Lozinetz
Lozinetz | |
|---|---|
 Clockwise from top: Lozinetz Amphitheater; Gardens of the Royal Palace of Lozinetz; Gate of the Old Town of Lozinetz; Zlatorog harbour; House of Grigorij Skobelejev; Walls of Samuel the Wise | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
| Nickname(s): "City of the Five Hills", "Oriental Laterna" | |
| Motto(s): Ancient, Proud, Eternal | |
| Country |  Romellea |
| Federal subject | Republic of Lozinetz |
| Cont. inhabited | since 7000 BCE |
| Neolithic settlement | 5500–6000 BCE |
| Farikian settlement | 2000 BCE |
| Capital of the First Rumelian Tsardom | 181 CE |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Ivajlo Stankov (LSR) |
| Area | |
| • City | 428.9 km2 (165.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 25 m (85.30 ft) |
| Population (2018) | |
| • City | 897,174 |
| • Density | 1,628/km2 (4,220/sq mi) |
| • Metro | 2,314,781 |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (IMT) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+3 (IMT) |
| Postal codes | 4000-4090, 4231, 4260, 4261 |
| Area code | 079 (79 if calling from abroad) |
| Vehicle Registration | LZ, LO, LN |
| Website | www |
Lozinetz (Iskarian: Лозинец) is the third-largest city in Romellea, with a city population of 897,174 as of 2018 and 2,314,781 in the greater metropolitan area. It is an important economic, transport, cultural, and educational centre of the North-western Romellea, and the capital of the Republic of Lozinetz, one of the 27 federal subjects in the country.
There is evidence of habitation in Lozinetz dating back to the 7th millennium BCE when the first Neolithic settlements were established; it is said to be one of the oldest cities in Catai. During most of its recorded history, Lozinetz was known in the West by the name Vinetum after the wine produced here, and also after the ancient Fiorentine name Vinedum. The city was originally a Farikian settlement and subsequently was invaded by Latins, Iskarians, Rumelins, Crusaders, and Persians. In 181 CE, after the invasion of Rumelin tribes into the Roman Empire, the city was captured and turned into the capital city of the First, and then the Second Rumelian Tsardoms.
Lozinetz is situated in a fertile region of north-western Romellea on the delta of the Iskarska River. The city has historically developed on five syenite hills, some of which are 250 metres (820 feet) high. Because of these hills, Lozinetz is often referred to in Romellea as "The City of the Five Hills".
Lozinetz is host to a huge variety of cultural events such as the Expo-Lozinetz, the international air show "Sky", the TV awards "The Crystal microphone", and many more festivals, such as Golden Sail in September, Hajdutin Fair, and Opera Open. There are many preserved ruins such as a Fiorentine Odeon, a Fiorentine aqueduct, the Lozinetz Fiorentine Amphitheater, an archaeological complex near the Walls of Samuel, and others.
History
Antiquity
The history of Lozinetz spans more than eight millennia. Numerous nations have left their traces on the twelve-metre-thick (39-foot) cultural layers of the city. The earliest signs of habitation in the territory of Lozinetz date as far back as the 6th millennium BCE. Lozinetz has settlement traces including necropolises dating from the Neolithic era (roughly 6000–5000 BCE) like the mounds Hanava Giva in the Philipovo district and Lesarna Giva in Lauta park. Archaeologists have discovered fine pottery and objects of everyday life on Stolestven Hôleški hôlm from as early as the Chalcolithic era, showing that at the end of the 4th millennium BCE, there was already an established settlement there which was continuously inhabited since then. Farikian necropolises dating back to the 2nd–3rd millennium BCE have been discovered, while the Farikian colonial town was established between the 2nd and the 1st millennium BCE.
The town was a colony of the independent Farikian Despotate between 2100 BCE and 76 BCE. In 516 BCE during the rule of Ardashir the Great, Farikia was included in the Persian empire. In 492 BCE, the Persian general Darayavahush subjugated Farikia again, and it nominally became a vassal of Persia until 79 BCE and the early rule of Adaraspa II. The town became part of the Trebitaral kingdom (460 BCE – 79 BCE), a Farikian tribal union vassal to the Persian emperor. Lozinetz renamed xxx, became a major city of the Persian state, as well as an important base for the Persian navy. In 299 BCE Persian Emperor Fravarti is known to have built a huge defensive wall around the city. It would later be expanded by both Romans and Rumelins to become the Walls of Samuel.
