Plovdiv

Monday, 23 May 2022

We started the day with another 365 Tour, a large group, but it was very good nonetheless.

Plovdiv also has pleasant pedestrian friendly streets.

A entire Roman stadium still lurks beneath the streets.  The Stadium of Philippopolis was the ancient Roman stadium of Philippopolis (modern Plovdiv), built in the 2nd century AD. At the time the stadium was built, Philippopolis was the capital of the Roman province of Thracia.  Lost for centuries as the city developed, the stadium was discovered in 1923.

Hisar Kapia is a medieval gate in Plovdiv's old town built in the 11th century AD over the foundations of a gate from Roman times (probably from the 2nd century AD). Hisar Kapia is one of the three entrances (Eastern, Northern and Southern) to the acropolis of ancient Plovdiv. During the rule of the Ottoman empire revival houses were embedded in the remains of the old stone walls around the gate.

The tour took us to the top of one of the nearby hills, site of the ancient Roman acropolis, which provided great views of the city.

The Roman theater, the Odeon of  Philippopolis, was discovered in 1988.

The reconstructed back stage provides a look at a Roman theater, which many others now lack.

The tour complete, we discover for ourselves a brewery.

Now as a monument to freedom, a piece of the Berlin Wall is found here in Plovdiv.

City Hall.

Tuesday, 24 May 2022

Today was a recharge day with no touring on the schedule, and also Gerri needed some time to review/update the coming travel plans.  Today is also Day of Bulgaria Culture and Literature, and after an early dinner we stumbled upon a traditional song and dance demonstration nearby the restaurant (Happy's again!) outside city hall. 

One last view of Dzhumaya Mosque, in a fantastic setting next to the open spaces near the Roman stadium.

Hey hey, we found another brewery, nestled within the old town area.

It's like Paris, but it's Plovdiv.