| Bankya Банкя |
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| Bankya, with Sofia and Vitosha Mountain in the background | |
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Bankya
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Provinces (Oblast) |
Sofia city |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Rangel Markov |
| Elevation | 695 m (2,280 ft) |
| Population (15.12.2008) | |
| • Total | 10 700 |
| Time zone | EET (UTC+2) |
| • Summer (DST) | EEST (UTC+3) |
| Postal Code | 1320 |
| Area code(s) | 02997 |
Bankya (Bulgarian: Банкя) is an upscale town and district[1] in western Bulgaria. It is administratively part of greater Sofia.
The district is famous for the mineral springs and baths that have been used for their medicinal properties for hundreds of years. Prime Minister of Bulgaria Boyko Borisov is a native. In 1969 the village of Bankya was proclaimed a town, and in 1979 it became part of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
Bankya is 10 km west of the city of Sofia. It is situated at the foot of Lyulin mountain at an average altitude of around 630–750 meters. The first people to populate the region of Bankya were Thracian tribes, over 2500 years ago. Archaeological excavations near the quarter of Ivanyane have unearthed remains of Ancient Roman buildings, walls and sewers, and bronze bracelets from the 4th–5th century. Bankya's economy depends mainly on tourism and balneological treatment.
Bankya was first mentioned as Bankya in the 15th century. The former villages of Verdikal, Gradoman and Mihaylovo are part of the town itself, while Ivanyane and Klisura are part of the municipality. Bankya's name stems from the common noun bankya, "hot spring", a diminutive of banya ("baths").[2]
Bankya Peak on Graham Land in Antarctica is named after the town.
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