Sofia, Bulgaria

As Eastern Europe completes the first decade of the post-communist transition process significant changes in the built form of post-communist cities are becoming increasingly evident. Yet while there is a growing literature on the specific experiences of a few Central European cities, notably Berlin, Budapest, Warsaw and Prague, much less has been written about the cities of southeastern Europe. This is regrettable as it can be argued that the dynamics of transition-induced urban change might well be more apparent in urban places of lesser primacy on the European stage such as Zagreb, Croatia, Bucharest, Romania and Sofia, Bulgaria. This paper provides a sketch of the three distinct developmental phases through which the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, has passed since the end of the 19th century, each of which is to some degree visible in the built environment of the contemporary city. Particular attention is paid to the changing geography of class differentiation in the contemporary city. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved