Sofia is the European capital containing the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, completed in 1912.
The cathedral was built as a memorial to Russian soldiers who died helping Bulgaria gain independence from the Ottoman Empire during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878. Construction began in 1882, although the foundation stone had been laid earlier, and the building was completed in 1912.
The design is associated with Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev, working with other architects. Its Neo-Byzantine form includes a large central dome, numerous smaller domes, and richly decorated interiors containing mosaics and icons.
The cathedral is dedicated to Alexander Nevsky, a medieval Russian prince and saint. It is Bulgaria's main Orthodox cathedral and one of Sofia's most recognizable landmarks. Visitors sometimes confuse it with Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Tallinn, Estonia, another Orthodox church dedicated to the same figure.