Serdica

Welcome to the bustling heart of Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria. You are standing at a unique intersection of time and urban engineering, right at the entrance of the Serdica II Metro Station. …

Step off the modern tiles and place your feet onto the massive, irregular stone slabs of the Decumanus Maximus. This was the main east-west street of ancient Serdica, the central artery of commerce, politics, and daily life. …

As we veer off the main street, we enter the remnants of a large building complex that showcases one of the most famous aspects of Roman engineering: the thermae, or public baths. Sofia was originally settled in prehistoric times…

Moving further into the complex, we arrive at the residential quarter, featuring the foundations of several large, wealthy patrician houses. The size of these domestic footprints indicates that this was a highly affluent…

Before we conclude our walk through the ruins, direct your attention to the deep, stone-lined channels running parallel to the streets and beneath the foundations of the houses. What you are looking at is the highly sophisticated…

As we step back onto the polished modern tiles of the Serdica Metro Station, leaving the uneven stones of the Decumanus Maximus behind, take a final look over the railing at the illuminated ruins. The Ancient Serdica…