Simitli

Infobox Settlement
official_name = PAGENAME
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = BUL
subdivision_type1 = Provinces
(Oblast)
timezone=EET
utc_offset=+2
timezone_DST=EEST
utc_offset_DST=+3
map_caption = Location of Simitli
pushpin_

pushpin_label_position =
pushpin_map_caption =Location of Simitli
pushpin_mapsize =
leader_title =Mayor
postal_code_type =Postal Code
native_name=Симитли
|subdivision_name1=Blagoevgrad
population_total=7454|population_footnotes=
population_as_of=2005-09-13
elevation_m=323
postal_code=2730
area_code=0748
LicensePlate=E
latd=41|latm=53|lats=|latNS=N|longd=23|longm=7|longs=|longEW=E|leader_name=Apostol Apostolov

Simitli (Bulgarian: Симитли) is a small town in Blagoevgrad Province in southwestern Bulgaria. It has a population of 7,454 and is located 13 km south of Blagoevgrad.

Geography

The town of Simitli lies at the at the crossroads for the turn to Bansko and Pirin Mountains off the Sofia-Thessaloníki E-79. Geographical locations of note are the Komatinski Cliffs between Brestovo and Sushitsa, the Kresna Gorge of the Struma River, and the foothills of the Pirin Mountains at Senokos.

Transportation

Simitli lies on E-79 which connects Sofia to the Greek Border. Simitli is also part of the Bulgarian State Railways network from Greece to Sofia. Simitli is also the intersection of E-79 and the road to Bansko and the Pirin Mountains.

Tourism

Some of the best whitewater rapids in the Balkans can be on the Struma river in the Kresna Gorge. The rafting and kayaking season is from April to July and there is guided rafting every weekend. Simitli also also part of the EuroCup circuit for the European Rafting Federation every year. One the second weekend every January, there is a Kukeri or Surva festival held in the local stadium by E-79 which rivals Razlog and Pernik's own Kukeri Festivals.

Municipality

Simitli is the administrative centre of Simitli municipality (part of Blagoevgrad Province), which includes the following seventeen places:

{|
valign="top"
* Brezhani
* Brestovo
* Gorno Osenovo
* Gradevo
* Dolno Osenovo
* Zheleznitsa
* Krupnik
* Mechkul
* Polena
* Poleta
* Rakitna
* Senokos
* Suhostrel
* Sushitsa
* Troskovo
* Cherniche
* Simitli

External links

* [http://www.senokos.com www.senokos.com] | Tourism website for village Senokos
* [http://www.ternipe-simitli.org www.ternipe-simitli.org] | Website for local Roma NGO that creates monthly magazine for Simitli
* [http://www.hoteldimario.com www.hoteldimario.com] | Website for Hotel DiMario, a local hotel in Simitli