In 1993 Columbia formed its first Sister City relationship with Plovdiv, Bulgaria, the second largest city in the country with a population of about 365,000 people. Plovdiv�s first settlement dates back to 500 BC, when it was known as the city of Thrace. In 341 AD Philip of Macedonia conquered the region and renamed the city Philippopolis. 

The Greeks and Romans also conquered Plovdiv, and a Roman amphitheater from the 2nd century is still in use today for outdoor theater and concerts. It is impossible to build inside the city without uncovering ancient ruins The Turks later dominated Bulgaria for approximately 500 years. Turkish domination finally ended in the late 1800�s with a Bulgarian revolt assist by the Russian military. In World War II Bulgaria sided with Germany. 

After the war, Bulgaria was one of a group of countries "given" to the Russians, and in 1946 all private property and businesses were confiscated by the new Communist government. This regime lasted until the fall of the Berlin wall in 1989.

In the "Old Town" of Plovdiv ones find narrow, winding, cobbled streets. High heels can be dangerous. Many excellent restaurants can be found in this area, however, at night it is necessary to take along a flashlight, as street lights are almost non-existent. Temperatures and climate are similar to New York.

Plovdiv is one of the three major cities in Bulgaria associated with the "blue" or "democratic," non-communist party. The other two cities are Sofia, the capital and largest city in Bulgaria, and Varna, a well known resort city on the Black Sea.

Plovdiv is home to the Bulgarian International Trade Fair. This large exhibition is held two times year--in May for consumer products, and in late September for other goods. Many countries display goods at this fair including most of the European countries, the United States, Japan, and Australia. Bulgarian companies also display their products here. The fair is a place for buying and selling, arranging trade agreements and joint ventures, investments, and other business matters.

Plovdiv is a large industrial center with various enterprises including: a foundry for non-ferrous and precious metals, a chemical industry, a fertilizer plant, textiles and garment manufacturers, and a motorcar hydraulic system plant. In addition, Plovdiv is located in the middle of the Thracia Valley, an area of intensive agricultural production. Plovdiv has a large canning factory for vegetables and fruits, a sugar production factory, and a chocolate factory. Plovdiv is also known for its good beer, which is drunk all over Bulgaria. Other industries in Plovdiv include a plant for producing typewriters, an electronics plant that makes memory devices, as well as a Coca Cola bottling company.

For those interested in sports, Plovdiv is the home of Hristo Stoichkov, the Bulgarian soccer player made famous in the 1994 World Cup. Stoichkov is also a recipient of the Gold Boot Award, which is the highest individual soccer prize in Europe.

There are several universities in Plovdiv including: the Medical University, which also includes a dental school; the University of Plovdiv; the University of Agriculture, and several other agriculture institutions which work in the field of genetics to create new types of fruits and vegetables. Plovdiv is also home to a famous "total immersion" English Language high school.