Stara Zagora

Stara Zagora, located in the Upper Thracian Plain of Bulgaria, is an archaeologically rich site with continuous human occupation from the Neolithic period to the present. The earliest traces of civilization date back to the 7th millennium BCE, with substantial evidence of Neolithic and Chalcolithic settlements, including Europe's oldest copper factory. The city, originally named Beroe, was founded by Philip II of Macedon in the 4th century BCE and later became a significant Roman city known as Ulpia Augusta Traiana. It played a crucial role in the Roman Empire as a cultural and economic center. The site experienced various periods of destruction and rebuilding, notably by the Goths in 250 CE and Irene of Athens in the 8th century CE, before falling to the Ottoman Empire in the 14th century. The city's rich history is reflected in its diverse archaeological features, including defensive walls, religious structures, and industrial sites.