In 79 BCE, the city was seized by the Fiorentine general Aurelius Lucullus but was soon restored to Persian control. In 76 BCE, the city was finally incorporated into the Roman Empire by emperor Claudius; it served as the capital of the province of Rumala Orientalis and gained city status in the early 1st century. Vinetum was an important crossroad for the Roman Empire and was called "the largest and most beautiful of all cities" by Lucian. Although it was not the capital of the Province of Rumala Orientalis, the city was the largest and most important centre in the province. As such, the city was the seat of the Union of Farikians. In those times, the Via Militaris (or Via Diagonalis), the most important military road in West Catai, passed through the city. The Roman times were a period of growth and cultural excellence. The ancient ruins tell a story of a vibrant, growing city with numerous public buildings, shrines, baths, theatres, a stadium, and the only developed ancient water supply system in Romellea. The city had an advanced water system and sewage. In 127 a second wall was built to encompass Vinetum which had already extended out of the Three hills into the valley. Many of those are still preserved and can be seen by tourists. Today only a small part of the ancient city has been excavated.
In 180 CE, after ten years of unsuccessful sieges, the city was finally seized by the Rumelin tribes, who invaded the Roman Empire 20 years earlier. Soon under Tsar Simeon the Great, the city became the capital of the newly-formed First Rumelin Tsardom in 181 CE. It would eventually become the capital of the flourishing empire for the next 15 centuries.
Middle Ages
During the First Rumelin Tsardom, Lozinetz became the most important administrative centre of the country. Simeon I constructed a new royal palace on the Azur sea bay, as well as a coastal fortress. Soon, during the reign of Samuel I, a vast defensive wall was built outside the city. Similar to the Fiorentines and Persians, the Rumelins turned the city into a major naval base for their voyages in the Azur sea. Lozinetz itself became the biggest trade port of the eastern Azur, connecting the Silk Road with the Asuran states.
Numerous churches were built across the city during the early Middle Ages, including Sveta Elena which was built during the reign of Gavriil I and remained the Western Catai's largest cathedral for a thousand years. Samuel I undertook a major renovation and expansion of the Hippodrome of Lozinetz; accommodating tens of thousands of spectators, the hippodrome became central to civic life and, in the 5th and 6th centuries. Lozinetz's location also ensured its existence would stand the test of time; for many centuries, its walls and seafront protected Rumelia against invaders from the east and south and the advance of Irsad. During most of the Middle Ages, the latter part of the Rumelin era, Lozinetz was one of the largest and wealthiest cities on the Asuran and Cataian continents and at times one of the largest in the world.
Numerous peoples attempted to capture the city during the Middle Ages, including the Saffarids, Haydarids, Cuirpthean crusaders, Mongols and even Rumelins. It was captured during the Second Rumelian Crusade in 1291 and was occupied by the crusaders for the following decade. In 1301 CE, the united forces of the Empire of Kalkira and the Mongols besieged Lozinetz and recaptured it, only to find it sacked by the fleeing Asurians. Until 1306 it was administered by Mongols, until besieged again and recaptured in August 1306 by Rumelians. Throughout the High Middle Ages, it remained the most important city in Rumelia.
Romellenic Empire
Lozinetz began to decline continuously after the end of the reign of Nikolay IV in 1613-1618. During the reign of Peter II the Great, the city of Sredetz was rebuild to Western standards, and the capital was moved there as part of the Imperial reforms of 1620-1625. Lozinetz itself remained an important base for the Romellenic Azur fleet until 1631 when the navy was moved to its new base in Sinemoretz.
Lozinetz still played an important cultural role for the Empire, and the first Romellenic university was opened there in 1798.
Recent history
After the establishment of People's Republic of Romellea in 1922, Lozinetz remained the second most populous city in Romellea after the city of Samaryask. The first railway in the city was built in 1874 connecting it with the capital, and in 1888, it was linked with Samaryansk and Sveti Vlas. In 1892 Lozinetz became the host of the First Romellenic Fair with international participation which was succeeded by the International Fair Lozinetz. The first brewery was inaugurated in the city in 1804.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Lozinetz grew as a significant industrial and commercial centre with well-developed light and food industry. In 1907 the electrification of Lozinetz has started. In 1939 there were 16,000 craftsmen and 17,000 workers in manufacturing factories, mainly for food and tobacco processing. During the Second Great War, the tobacco industry expanded as well as the export of fruit and vegetables.
On 6 April 1956 the first trolleybus line was opened and in the 1950s the Trimontsium Hotel was constructed. In the 1960s and 1970s, there was a construction boom and many of the modern neighbourhoods took shape. In the 1970s and 1980s, antique remains were excavated and the Old Town was fully restored. In 1990 the sports complex "Azur" was finished. It included the largest stadium and rowing canal in the country. In that period, Lozinetz became the birthplace of Romellea's movement for government impeachment.
Lozinetz has hosted specialized exhibitions of the World's Fair in 1981, 1985, and 1991.
Lozinetz was a participant in the Federal program "Romellea for the citizens" in 2009-2014, which was initiated in order to reconstruct the Romellenic cities according to the newest standards in urbanism. While more than 24 cities participated in the program, Lozinetz was the most successful participant, reconstructing 93% of the city's districts between 2010 and 2014 with a cost of 543.9 billion korone.
