The capital of Bulgaria is its largest city with a population of 1.9 million. It impresses visitors with its stylish buildings, modern shopping boulevards, as well as its pretty, narrow streets. In the center of Sofia, visitors can see ruins dating back to the time of the Roman Empire, as well as impressive monuments, among them, the biggest church on the Balkan Peninsula, the St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral with its famed gilt domes. With numerous concert halls, an opera, cinemas and theatres Sofia is the heart of the country's cultural life.