Plovdiv is located in the South central part of Bulgaria. It is the second largest city in the country not only because of its 360,000 inhabitants but also because of its economic and cultural importance. The town is picturesquely situated on both banks of the sluggish river Maritza, among a number of rocky hills which rise unexpectedly from the middle of a vast flat plain.

It is very much a city of two halves - an old and a new one. The first is a parade of antiques and in the new part are hold city`s arts festivals and trade fairs which rival even Sofia`s in number.

It has a key position on important roads. Plovdiv lies on the international Vienna - Belgrade - Sofia - Istanbul highway and is also on the Paris - Istanbul railway line.

Plovdiv has always been developing on a large scale. It is an atmospheric city throughout the year and one of the most attractive and vibrant centres in the country.