Plovdiv Old Town

Plovdiv's Old Town spreads across the hills of Dzhambaz, Nebet and Taksim. With traces of settlement from the 6th millennium BC, Plovdiv is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and it belonged in turn to Thracian, Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, Bulgarian and Ottoman realms. The Roman Theatre dates from the 1st century AD, probably under Emperor Domitian, held between 5,000 and 7,000 spectators depending on the source, and is used for performances again in summer. Remains of the Roman stadium also survive.

The townscape is shaped by the "Plovdiv houses" of the Bulgarian National Revival in the 19th century, built symmetrically with an oval hall and four corner rooms. Allow half a day for a walk around the hills. The streets are steep and cobbled, so wear non-slip shoes. Visitor information points are found in the Old Town itself.