The capital of Bulgaria - Sofia (1.2 million) is known to be one of the oldest cities in Europe . Founded thousands of years ago, today it tells stories of ancient times whose remnants can still be seen today. Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica, named after the Thracian tribe Serdi. Around 500 BC another tribe settled in the region, the Odrysi, known as an ethnos with their own kingdom. Around AD 29, Sofia was conquered by the Romans and renamed Ulpia Serdica.

Serdica was of moderate size, but magnificent as urban concept of planning and architecture, with abundant amusements and active social life. The city was destroyed by the Huns in 447 but was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian I and renamed Triaditsa. It flourished during the reign of Justinian I, when it was surrounded with great fortress walls whose remains are still visible today.

Sofia first became part of the First Bulgarian Empire during the reign of Khan Krum in 809. Afterwards, it was known by the Slavic name Sredets and grew into an important fortress and administrative centre. From the 12th to the 14th century, Sofia was a thriving centre of trade and crafts. It was renamed Sofia (meaning "wisdom" in Greek) in 1376 after the Church of St. Sofia . However, it was called both "Sofia" and "Sredets" until the 16th century, when the new name gradually replaced the old one.

Sofia has always been considered as a place with unique and strategic location. It is situated in western Bulgaria , at the northern foot of the Vitosha mountain, in the Sofia Valley that is surrounded by mountains on all sides. Sofia 's development as a significant settlement owes much to its central position in the Balkans. The roads from Istanbul to Western Europe and those from the Mediterranean countries to the North Eastern part of Europe and Russia pass through Sofia .

During the last years, Sofia undergoes a phenomenal economic growth and the portrait of unattractive post-communist city fades away, being replaced by the image of a modern most contemporary place for living and business.

In the previous few years Sofia has become a very attractive place for investors and a significant share of the foreign finances turning to Bulgaria are directed to the capital. Today Sofia is a cosmopolitan city and the country` s economic center. In Sofia are located the administrations of the President, the Bulgarian Government, the Bulgarian Parliament. Here are concentrated the headquarters of all public administrative authorities, the Supreme courts, Bulgarian and international financial and bank institutions and also the head offices of a great number of foreign and local companies and organizations.

Sofia is also Bulgaria 's main international convention centre. Bulgarian State Tourism Agency will promote abroad the potential of the Bulgarian capital to host conferences and organize seminars and corporate functions. Sofia offers 1600-bed capacity of five-star hotels Sheraton, Radisson SAS, Hilton, Kempinski, Holiday Inn and locals Grand hotel Sofia, Anel can generate up to 400 000 overnights annually and accommodate some 180 000 guests. There are more hotels in Sofia , most of which have a rating of three and four stars. According to the Sofia Tourism Board, the Bulgaria capital welcomes 5.6 mln tourists annually, including 1.5 mln foreigners.

Sofia does not sleep. Sleeping would not occur to you either, if you embark on the exciting nightlife which could be compared to that in some Western European capitals. Plenty of bars, discos, casinos and many restaurants are concentrated in the city centre, able to meet each visitor's requirements. Guests who love arts will be enchanted by the ballet, opera and theatre performances.

NPC

The National Palace of Culture is the most impressive multifunctional complex in South-East Europe perfectly equipped for realizing prestigious events of the whole range of cultural and social-economic life. The National Palace of Culture (NPC) is the largest congress and exhibition centre in Bulgaria . National Palace of Culture - Congress Centre, Sofia has excellent technical equipment for all kind of events: conferences, concerts, exhibitions, etc.

Its well-integrated facilities and infrastructure (opportunities for bank exchange services, restaurants, catering, and parking space, etc.) make Congress Center - Sofia the preferred venue for most local and international clients. The membership in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the International Association of Congress Palaces (AIPC) is a guarantee for the high quality of its services and it has been distinguished The World's Best Congress Centre Award in 2005.

The National Palace of Culture is situated in the capital's centre, which provides for an easy access and effective communications. There are comfortable halls to held parallel events: displays, press conferences, symposia, cocktails, etc.

Inter Expo & Congress Center is situated in the south-eastern part of Sofia only 3 km from the city airport, directly on the highway connecting Vienna and Istanbul, 6 km from the city centre and 15 minutes from the central railway station and international bus station. The exhibition complex has four exhibition pavilions, seven congress halls and open exhibition area.

Inaugurated in 2003 the Congress Center completed the possibilities of the exhibition complex Inter Expo Center in Sofia for providing the business and public with professional conditions for exhibition participation as well as for organizing different types of meetings and forums - congresses, conferences, press conferences, general meetings, symposia, seminars, presentations, trainings, companies' celebrations etc.

The efficiency of congress events enhances with the opportunity to be held together with international specialized exhibitions thus enriching their potential and guaranteeing better results due to the flow of professionals brought together under one roof.

The Congress Center offers: