A short train ride to Plovdiv this afternoon. The town was named Philipopolis (1) by Philip of Macedon (father of Alexander the Great), then called Trimontaine (Three Hills) by the Romans.
We walked to the old town and peeked at a rehearsal for the opera Orpheus, which is to be performed at the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in two days. A forum with seats for 25,000 spectators is in the city center, mostly buried under the principal shopping street. The north end is accessible and we popped down the stairs for a look at dusk. At sunset, the call to prayer sounded from the adjacent mosque.
(1) There is still a small train station north off town called Filipovo.
Ottoman Fort atop hill in Old Town
The Roman amphitheater. People on stage are rehearsing for the Opera Orpheus and Erudice
Ottoman Fort atop hill in Old Town
Ottoman era houses were taxed based in first floor footprint, so second story often extended out
The Roman amphitheater. People on stage are rehearsing for the Opera Orpheus and Erudice
The church where the Bulgarian Language was used for a service in 1859 (The official Church was Greek)
Roman Forum
This cat was not impressed to be at the old forum
Sunset from Old Town
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