Beautiful, Breathtaking Bulgaria

Originally called the Republic of Bulgaria, this country is found in Southern Europe on the coast of the Black Sea. This country, which is bordered by Greece, Serbia, and Turkey, among others, has a total land area of 110,912 square kilometers with only 3 percent of this in water.

Bulgaria's capital is Sofia which is the largest city in the country and can be found in the province that bears the same name. Bulgaria is a country rich in culture and history, which makes it a very attractive destination for tourists who love visiting museums and other historically significant sights. One of the rather notable artifacts on display in one of the museums in Bulgaria shows just how rich and far reaching the country's ancestry is. The golden Varna treasure, which is rumored to be 6,500 years old, was said to have been crafted by the Thracians who were the occupants of ancient Bulgaria. This European country is also known as the home of the world's second most frequently used alphabet system called the cyrillic alphabet. This alphabet was said to have been developed in two of their most prestigious literary schools in the tenth century. '

Bulgaria is also known for its very diverse culture that shows a mix of both eastern and western European influences. This eclectic mix of both East and West is evident in their rich music, traditional folklore, tales, and many local rituals. Bulgaria is also the home of some internationally acclaimed celebrities like opera singers Ghena Dimitrova and Boris Christoff with the inclusion of such artists like Pascin and Vladimir Dimitrov to this list. The person credited for being the father of the modern-day digital computer is also of Bulgarian descent although born and raised in the United States.

Bulgaria has often been noted as an essential gateway between the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia. As such, half of the Trans-European corridors is found to run through this country. Tourists can easily get to Bulgaria via their four international airports and can tour the other areas of this historically stunning location by using various modes of transportation which include motorways, railways, and paved roads for those who wish to see the country by car.

The most popular sport here is, of course, football. The Bulgarian National Football Team and League has been enjoying a huge following and has a FIFA World Cup Championship fourth place victory to their name. Other popular sports that Bulgarians excel at include chess and volleyball with chess masters from the nation claiming world championship titles and the national volleyball team ranking fifth in Europe.

The country is also known for the diverse choices in activities tourists might enjoy in the different seasons that they enjoy. With a temperate climate that gives the nation hot and dry summers as well as cold and damp winters, people can experience a wide range of activities and adventures depending on the time of year. Summer can see tourists and locals alike basking in the sun on the numerous resorts found all along the Black Sea coast. Winter will bring people over to the lovely mountains that are home to ski resorts in Pamporovo and Bansko.

Bulgaria is a mixture of wonders for the daring and for the not-so-adventurous as well. To really get to feel and savor the country, one has to go and absorb the culture and atmosphere himself.