<strong>Emerging destination: </strong>Bulgaria's Plovdiv remains relatively unknown to most travelers, but it's beginning to feature on more and more Balkan itineraries -- and for good reason. It's also set to become the European Capital of Culture for 2019.
Emerging destination: Bulgaria's Plovdiv remains relatively unknown to most travelers, but it's beginning to feature on more and more Balkan itineraries -- and for good reason. It's also set to become the European Capital of Culture for 2019.
Pixabay/Creative Commons
<strong>Old town: </strong>Plovdiv's old town, with its winding cobbled streets and elegant revival-era townhouses, is perfect for leisurely evening strolls and people watching.
Old town: Plovdiv's old town, with its winding cobbled streets and elegant revival-era townhouses, is perfect for leisurely evening strolls and people watching.
Plovdiv Tourism Board
<strong>Feet first: </strong>Plovdiv boasts the longest vehicle-free pedestrian zone in Europe, stretching for 5,740 feet (1,750 meters), from the banks of the Maritsa River to a large piazza opposite the communist-era post office.
Feet first: Plovdiv boasts the longest vehicle-free pedestrian zone in Europe, stretching for 5,740 feet (1,750 meters), from the banks of the Maritsa River to a large piazza opposite the communist-era post office.
Plovdiv Tourism Board
<strong>Mavrud wine: </strong>Bulgarians are proud of their ancient winemaking tradition, and Bulgarian cuisine, with its Turkish, Greek and Slavic influences, provides the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of local mavrud.
Mavrud wine: Bulgarians are proud of their ancient winemaking tradition, and Bulgarian cuisine, with its Turkish, Greek and Slavic influences, provides the perfect accompaniment to a bottle of local mavrud.
Plovdiv Tourism Board
<strong>Rhodope mountains: </strong>The lush and beautiful Rhodope mountains are a short drive south of the city and offer endless opportunities for hiking, cycling and village-hopping.
Rhodope mountains: The lush and beautiful Rhodope mountains are a short drive south of the city and offer endless opportunities for hiking, cycling and village-hopping.
Courtesy Emmanuel Eragne/Flickr,Creative Commons
<strong>Show time: </strong>Plovdiv's ancient theater was built around 90 AD, when the city was an important Roman frontier town called Philippopolis.
Show time: Plovdiv's ancient theater was built around 90 AD, when the city was an important Roman frontier town called Philippopolis.
Plovdiv Tourism Board
<strong>Big reveal: </strong>As recently as the 1970s, nobody knew a Roman theater was lying dormant beneath one of Plovdiv's hills -- but after a landslide uncovered it, it was expertly restored to its former magnificence.
Big reveal: As recently as the 1970s, nobody knew a Roman theater was lying dormant beneath one of Plovdiv's hills -- but after a landslide uncovered it, it was expertly restored to its former magnificence.
Pixabay/Creative Commons