Stara Zagora is one of the largest cities in Bulgaria and is also one of the oldest centers in the Balkans. Here you can see many ancient monuments from the heyday of the city under Roman rule.
The settlement in the place of Stara Zagora was founded in the Thracian times, and then it was conquered by the Romans. It reached its greatest prosperity during the reign of Marcus Aurelius, when it was one of the largest cities in Thrace and was called Ulpia Augusta Traiana.
Many interesting monuments in Stara Zagora were interrupted from the Roman period to our times. The most important attraction is the Ancient Forum of Augustus Trajan with Roman foundations and remains of the building exposed under glass. In the urban space there are also ruins of Roman streets and buildings, Roman baths, fragments of defensive walls and mosaics from the 4th century protected by a special pavilion.
In the Middle Ages and the modern era, Stara Zagora shared the fate of other Bulgarian cities conquered by successive rulers of these areas. The Turks stayed here the longest. During their reign, apart from the new urban layout, the city also gained several churches, such as the church of St. Dymitr, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary or the Church of St. Nicholas. The Mezek Fortress is also a memento of this period.
Important attractions of Stara Zagora include the local museums, including the Museum of Regional History, the Museum of Religion and the Geo Milev House-Museum. On the hill on the outskirts of the city stands the Memorial Complex of the Defenders of Stara Zagora 1877, referring to the times of the Russo-Turkish war, which brought Stara Zagora and Bulgaria liberation from the Turkish hands. A popular recreational area is the zoo which connects to the city park.
