Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo Велико Търново
Town
Flag Coat of arms
Veliko Tarnovo Location of Veliko Tarnovo
Coordinates: 43°04′40″N 25°37′00″E / 43.07778°N 25.61667°E / 43.07778; 25.61667
Country	Bulgaria
Province	Veliko Tarnovo
Government
• Mayor	Daniel Panov (GERB)
Area
• Town	30.379 km2 (11.729 sq mi)
• Urban	885.3 km2 (341.8 sq mi)
Elevation	220 m (720 ft)
Population  (2022)[1]
• Town	59,166
• Urban	76,834
Demonym	Tarnovets/Tarnovka Bolyarin/Bolyarka
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+03:00 (EEST)
Postal code	5000
Area code	062
Website	veliko-tarnovo.bg/bg/

Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgarian: Велико Търново, romanized: Veliko Tŭrnovo, pronounced [vɛˈliko ˈtɤrnovo]; "Great Tarnovo") is a city in north central Bulgaria and the administrative centre of Veliko Tarnovo Province. It is the historical and cultural capital of Bulgaria.

Often referred to as the "City of the Tsars", Veliko Tarnovo is located on the Yantra River and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. The old part of the town is situated on three hills, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora, rising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian emperors and the Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cathedral, and also a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls.

Trapezitsa is known for its many churches and as the former main residence of the nobility. During the Middle Ages, the town was among the main European centres of culture and gave its name to the architecture of the Tarnovo Artistic School, painting of the Tarnovo Artistic School, and to literature. Veliko Tarnovo is an important administrative, economic, educational, and cultural centre of Northern Bulgaria.