The architectural ensemble of three Socialist Classicism buildings around Independence Square, built in the early 1950s when Sofia's centre was rebuilt after wartime bombing. The buildings — formerly the Party House, the Council of Ministers, and the Ministry of Education — were designed to project Communist authority and now house the National Assembly, the Presidency, and Sofia Hotel Balkan.
In the middle of the square is the Statue of Sveta Sofia, raised in 2000 to replace the Lenin who stood there until 1990. The Largo is the symbolic centre of the city — protests, parades, and the New Year's Eve concert all happen here. Under the square is the Serdica archaeological complex.