Silistra

Silistra is a port on the Danube in northeastern Bulgaria. It is the administrative centre of homonymous Silistra Municipality and District. The distance to Ruse is 120 km and to Sofia 480 km.

The ancient Durostorum or Dorostorum (the today’s Silistra) was built as a Roman fortress in 29 AD. It became an important military centre of Moesia and grew into a “municipium” (city) at the time of Marcus Aurelius. The Roman general Flavius Aëtius was born here in 396. After the Roman Empire split into the Eastern and Western empires, the town became part of the Byzantine Empire. During the First Bulgarian Kingdom Durostolon became known as Drastar in Medieval times. Between 11th and 12th century Drastar was the capital city of Northern Bulgaria.

Today, in Silistra, there are ruins of the Roman fortress Durostorum and also Roman Tomb (of 4th century), 15 km Roman road and the Ottoman Medzhidi tabia fortress (built by a German architect in 1839-1853, in south part of the town).

Silistra is a major industrial, transportation, cultural and educational centrе of northeastern Bulgaria.

At the heart of the local economy are agriculture (apricots), mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, textiles, furniture, food and brick-making.

The traces of the past are to be found in the Architectural and archeological open air exibition "Durostorum - Drastar - Silistra" in the centre of town. Тhe "Patriarchal Basilica" built for the first Bulgarian Bishop Damian was recently revealed. The St. St. Peter and Paul Church was built in 1862.

The cultural institutions are: Theatre, Historical Museum, Archaeological Museum, Ethnographic Museum (the culture of South Dobrudzha in 19th and 20th c.), Art Gallery (in an impressive building of Late Secession style), Community centre etc.

The Srebarna (or Sreburna) Lake (Silver Lake) is situated in the proximity of Silistra (16 km), near the village of Srebarna. The lake is declared a biosphere reserve of world importance in the List of UNESCO, category A: this category includes only 16 more such sites in the world. It is the main “stop" of the Via Pontiсa: the road of the birds of passage between North Europe and Central Africa. The depth is between 1 and 3 m. Its plants are rarity in Europe. Over 179 species of birds nest here. Few globally threatened animals live here. There is a Museum and an Ecological station.

In the proximity is also the natural reserve “Karakuz” which is an ideal place for hunting.

The local government made plans:

• to develop recreational, rural, eco, cultural, historical and religious tourism;
• to preserve folklore and traditions;
• to construct a bridge over the Danube and to ensure direct connection with Turnu Magurele (Romania).

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silistra