Sozopol is located on a scenic bay along the southern Bulgarian coast, about 35 km south of Burgas. Sozopol is one of the oldest Bulgarian coastal towns. There are 2 beaches in the town of Sozopol: the Central beach and the Harmani beach, as well as a few excellent beaches and campgrounds close to Sozopol. The city is divided into the Old Town and the modern part of the town. The Old Town mainly offers romantic old houses for accommodation, whereas the modern part of the town is full of hotels of different categories and prices. The resort is famous for its nightlife, campsites and beaches that offer diverse sports activities such as jet skiing, surfing, beach volleyball, etc.
Sozopol is the oldest town in Bulgaria. It has been established in 610 BC as a Hellenic colony of Miletus Greeks named Apollonia Pontica. The urban structure has been built during the centuries and reveals the stages of development of the human civilization, bears the marks of inherited cultural layers and continuity and turns Sozopol into a real museum town. Present-day Sozopol is the business card of the Bulgarian marine tourism. Due to its impressive architecture and archaeology, diverse cultural programme, excellent hotel facilities and modern tourist infrastructure, the town welcomes hundred thousand of tourists each year. Sozopol has located 35 km away from Bourgas airport.
The city, which has a population of 5,000, is one of the oldest on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast and one of the country’s most popular seaside resorts. The romantic atmosphere of the city’s beautiful old town attracts visitors from all over the world. Archaeological research indicates that the city has a cultural tradition that is some 7,000 years old. The first settlement grew up in the Sozopol bay during the Neolithic Era, some 6,000 years BCE. In 610 BCE, the inhabitants of Milet, a city in Asia Minor, made the Sozopol peninsula their city-state and called it Apolloniya. The city-state enjoyed rapid growth during the first centuries of its existence. In the 5th century BCE, massive fortress walls were constructed to protect its monumental public buildings. Ancient writers describe The Temple of Apollo the Healer as colossal, housing a 13-meter high statue of the god. In 72 BCE, Apollonia was conquered by Roman legions commanded by Marcus Lucullus, who razed and plundered the city. The legendary statue of Apollo was removed to Rome as spoils of war. During the 1st century, the city was rebuilt, and when Thrace became a Roman province Sozopol continued to function as an administrative maritime centre. When Christianity was accepted as the official state religion, Apolloniya was rechristened Sozopolis, in keeping with the new Christian dogma.
Top sights in Sozopol
1. Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum in Sozopol is located in the old part of the town. It is housed in the building of the St. Cyril and St. Methodius Temple, as well as in several halls provided by the Cultural Centre of Sozopol. The Archaeological Museum reveals the history and the millennial cultural traditions of the town of Sozopol from the end of the 6th millennium BC to the 17th century AD. The most impressive are the collections of stone and lead anchors and bayonets – 2nd – 1st millennia BC, the ancient Greek painted vases – 6th – 5th centuries BC, and the antique and medieval amphorae – 6th century BC – 14th century AD.
The museum is divided into two sections: archaeology (5th millennium BC – 17th century AD) and Christian art (17th – 19th centuries). Visitors of the Archaeological Museum can see the alabaster casket containing for centuries the relics of John the Baptist and a small box with a Greek inscription talking about the journey of the relics to St. Ivan Island. The saint’s relics were discovered during archaeological excavations on the nearby St. Ivan Island in the summer of 2010. Today the valuable relic is often displayed in other towns, but when in Sozopol it can be seen in St. Cyril and St. Methodius Temple.
Ancient Sozopol and the relics of John the Baptist topped the Wonders of Bulgaria Ranking conducted in 2011.
2. Southern Fortress Wall & Tower Museum
Southern Fortress Wall and Tower Architectural and Historic Complex presents the history and culture of Sozopol and the region through specially trained tour guides. Year-round tours in Ancient Town of Apollonia Archaeological Reserve are organized. The guests of the Reserve can enjoy a pleasant walk in the quiet narrow streets and look at authentic Sozopol houses from the National Revival period, at chapels and churches, admire a unique view of the sea and the islands St. St. Kirik and Yulita, St. Ivan and St. Peter. Handmade tablecloths created by Sozopol’s grannies as well as homemade fig jam are an additional attraction. Since its creation in 2006, the Museum Complex has been visited by over 130 000 guests.
Southern Fortress Wall and Tower Architectural and Historic Complex presents the history and culture of Sozopol and the region through specially trained tour guides. Year-round tours in Ancient Town of Apollonia Archaeological Reserve are organized. The guests of the Reserve can enjoy a pleasant walk in the quiet narrow streets and look at authentic Sozopol houses from the National Revival period, at chapels and churches, admire a unique view of the sea and the islands St. St. Kirik and Yulita, St. Ivan and St. Peter. Handmade tablecloths created by Sozopol’s grannies as well as homemade fig jam are an additional attraction. Since its creation in 2006, the Museum Complex has been visited by over 130 000 guests.
3. Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa
The church “Holy Mother of God” – is in the district Ladzene in Velingrad. The Christians of Ladzene were going to the church more often than the Christians of the neighbouring Kamenitsa. The church building was covered at the end of August 1896. The iconostasis was made by the master – wood carver Yosif and his apprentice Marangozov of Plovdiv. The icons were painted by the painter Manol Moralieva of Bansko.
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