The capital of Bulgaria is Sofia. This honorable status was given to the city in 1879, after the end of the Russo-Turkish war and Bulgaria's gaining autonomy. Now it is the center of the same city area and administrative education (community) Stolichna.

In those days when part of the local lands (including Sofia) were one of the Roman provinces, Thrace, the city was called Serdika. Then the capital of Bulgaria was Pliska. In the 9th century, when the Bulgarian state is being formed, the city is renamed Sredets, and the capital moves to Preslav.

A little later Sredets starts calling Sophia, in honor of the Cathedral of St. Sophia, built here in the 4th century. Later, by the beginning of the 15th century, this name became official. Well, Bulgaria by this time broke up into two states with capitals in Veliko Tarnovo and Vidin.

In 1878, after the end of the Russo-Turkish war and gaining part of Bulgaria's autonomy, the city again became Sredets. Soon, at the request of the Provisional Russian government, he was given the name Sophia, and in 1879 was proclaimed the capital.