General Information

The Republic of Bulgaria is a country in the Balkans in south-eastern Europe, which borders five other countries: Romania to the north (mostly along the River Danube), Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia to the west, and Greece and Turkey to the south and the Black Sea to the east. The total area is 110.994 km?.  The capital and the biggest town is Sofia.

In Bulgaria there are four seasons. Bulgaria features notable diversity with the landscape ranging from the Alpine snow-capped peaks in Rila, Pirin and the Balkan Mountains to the mild and sunny Black Sea coast. From the typically continental Danubian Plain in the north to the strong Mediterranean climatic influence in the valleys of Macedonia and in the lowlands in the southernmost parts of Thrace. Bulgaria has a temperate climate, with cold winters and hot summers. The barrier effect of the Balkan Mountains has some influence on climate throughout the country: northern Bulgaria experiences colder temperatures and receives more rain than the southern lowlands. The average temperature is 13?C.

Bulgarian is the official language of Bulgaria, also is one of the official languages of the European Union.

Bulgaria is a democratic, unitary parliamentary republic. It is a member of the European Union, NATO, United Nations, OSCE and the European Council.

The actual president is Georgi Purvanov and the prime minister is Boyko Borisov.

The national currency is Lev (BGN). 1 Lev=100 stotinki.

Bulgaria has an industrialised, open free market economy.

Since 1999, Bulgaria has consisted of twenty-eight provinces. All take their names from their respective capital cities. The provinces are divided into municipalities.

In 2008 has a population of 7.322.858 inhabitants and the density is 67.9 inhabitants/km?. 98.2% of the population is literate. Main ethnic groups in the country: Bulgarians 83.9%, Turks 9.4%, Gypsies 4.7% and small groups of Armenians, Jews, Russians and Karakachan.

Since 865 Bulgaria has traditionally been a Christian nation, with a large majority of Bulgarians belonging to the Bulgarian Orthodox church. Orthodox 82.6%, Muslim 12.2%, Catholic 0.6%, Protestant 0.5%, others atheists and 4.1% undeclared.

In comparison with the neighbors, in Bulgaria the religions coexist peacefully. The capital is reputed to be very tolerant and in fact, the church of St. Nedelya, the Banya Bashi mosque and the synagogue of Sofia are just a few meters distance in between.

A number of ancient civilizations, most notably the Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Slavs, and Bulgars, have left their mark on the culture, history and heritage of Bulgaria. Bulgaria has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites:

·         The early medieval large rock relief Madara Rider

·         Two Thracian tombs (in Sveshtari and Kazanlak)

·         The Boyana Church

·         The Rila Monastery and the Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo

·         Pirin National Park and Sreburna Nature Reserve

·         The ancient city of Nessebar.