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| City Guide - Sofia - Further Distractions | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Further Distractions Tsurkva Sveta Nikolai (St Nicholas Russian Church) Built in 1912 by Russian workmen, Sveta Nikolai is possibly the prettiest church in Sofia. The roof is covered with green majolica tiles, and crowned with five gold-plated onion domes. More popular than the church itself is the crypt, accessed to the left of the main entrance. Here lies the tomb of the former Archi Episcope, Serafin, who died in 1950. Locals come here in droves to post hand-written messages into a box, standing to the right of the tomb. Although Serafin is not a saint, it is said he worked miracles, and can make prayers and wishes come true. 3 Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard Transport: Bus to Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya. Opening hours: 0800-1800 daily Admission: Free Tsentralna Sofiiska Sinagoga (Central Sofia Synagogue) Situated behind the Hali, the Sofia synagogue is the third largest in Europe (after Amsterdam and Budapest). It was designed by the Austrian architect, Grunanger, and resembles the former synagogue in Vienna, destroyed by the Nazis. Building began in 1905 and the official opening took place in 1909. The building is in the Spanish-Moorish style, with a large central dome lit by an enormous chandelier. Originally intended to accommodate 1300 worshippers, today services are attended by about only 50 or 60 people. The outer walls are ornamented with floral and geometric motifs. 16 Exarch Yossif Ulica Transport: Bus to Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya. Opening times: Mon-Fri 0900-1700. Admission: Free. Zhenski Pazar (Women's Market) The largest and busiest market in Sofia, Zhenski Pazar offers a wide range of fruit and vegetables, cheeses, cured meats, dried fruit and nuts, home-made halva and other Turkish-inspired goodies. The stall-holders at the Women's Market were once all women but now male and female peasants from the surrounding hills travel to town each morning to sell their produce here. There are also some stalls selling cheap fake designer clothes and traditional hand crafts. The atmosphere is chaotic and a bit dirty, but fun. Stefan Stambolov Boulevard, between Slivnitsa Boulevard and Exarch Yossif Ulica Transport: Bus to Ploshtad Sveta Nedelya. Opening hours: Daily 0900-1800. |
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