Sofia ( SOH-fee-ə, SOF-, soh-FEE-ə; Bulgarian: Со́фия, tr. Sofija, pronounced [ˈsɔfijə] ( listen)) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. 1.3 million people live in the city and 1.7 million people live in its metropolitan area. The city is at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the western part of the country. Being in the centre of the Balkan peninsula, it is midway between the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea, and closest to the Aegean Sea.
Sofia has been an area of human habitation since at least 7000 BC. Being Bulgaria 's primate city, Sofia is a hometown of many of the major local universities, cultural institutions and commercial companies. Sofia is one of the top 10 best places for start-up business in the world, especially in information technologies. Sofia was Europe 's most affordable capital to visit in 2013.
