Plovdiv is the second largest city in Bulgaria. It is located in the western part of the Upper Thracian lowland, on both banks of the Maritsa River. The city is built at the foot of six syenite hills, which is why it is often called the "City under the Hills". Plovdiv is a city of over 8000 years, whose past can be traced from prehistory to the present day. The first Neolithic settlements within the boundaries of today's city began in the VI millennium BC, and from the Stone-Copper Age (IV-III millennium BC) life in the city has not been interrupted, which ranks it among the most the ancient permanently inhabited cities of the world. Ancient monuments such as the ancient theater, the odeon, the agora (Roman forum), the Roman stadium, the late antique building "Eyrene", the episcopal basilica, the small basilica and others have been preserved. The city is the most dynamically developing center in Southern Bulgaria. Its economy is based on a well-developed diversified industry, services, tourism and information technology. Many cultural events are held in Plovdiv: the international fair, the international theater festival "Scene at the Crossroads", "Kapana Fest", "Night of Plovdiv", the music forum "Sounds of The Ages", the international folklore festival "Plovdiv" and others. Plovdiv has been chosen as European Capital of Culture for 2019 together with another European city - Matera in Italy. The motto of Plovdiv is "Ancient and eternal".