Golden domes beneath Mount Vitosha
Sofia is an easygoing capital where layers of history lie close together: Roman streets are exposed beside the metro, a 4th-century rotunda hides in a courtyard and Ottoman mosques stand near Orthodox churches. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the city's landmark. Walk Vitosha Boulevard, visit the medieval frescoes of Boyana Church, a UNESCO site, and escape to Vitosha Mountain for hiking or skiing. It is also the usual base for Rila Monastery.