Plovdiv is a big Bulgarian city situated on the river Maritsa in the central part of the country. In the fourth century BC there had been a fortress belonging to the Thracians, then the city came under the rule of the Romans and in the Middle Ages the Slavs settled here. Historic monuments that have survived to modern times are remnants of the rich history of the city situated on seven hills. Among the ancient monuments there are the Thracian baths, Roman amphitheater, Djumaya Mosque built in the fifteenth century, Baroque houses and the nineteenth-century Orthodox church. Tourists visiting the city can also visit museums, souvenir shops and take part in one of the numerous festivals.
