BULGARIA

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea to the east, Romania to the north, Yugoslavia and Macedonia to the west, Turkey and Greece to the south
Geographic coordinates:B 43 00 N, 25 00 E
Area: 110,910 sq km
Population: 8,612,757 (July 1996 est.)
Religions: Bulgarian Orthodox 85%, Muslim 13%, Jewish 0.8%, Roman Catholic 0.5%,
Uniate Catholic 0.2%, Protestant, Gregorian-Armenian, and other 0.5%
Type of government: emerging democracy
Capital: Sofia
Highest point: Musala 2 925 m

National Anthem

MELNIK is the smallest and one of the most romantic towns in Bulgaria.
Situated in the south-western folds of the majestic Pirin mountains, it is only 20km away from the spa resort in the town of Sandanski - the most up-to-date in the Balkans - and 186km from Sofia. Eventful and turbulent history, amazing natural scenery, healthy air, fine architecture, preserved works of ancient crafts, wines that are famous abroad...

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SOZOPOL A small town at the Black Sea coast.
The oldest Hellenic colony on the Black sea shore was founded back in the 7th century BC on a small peninsula. The city was called Apollonia. Today, lots of well conserved monuments are telling stories about the rich past and the tremendous culture of Sozopol. It's most of all, a majestic temple of Apollo, with an impressive statue of the god, made of bronze by Kalamis - one of the most famous sculptors of Athens in the 5th century BC. The medieval church of the Virgin Mary (14th century) was put in the registers of UNESCO among the important and precious monuments of world culture, because of it's iconostasis and the remarkable woodcarving made by local masters. The old town is still there with it's picturesque small streets and the old houses with the typical old Bulgarian architecture!

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Mail me at mmmitov@oocities.com