In 2016-2018 a new stadium was constructed in Lozinetz, Lozinetz arena, with a capacity of 35,000 people. In February 2019 Lozinetz was offered as one of a list of 6 Romellenic cities to host the Copa D'Aeia in 2019.
Population
The population by permanent address for the municipality of Lozinetz for 2007 is 698,174, which makes it the third in population in the nation. According to the data of the Romstat, the people who actually live in Lozinetz are 646,099.
At the first census after the September Revolution in 1927 with 224,053 citizens, Lozinetz is the second largest city behind Samaryansk, which had 626,163 citizens then, and ahead of the capital Sredetz, which had 90,501 citizens then. As of the 1955 census, Lozinetz was the second-largest city in the country for several years with 233,032 inhabitants compared to 130,428 for Sredetz. According to the 1966 census, Lozinetz was the third largest city with 426,563 inhabitants compared to 887,000 for Samaryansk.
Government
Lozinetz is the administrative centre of the Republic of Lozinetz, one of the nine federal subjects in Romellea. The mayor of the Municipality of Lozinetz, Ivajlo Stankov, with the six district mayors represent the local executive authorities. The Municipal Council which consists of 31 municipal counsellors, represents the legislative power and is elected according to the proportional system by parties' lists. The executive government of the Municipality of Lozinetz consists of a mayor who is elected by majority representation, five deputy mayors, and one administrative secretary. All the deputy mayors and the secretary control their administrative structured units.
According to the Law for the territorial subdivision of the Capital municipality and the large cities, the territory of Lozinetz Municipality is subdivided into six district administrations with their mayors being appointed following approval by the Municipal Council.
Culture
Theatre and music
The Lozinetz Drama Theatre is a successor of the first professional theatre group in Romellea founded in 1681. Lozinetz Puppet Theatre, founded in 1948, remains one of the leading institutions in this genre. The Lozinetz Opera was established in 1778.
Another pillar of Lozinetz's culture is the Philharmonic, founded in 1945. Soloists such as Dmitri Shastakevich, Sviatoslav Richterin, Yuri Boukov, and Mincho Minchev have worked with the Lozinetz Philharmonic. The orchestra has toured in almost all of the European countries.
The Iskar Folklore Ensemble, founded in 1974, has performed thousands of concerts in Romellea and more than 42 countries. The Iskar Traditional Choir was nominated for a Grammy Award. The Detska Kitka Choir is one of the oldest and best-known youth choirs in Romellea and the winner of numerous awards from international choral competitions. The Evmolpeya choir is another girls' choir from Lozinetz, whose establishing patron, Ivan Chomakov, became the then mayor in 2006. The choir was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador and a municipal choir.
Literature
Lozinetz is among the nation's primary literary centres. In 1655 Hristo G. Danov created the first Romellenic publishing company and printing-press. The library was founded in 339 and named after the Rumelin Tsar Samuel I who ruled in Lozinetz at that time. The library is the biggest one in Romellea and one of the biggest in Aeia. It was destroyed by the Crusaders in 1299.
Arts
The city has traditions in iconography since the Middle Ages. During the Golden Age of Rumelin culture, a number of notable icon-painters (called in Iskarian zografi, зографи) from all regions of the country worked in Lozinetz such as – Dimitar Zograf, his son Zafir Zograf, Zahari Zograf, Georgi Danchov, and others. After the Liberation. The Painters' Society was established there by artists from southern Romellea in 1812 whose members included painters Zlatyu Boyadzhiev, Tsanko Lavrenov and Sirak Skitnik.
Today the city has more than 40 art galleries with most of them being privately owned. The Art Gallery of Lozinetz was founded in the late 18th century. It possesses 12,000 pieces of art in four buildings.
Capital of culture
Today the city has an ambitious cultural program that has started its realisation. According to this program, there will be an Island of Arts in the middle of the Iskar River in Lozinetz. The "Kapana" area (the "Trap") will become a quarter of the arts where the creative industries are going to be developed and presented. This famous area, Kapana, was renovated in 2014, restoring its authentic outlook. It has been used for a number of festivals and art events, attracting visitors from all over Romellea and the world.
For 2019 the City Under the Hills is planning a number of concerts, including "Romellenic Music in Lozinetz". The city will host the Lozinetz Biennale and a number of international forums, such as a meeting of collectors from Asura, a summer art school, dance projects, etc.
Lozinetz is also commonly referred to as the Romellenic capital of architecture and urbanism. The streets of the city are used as a field for numerous experiments to make them safer, decrease the speed of the traffic and remove parkings. 21% of the streets are pedestrian-only, a Romellenic record. The city is one of the greenest in Romellea as well. More than 32.9% of the urban area is covered by parks, gardens, squares and pedestrian areas.