Remains of the ancient town of Serdica - Sofia, Bulgaria - Ancient Roman Civilization on Waymarking.com

"Sofia was originally a Thracian settlement called Serdica or Sardica, possibly named after the Thracian tribe Serdi that had populated it. For a short period during the 4th century B.C., the city was possessed by Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great.

Around 29 B.C., Sofia was conquered by the Romans and renamed Ulpia Serdica. It became a municipium, or centre of an administrative region, during the reign of Emperor Trajan (98-117). The city expanded, as turrets, protective walls, public baths, administrative and cult buildings, a civic basilica and a large amphitheatre called Bouleutherion, were built. When Emperor Diocletian divided the province of Dacia into Dacia Ripensis (on the banks of the Danube) and Dacia Mediterranea, Serdica became the capital of Dacia Mediterranea. The Edict of Toleration by Galerius was issued in 311 in Serdica by the Roman emperor Galerius, officially ending the Diocletianic persecution of Christianity. The Edict implicitly granted Christianity the status of "religio licita", a worship recognized and accepted by the Roman Empire. It was the first edict legalizing Christianity, preceding the Edict of Milan by two years. The city subsequently expanded for a century and a half, which caused Constantine the Great to call it "my Rome". In 343 A.D., the Council of Sardica was held in the city, in a church located where the current 6th century Church of Saint Sofia was later built.

Serdica was of moderate size, but magnificent as an urban concept of planning and architecture, with abundant amusements and an active social life. It flourished during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian I, when it was surrounded with great fortress walls whose remnants can still be seen today.

The city was destroyed by the Huns in 447, but was rebuilt by Byzantine Emperor Justinian and renamed Triaditsa. Although also often destroyed by the Slavs, the town remained under Byzantine dominion until 809."

source: (visit link)

Most Relevant Historical Period: Roman Empire > 27 B.C. Admission Fee: free Opening days/times: 24/7 Condition: Some remaining traces (ruins) or pieces Web Site: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
A complete sentence or two or an uploaded photo taken by the waymarker will be required in the log to confirm that the logger is participating in the hobby in good faith. Logs of only a few words like "Visited it" without an original photo are subject to deletion.

Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log User Rating   03/18/2023 petitsllops visited it 11/12/2022 Ulit7 visited it 04/07/2011 Bush-Rescue visited it

View all visits/logs