodall, B. (1987) ''The Penguin Dictionary of Human Geography''. London: Penguin.Kuper, A. and Kuper, J., eds (1996) ''The Social Science Encyclopedia''. 2nd edition. London: Routledge. It can be def ...
in Bulgaria: Plovdiv,
Varna Varna may refer to: Places Europe *Varna, Bulgaria, a city in Bulgaria **Varna Province **Varna Municipality ** Gulf of Varna **Lake Varna **Varna Necropolis *Vahrn, or Varna, a municipality in Italy *Varniai, a city in Lithuania * Varna (Šaba ...
* List of the oldest buildings in Sofia


References

''This article incorporates information from the Bulgarian Wikipedia.''


Bibliography

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *


External links

* Europeana
Items related to Sofia
various dates. * Digital Public Library of America
Items related to Sofia
various dates {{Years in Bulgaria
Sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
Sofia-related lists
sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
Years in Bulgaria
Sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...
Bulgaria history-related lists