Bulgaria had such a grim reputation during the Communist era that it hardly conjures up images of sun, spas and roses. Now, however, adventurous travelers are discovering what eastern Europeans have known for millennia: Bulgaria is a great place to sightsee and relax, from its sunny Black Sea resorts and charming old towns and cities, to its pastoral valleys and stunning mountain-enclosed monasteries.
The country is rich in history and is home to nine UNESCO World Heritage sites, including Thracian tombs and a Roman theater. The capital city, Sofia, has been a center of Christianity since the Roman Empire.
Bulgaria also contains reserves of minerals and marble, which may serve it well in the capitalist economy. But even as Bulgaria modernizes, visitors can still discover older corners of the country, where the modern world gives way to the old and traditions from ancient times still remain a part of everyday life.
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