Roman Forum (Plovdiv) Roman Forum (Plovdiv) The Roman forum of Philippopolis (; , "Rimski forum na Plovdiv") is a rectangular forum (plaza) surrounded by the ruins of several ancient administrative buildings at the center of the city of Plovdiv. It was the center of public, administrative, commercial and religious life in the ancient city. Meetings, discussions, celebrations and state events were held there. The forum covers an area of 20 ha (11 ha revealed) which makes it the largest of its kind in Bulgaria. The ancient city center was built in the 1st century AD during the reign of Emperor Vespasian when ancient
History of Plovdiv the city in development of modern trade, banking and industry. In 1939 there were 16,000 craftsmen and 17,000 workers in manufacturing factories, mainly for food and tobacco processing. During the Second World War the tobacco industry expanded as well as the export of fruit and vegetables. In 1943 1,500 Jews were saved from deportation in concentration camps by the archbishop of Plovdiv Cyril who later became Bulgarian Patriarch. During the period of communist governance that followed the end of World War II many large factories were built in and nearby Plovdiv, for example a plant for non-ferrous metals, textile works,