Sofia - Plovdiv: Private airport taxi transfer

Plovdiv is the second largest and most important city in Bulgaria. It is located in the middle of the Upper Thracian lowland on both banks of the Maritsa river on six syenite hills. It is located at an important international crossroads that connects the East with the West. The beautiful location of the city gives it a unique charm. Already in antiquity, Herodotus and Lucian noted it in their writings as "a city that shines from afar". Descriptions of Plovdiv are always associated with Maritsa's name. 

The six hills rise on the right bank of the Maritsa River. The three hills (Trimontium) consists of Nebet Tepe (hill of the guard). Jambaz Tepe (tightrope walker hill) and Taksim Tepe (watershed hill). The three hills were the center of the ancient culture. In the center of the city are Danov hill (Sahat tepe) with an old clock tower and the hill of the liberators (Bunardjika). The highest (286 m above sea level) and majestic is the Hill of Youth (Jendem Tepe). Every hill offers a wonderful view of the entire city. 

The first historical established name of the city was Philippopolis (city of Philip). It dates from 342 - 341, when Philip II of Macedon conquered Thrace and the Thracian settlement located here. The Thracians transcribed this name in their language into Pulpudeva. During Roman rule, the city was called Trimontium (city of the three hills). The Slavs turned the Thracian Pulpudeva into Pupulden, Puldin, and in the XVII it appeared under the name Pluvdiv. During the Ottoman rule, the city was known as Filibe. Plovdiv bears its current name since the 19th century. 

Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in our country. Remains of a Neolithic settlement dating back to the sixth millennium BC were found in one of the neighborhoods. In the same era, a settlement also existed in today's Universitetski quarter. There is evidence that it also existed during the Stone-Copper Age. In the second half of the fourth millennium BC, a settlement was also established on the three hills (on Nebet tepe). Life in these three settlements continued during the Bronze Age. From the previous excavations and studies on the territory of Trimontium and east of it, it is established that during the Iron Age there was also a Thracian settlement with fortifications on Nebet Tepe, which Philip II of Macedon rebuilt. In 46, Thrace and Philippopolis were conquered by the Romans. Roman rule lasted from the 1st to the 4th century. Then the city became one of the largest in the Roman province of Thrace. It was decorated, water-supplied, landscaped and was the center of administration of the Balkan Roman dominions. Trimontium was fortified with inner and outer fortress walls. The inner fortress wall has been preserved in many places. The springs near today's Kuklen and Markovo were captured and their waters were taken to Taksim Tepe via an aqueduct, from where they were distributed to the city's fountains. Although the remains of the Roman Trimontium are located 4-7 m deep below the constructions of the present-day city, constructions from this era have been found in many places, from which it can be seen that in its heyday in the II-III centuries, Trimontium had between the three hills and Sahat tepe stadium, which accommodated about 30 thousand spectators, ancient theater and modern bathrooms. On Jendem Tepe there was a temple of Apollo Kendresia and other deities. In the 1st-4th centuries, coins were minted in the city.