Bulgaria's capital Sofia offers a huge variety of styles and cultural opportunities, a recent feature about the city reads.

Cobined with pictures and videos, the text has been published by The Guardian and authored by Bistra Andreeva, "a literary translator, conference interpreter, culture journalist and Sofia fan".

Apart from brief descriptions of trends, there are some urban sounds to be heard as well.

Neighborhood trams rumbling in more remote areas are "not exactly romantic, but there is a certain old-world charm" to it."

Art spaces like a "real - albeit non-functioning" swimming pool located on a "charming pre-war rooftop apartment with a mind-blowing 360-degree view of the city".

The hip-hop of Itzo Hazarta, one of Bulgaria's best-known musicians in the genre, is also introduced.

"Sofia is not fashion-forward and you will rarely see avant garde or eccentric characters, but looks vary greatly, from chalga (a popular music genre based on Balkan rhythms, associated with simple lyrics and provocative clothes) to sporty and from hippy to hipster."

"Cultural and creative communities take it easy in that understated, dressed-down Berlin way (a city some people say Sofia reminds them of)."

Other peculiar pieces of Bulgaria's artistic, cultural, and social life are also on display - with issues as diverse as monuments, comedy shows, magazines, and protests.

The full article is available here.

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