Plovdiv is situated in south-central part of Bulgaria on the two sides of the Maritsa River. The city has historically developed on seven hills, some of which are 250 meters high. Because of these hills, Plovdiv is often referred to in Bulgaria as "The City of the Seven Hills". The climate is humid subtropical with considerable humid continental influence There are four distinct seasons, with large temperature jumps between seasons being common. Summer is hot, moderately dry. Autumn starts in late September; days are long and relatively warm in early autumn. The first frost occurs on average by November. Winter is normally cold and snow is common. Spring arrives in March but that season is cooler than autumn. The frost season ends in March or in April at the latest. The days are mild and relatively warm in mid spring.
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, with a population of 341,567 inhabitants as of 2015, while 544,628 live in its urban area. It is an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational center. Plovdiv has evidence of habitation since the 6th millennium BC. There are many remains preserved from antiquity such as the ancient Plovdiv Roman theatre, Roman odeon, Roman aqueduct, Roman Stadium, the archaeological complex Eirene, and others. On 5 September 2014, Plovdiv was selected as the Bulgarian host of the European Capital of Culture 2019.