The city of Sofia is situated in the western part of Bulgaria, in the centre of the Balkan peninsula, at reasonable distances from the capitals of the other Balkan states. It has a paramount importance for the transport and communication relations on the Balkans. In Sofia converge the two main highways of the country - “Hemus” and “Thrace”, which facilitates the the transport and economic relationships with the Upper Thracian valley, north-western, north and central parts of Bulgaria. The city quarters are built-up along the terraces of the Vladayska, Perlovska and Suhodolska rivers – all of them tributaries of the Iskar river. Near the city the Pancharevo lake is situated, as well as the Iskar dam, with the Iskar river flowing through its eastern part. There are several places and buildings, which compete for the right to be the emblem of the city. Most visited is the historical cathedral “St. Alexander Nevsky”. It is the centre of the patriarchate of the Independent Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Another landmark near the cathedral is the monument to the Unknown Soldier with the eternal fire. On the same circus is situated the church “St. Sofia”, dating back to the IV – VI century A.D. A special place of interest for all the visitors of the city are the mountains, surrounding the Sofia field. The Vitosha, Lyulin and Plana mountains, which abound in places worth seeing. The Lyulin mountain is just 3 kilometres to the south-west from the capital city. In fact it is already an integral part of the city and the perfect place for outings, picnics and walks. The Bosnovi glades are the most enticing place in the whole mountain. The Plana mountain on the other hand offers lovely sights for the tourists. The city of Sofia is rapidly growing and enhancing its position as the largest demographic, economic and cultural centre of the country. Nowadays it is taking up most of the Sofia valley. The lack of a big river is compensated for with the existence of the beautiful Pancharevo lake and the small dams and water channels in the neighbourhoods. Perlovska and Vladayska are the only bigger rivers, that cross the city. The region of Sofia is distinguished with its profuse abundance in natural resources, historical and cultural landmarks and opportunities for relaxation and tourism. The majestic and imposing Vitosha mountain, the most visited Bulgarian mountain, towers above the city. It offers wonderful tourist centres with extremely well-tended ski trails and facilities, such as the mountain hostel “Aleko” or “Zlatnite mostove” (the Golden Bridges), as well as extraordinary natural phenomena like the Boyana waterfall, stone rivers and the “Duhlata” cave – the longest cave in entire Bulgaria. The first entertainment park in Bulgaria, and one of the biggest in South-east Europe, the Sofia zoo provide for the amusement of the many tourists. The night life is intensive, with plenty of night clubs and bars. The town of Bankya is a renowned rehabilitation resort. It is situated 17 kilometres to the west of the city of Sofia. The town is spreading on the green flanks of the Lyulin mountain, surrounded from south and west by picturesque parks and gardens. The town of Bankya is located at 630 – 640 metres altitude. The balneological and therapeutic resort of Bankya is of international importance and a national centre for rehabilitation of people suffering from cardio-vascular diseases. It offers excellent accommodation. The local climate, enticing nature, the curative properties of the mineral water and the rich sanatorium facilities with highly-qualified medical staff determine the development of the town of Bankya as a prestigious national and international resort and an ecological reserve near the capital city of Sofia. The flat parts of the Sofia valley, now cultivated, have a great number of herbaceous species. The multitude of museums, churches, archaeological and historical monuments in the capital city of Sofia, as well as the great number of monasteries on the territory of the Sofia region, like the Dragalevski, Vakarelski, Pancharevski, Cladnishki, Vladaysky, do offer the opportunity to touch upon the interesting and rich historic past of Bulgaria. The region is home to the church of Boyana, entered in the World\\\'s Cultural Heritage list of UNESCO.
