Travel Off Path: Europe's oldest city is affordable and safe, and it's Plovdiv

Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city is not in Italy or Greece, but in Bulgaria, according to the American travel publication Travel Off Path. The outlet describes Plovdiv, Bulgaria's second largest city, as not only the oldest city in Europe, but also one of its most affordable and safest destinations.

The history of continuous settlement in the area dates back more than 8,000 years, making Plovdiv over 3,000 years older than Athens, which many people mistakenly believe to be Europe's oldest city, the publication notes.

The modern city is literally built on top of ancient Roman structures. Its main pedestrian street runs above the remains of a Roman stadium, parts of which are still visible today. Plovdiv's best known landmark is the Ancient Theatre of Philippopolis, one of the world's best preserved Roman theatres. With a capacity of around 7,000 spectators, it continues to host concerts and opera performances.

Plovdiv's heritage extends well beyond the Roman era. Nebet Tepe, one of the city's hills, preserves prehistoric remains dating to around 4000 BC, while traces of settlements from as early as the 6th millennium BC have been discovered in the area. The Ottoman period has also left its mark, with the 15th-century Dzhumaya Mosque standing in the city centre and the Sahat Tepe Clock Tower, one of the oldest clock towers in the Balkans.

Affordability is another major reason to visit, Travel Off Path writes. According to the publication, dining in Plovdiv can be up to 70% cheaper, while accommodation may cost up to 60% less than in many popular Western European cities, with several examples provided to illustrate the price differences.

At the same time, Plovdiv ranks among Europe's safest cities. Reaching it, however, is not always straightforward, the publication notes. The train journey from Sofia takes about two and a half hours, while travelling by rail from Varna on the Black Sea coast can take as long as seven hours, including transfers.

Read the full publication of Travel Off Path in the following LINK.

Edited by Ivo Ivanov