Editing Plovdiv (section)

==Main sights==
The city has more than 200 archaeological sites,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Balabanov |first=G. |title=This is Bulgaria |location=Sofia |page=371 |language=bg, en |isbn=954-91672-1-6 |year=2005 }}</ref> 30 of which are of national importance. There are many remains from antiquity. Plovdiv is among the few cities with two ancient theatres; remains of the medieval walls and towers; Ottoman baths and mosques; a well-preserved old quarter from the National Revival period with beautiful houses; churches; and narrow paved streets. There are numerous museums, art, galleries and cultural institutions. Plovdiv is host to musical, theatrical, and film events. The [[Knyaz Alexander I Street]] is the main street in Plovdiv.

The city is a starting point for trips to places in the region, such as the [[Bachkovo Monastery]] at {{convert|30|km|0|abbr=on}} to the south, the ski-resort [[Pamporovo]] at {{convert|90|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} to the south or the [[spa resort]]s to the north [[Hisarya]], [[Banya, Plovdiv Province|Banya]], Krasnovo, and [[Strelcha]].<ref name="autogenerated3">{{Cite book|last=Balabanov |first=G. |title=This is Bulgaria |location=Sofia |page=395 |language=bg, en |isbn=954-91672-1-6 |year=2005}}</ref>

===Roman City===
{{Location map many|Bulgaria Plovdiv city centre
| width        = 300px
| caption      = Ancient monuments in Plovdiv
| alt          = Ancient monuments in Plovdiv
<!-- -->
| label1       = [[Plovdiv Roman theatre|Theatre]]
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| position1    = 
| mark1        = Museum black icon.svg
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| long1        = 24.751169
<!-- -->
| label2       = [[Nebet Tepe]]
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| long2        = 24.752182
<!-- -->
| label3       = [[Hisar Kapia]]
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| position3    = 
| mark3        = CL_icon.svg
| mark3size    = 15
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<!-- -->
| label4       = [[Eastern gate of Philippopolis (Plovdiv)|Eastern Gate]]
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<!-- -->
| label5       = [[Plovdiv Roman Stadium|Stadium]]
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| mark5        = Museum black icon.svg
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| lat5         = 42.147568
| long5        = 24.748018
<!-- -->
| label6       = [[Great Basilica, Plovdiv|Great Basilica]]
| label6_size  = 70
| position6    = 
| mark6        = Museum black icon.svg
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<!-- -->
| label7       = [[Small Basilica, Plovdiv|Small Basilica]]
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<!-- -->
| label8       = [[Roman Forum (Plovdiv)|Forum]]
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<!-- -->
| label9       = [[Odeon of Philippopolis|Odeon]]
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<!-- -->
| label10      = [[Ancient library (Plovdiv)|Library]]
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<!-- -->
| label11      = [[Synagogue of Philippopolis|Synagogue]]
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<!-- -->
| label12      = [[Eirene Residence (Plovdiv)|Eirene Residence]]
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The [[Plovdiv Roman theatre|Ancient theatre (Antichen teatur)]] is probably the best-known monument from [[classical antiquity|antiquity]] in Bulgaria.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.purebulgaria.com/bg_version/cities.php?city_id=165 |title=Античен театър – Пловдив, информация за градове, региони, забележителности:: |publisher=PureBulgaria |date=9 April 2009 |access-date=8 July 2009 |archive-date=4 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080704082650/http://www.purebulgaria.com/bg_version/cities.php?city_id=165 |url-status=live }}</ref> During recent archaeological survey, an inscription was found on a postament of a statue at the theatre. It revealed that the site was constructed at the 90s of the 1st century CE. The inscription itself refers to Titus Flavius Cotis, the ruler of the ancient city during the reign of Emperor Domitian.

