Views and details from a suite at the Sofia Hotel Balkan
Since was built in 1956 , in the time of Comrade Todor Zhivkov, royals, heads of state and movie stars have carefully drawn back the heavy curtains of the Sofia Hotel Balkan to take to the streets of the bulgarian capital, adorned by the catenaries of the tram.
Now we do it in one of its silent 184 rooms, After delighting ourselves with that mixture of history and luxury that they handle in these parts. Long corridors carpeted with Soviet echoes, Italian marble, cherry doors, Biedermeier furniture, Byredo amenities in the bathroom and an orthodox bible on the bedside table greet us.
From the window we contemplate roman ruins that surround us: the foundations of this emblematic building, part of the Palacio del Presidente complex, they are erected on a fortress from the time of Trajan which was built, in turn, on a Thracian settlement.
The green domes of the medieval church of St. Nedelya also invite us to leave what was the first hotel in Eastern Europe managed by a western company (when it became a Sheraton in 1986) . Today it is part of The Luxury Collection, and we will not leave it without first duly delighting in its renovated and beautiful restaurant.
***** _This report was published in **number 132 of Condé Nast Traveler Magazine (October)**. Subscribe to the printed edition (11 printed issues and a digital version for €24.75, by calling 902 53 55 57 or from our website). The October issue of Condé Nast Traveler is available in its digital version to enjoy on your preferred device. _