Europe's oldest city of Roman ruins and hip arts scene
Plovdiv claims to be Europe's oldest continuously inhabited city, sitting on the Maritza River with an Old Town (Varosha) of mansions tumbling down a hillside. Roman amphitheater remains, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman architecture create visible strata of history. The contemporary art scene has exploded—galleries and studios nest in old quarter streets, creating a creative energy that contrasts pleasantly with the city's archaeological layers.
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