The Ancient theatre is situated in the natural saddle between two of the Three Hills. It is divided into two parts with 14 rows each divided with a horizontal lane. The theatre could accommodate up to 7,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ideabg.com/clients/oldtown/en/mesta/antichen.php |title=The Ancient theatre |publisher=Ideabg.com |access-date=7 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017044044/http://ideabg.com/clients/oldtown/en/mesta/antichen.php |archive-date=17 October 2010  }}</ref> The three-story scene is on the southern part and is decorated with [[frieze]]s, cornices, and statues. The theatre was studied, conserved, and restored between 1968 and 1984. Many events are still held on the scene<ref>{{Cite book |title=Пътеводител България |publisher=ТАНГРА ТанНакРа ИК |location=София |page=140 |language=bg |isbn=954-9942-32-5 |year=2002 |author=avtori Evgeni Dinchev ...|display-authors=etal}}</ref> including the Opera Festival Opera Open, the Rock Festival Sounds of the Ages, and the International Folklore festival. The Roman Odeon was restored in 2004.<ref>[http://www.plovdivsite.hit.bg/index_files/Page1308.htm The Roman odeon] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025224250/http://www.plovdivsite.hit.bg/index_files/Page1308.htm |date=25 October 2014 }}.</ref> It was built in the 2nd–5th centuries and is the second (and smaller) antique [[Odeon of Philippopolis|theatre of Philipopolis]] with 350 seats. It was initially built as a bulevterion, an edifice of the city council, and was later reconstructed as a theatre.

The [[Plovdiv Roman Stadium|Ancient Stadium]]<ref>[http://ancient-stadium-plovdiv.eu/?p=12&l=2 The Ancient stadium of Philippopolis] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414210531/http://ancient-stadium-plovdiv.eu/?p=12&l=2 |date=14 April 2016 }}</ref> is another important monument of the ancient city. It was built in the 2nd century during the reign of the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] Emperor [[Hadrian]]. It is situated between Danov Hill and one of the Three Hills, beneath the main street from Dzhumaya Square to Kamenitsa Square. It was modelled after the stadium in [[Delphi]]. It was approximately {{convert|240|m|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|50|m|abbr=off}} wide, and could seat up to 30,000 spectators. The athletic games at the stadium were organised by the General Assembly of the province of Thrace. In their honour, the royal mint of Philippopolis coined money featuring the face of the ruling emperor as well as the types of athletic events held in the stadium. Only a small part of the northern section with 14 seat rows can be seen today; the larger part lies under the main street and a number of buildings.

[[Roman Forum (Plovdiv)|The Roman forum]] dates from the reign of [[Vespasian]] in the 1st century and was finished in the 2nd century. It is near the modern post office next to the Odeon. It has an area of 11 hectares and was surrounded by shops and public buildings. The forum was a focal point of the streets of the ancient city.<ref name="ppdv">{{Cite book |title=Пътеводител България |publisher=ТАНГРА ТанНакРа ИК |location=София |page=138 |language=bg |isbn=954-9942-32-5 |year=2002 |author=avtori Evgeni Dinchev ...|display-authors=etal}}</ref>

The [[Eirene Residence (Plovdiv)|Eirene Residence]] is in the southern part of the Three Hills on the northern part of an ancient street in the Archeological underpass. It includes remains of a public building from the 3rd–4th centuries which belonged to a noble citizen. Eirene is the Christian name for Penelopa, a maiden from Megadon, who was converted to Christianity in the 2nd century. There are colourful mosaics which have geometrical forms and figures.<ref>[https://archive.today/20141108121902/http://www.plovdivsite.hit.bg/index_files/Page910.htm Eirene Archaeological complex].</ref>

On [[Nebet Tepe|Nebet hill]] are the remains of the first settlement which in 12th century BCE grew to the [[Thrace|Thracian]] city of Eumolpias, one of the first cities in Southeastern Europe. Massive walls surrounding a temple and a palace have been excavated. The oldest part of the fortress was constructed from large syenite blocks, the so-called "cyclopean construction".
<gallery mode="packed-hover" class="center" caption="Ancient monuments">
File:Bulgaria Bulgaria-0785 - Roman Theatre of Philippopolis (7432772486).jpg|[[Plovdiv Roman theatre|Theatre]]
File:Roman stadium.jpg|Roman stadium
File:Odeon plovdiv.jpg|[[Odeon of Philippopolis|Odeon]]
File:Plovdiv forum panorama.jpg|[[Roman Forum (Plovdiv)|Forum]]
File:The Bishop`s basilica.jpg|The Bishop's basilica of Phiippopolis
File:Bazilika golyama2.jpg|[[Great Basilica, Plovdiv|Bishop basilica]]
File:Small basilica.jpg|[[Small Basilica, Plovdiv|Small basilica]]
File:Small basilica1.jpg|Small basilica
File:Round tower plovdiv.jpg|3rd century round tower
File:Eirene mosaics5.jpg|Mosaics in [[Eirene Residence (Plovdiv)|Eirene residence]]
File:Wodo.jpg|Aqueduct
File:Plovdiv6.jpg|Nebet tepe
</gallery>

===Museums and protected sites===
The Archaeological Museum was established in 1882 as the People's Museum of [[Eastern Rumelia]].<ref>[http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=main&prm=welcome Archaeological Museum Plovdiv] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018015407/http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=main&prm=welcome |date=18 October 2006 }}</ref> In 1928 the museum was moved to a 19th-century edifice on Saedinenie Square built by Plovdiv architect [[Josef Schnitter]]. The museum contains a rich collection of Thracian art. The three sections "Prehistory",<ref>[http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=prehist Archaeological Museum Plovdiv – Prehistoric art]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418041917/http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=prehist |date=18 April 2008 }}</ref> "Antiquity",<ref>[http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=roman Archaeological Museum Plovdiv – Roman art]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004220700/http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=roman |date=4 October 2008 }}</ref> and "Middle Ages"<ref>[http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=medieval Archaeological Museum Plovdiv – Middle Ages art]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004220639/http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=medieval |date=4 October 2008 }}</ref> contain precious artifacts from the [[Paleolithic]] to the early Ottoman period (15th–16th centuries).<ref name="mus">[http://www.plovdivsite.hit.bg/index_files/Page1719.htm Museums of Plovdiv] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026003333/http://www.plovdivsite.hit.bg/index_files/Page1719.htm |date=26 October 2014 }}.</ref> The famous [[Panagyurishte treasure]] is part of the museum's collection.<ref>[http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=thracian Archaeological Museum Plovdiv – Panagyurishte treasure]. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006141314/http://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org/_bg/?id=collection&prm=thracian |date=6 October 2008 }}</ref>

The [[Plovdiv Regional Historical Museum]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://historymuseumplovdiv.com/?lang_id=2 |title=Plovdiv Regional Historical Museum |publisher=Historymuseumplovdiv.com |access-date=7 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317200133/http://historymuseumplovdiv.com/?lang_id=2 |archive-date=17 March 2011  }}</ref> was founded in 1951 as a scientific and cultural institute for collecting, saving, and researching historical evidence about Plovdiv and the surrounding region from 16th to 20th centuries. The exhibition is situated in three buildings.<ref name="mus"/>

The [[Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum]] was inaugurated in 1917. On 14 October 1943, it was moved to a house in the Old Town. In 1949 the Municipal House-museum was reorganized as a People's Ethnographic Museum and in 1962 it was renovated. There are more than 40,000 objects.<ref name="mus"/>

The Museum of Natural Science was inaugurated in 1955 in the old edifice of the Plovdiv Municipality built in 1880. It is among the most important museums in the country with rich collections in its [[Paleontology]], [[Mineralogy]], and [[Botany|Botanic]] sections. There are several rooms for wildlife and it contains Bulgaria's largest freshwater aquarium with 40 fish species.<ref name="mus"/> It has a collection of minerals from the [[Rhodope mountains]].

The Museum of Aviation was established on 21 September 1991 on the territory of the Krumovo airbase<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.infoplovdiv.com/bg/catalog/profile/23/98/104/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209203451/http://www.infoplovdiv.com/bg/catalog/profile/23/98/104/index.html |archive-date=9 December 2019 |title=Museum of Aviation |publisher=Infoplovdiv |date=16 February 2008 |access-date=7 January 2011 }}</ref> {{convert|12|km|0|abbr=on}} to the southeast of the city. The museum possesses 59 aircraft and indoor and outdoor exhibitions.<ref name="mus"/>

The Old Town of Plovdiv is a historic preservation site known for its Bulgarian Renaissance architectural style. The Old Town covers the area of the three central hills (Трихълмие, ''Trihalmie''). Almost every house in the Old Town has its characteristic exterior and interior decoration.
<gallery mode="packed-hover" class="center" caption="The Old Town">
File:Old town Plovdiv2.jpg|Balabanov house
File:Old town3.jpg|Lamartine House
File:Old town14.jpg|[[Church of St Constantine and Helena]]
File:Klianti.jpg|Klianti House
File:Old town Plovdiv.jpg|Old town
File:Old town of Plovdiv.jpg|Street of Old town
File:Bulgaria Bulgaria-0743 - Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum (7432394622).jpg|[[Plovdiv Regional Ethnographic Museum]]
File:Old town Plovdiv4.jpg|Old town
File:Old town Plovdiv1.jpg|Old town - Plovdiv
File:Old town georgiadi.jpg|[[Plovdiv Regional Historical Museum]]
File:Casa Hindliyan - 01 (5641181670).jpg|[[Hindliyan House]]
File:Old town hisar kapia.jpg|Hisar gate with the ethnographical museum
</gallery>

===Churches, mosques and synagogues===
There are a number of 19th-century churches, most of which follow the distinctive [[Eastern Orthodox]] construction style. They are the Saint Constantine and Saint Helena, the Saint Marina, the Saint Nedelya, the Saint Petka, and the Holy Mother of God Churches. As the city has been a gathering center for Orthodox Christians for a long period of time, Plovdiv is surrounded by several monasteries located at the foot of the Rhodope Mountains such as "St. George", "St. Kozma and Damian", St. Kirik, and Yulita (Ulita). They remain good examples of the late Middle Age Orthodox architecture and iconography masterpieces typical for the region. There are also Roman Catholic cathedrals in Plovdiv, the [[Cathedral of St Louis, Plovdiv|Cathedral of St Louis]] being the largest. There are several more modern Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, and other Protestant churches, as well as older style [[Armenian Apostolic|Apostolic]] churches.

Two mosques remain in Plovdiv from the time of Ottoman rule. The [[Dzhumaya Mosque|Djumaya Mosque]] is considered the oldest European mosque outside Moorish Spain.

The [[Sephardic]] [[Plovdiv Synagogue]] is at Tsar Kaloyan Street 13 in the remnants of a small courtyard in what was once a large Jewish quarter. Dating to the 19th century, it is one of the best-preserved examples of the so-called "Ottoman-style" synagogues in the Balkans. According to author Ruth E. Gruber, the interior of the [[Plovdiv Synagogue]] is a "hidden treasure...a glorious, if run-down, burst of color." An exquisite Venetian glass chandelier hangs from the center of the ceiling, which has a richly painted dome. All surfaces are covered in elaborate, Moorish-style, geometric designs in once-bright greens and blues. Torah scrolls are kept in the gilded Aron-ha-Kodesh.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.heritageabroad.gov/projects/bulgaria2.html |title=Synagogue of Plovdiv, Bulgaria |publisher=Heritageabroad.gov |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=14 June 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090907192519/http://www.heritageabroad.gov/projects/bulgaria2.html |archive-date=7 September 2009  }}</ref>