Showing 1-16 of 16 results
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Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum has a fair collection of Hellenistic and Roman-era tombstones on the ground floor, as well as an unusual triple-image statuette of Hecate, goddess of witchcraft and fertility, from the 2nd century BC. Other exhibits include Greek pottery, Thracian gold jewellery and ancient anchors, while Hellenistic humour is on show on a bronze jug depicting Dionysus, god of wine, supporting a sozzled Silenus, god of drunkenness. The basement holds a collection of religious icons recovered from Nesebâr's numerous churches, including a 13th-century image of the Virgin.
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Archangels Michael & Gabriel's Church
The Archangels Michael & Gabriel's Church was built over a few decades during the 13th and 14th centuries. It remains in relatively good condition, but it's usually kept locked up.
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Basilica of the Merciful Virgin
The Basilica of the Merciful Virgin , overlooking the sea, dates back to the 6th century; it became a monastery in the 14th century. The fortified tower alongside it was built as a response to pirate raids along the coast; eventually abandoned and partly swallowed by the sea, it was only rediscovered by archaeologists in the 1920s. Excavations are still ongoing nearby.
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Byzantine Baths Complex
Below present ground level just behind the Church of Sveti Spas are the partly excavated remains of this once huge 6th-century Byzantine Baths Complex. Though not much to look at now, in its day this was one of the region's biggest and best spas, renowned for its curative waters; allegedly the Byzantine Emperor Constantine IV dropped by and 'cured his legs' here in 680. The baths were destroyed during Khan Krum's invasion in 812 AD.
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Christ Pantokrator Church
Typical of the characteristic Nesebâr construction is the well-preserved Christ Pantokrator Church. Built in the mid-14th century, it's decorated with green ceramic discs and intricate red brick patterns, and is topped with a sturdy belltower. An unusual feature at the eastern end is the frieze of swastikas, an ancient solar symbol. The church is now used as a commercial art gallery.
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Church of St John the Baptist
Nesebâr was once home to about 80 churches and chapels, but most are now in ruins. Characteristic of the Nesebâr style of church design are the horizontal strips of white stone and red brick, which are offset by striped blind arches resting on the vertical pilasters, the façades decorated with green ceramic discs.
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Ethnographical Museum
Ignored by the shopaholics and forgotten by the tour groups is the small Ethnographical Museum. Inside a typical wooden Bulgarian National Revival building (constructed in about 1840), it features regional costumes and displays about weaving. All labels are in Bulgarian and German.
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South Beach
There are a few scrappy beaches around the coast of the old town which are popular with some locals and visitors, but they're small and rocky and the water is often choked with seaweed. Around 1.5km west of the old town is South Beach, a long and well managed stretch of sand which has seen some major developments over the last few years. All the usual water sports are available, including jet-skiing, water-skiing, windsurfing and pedalos. The beach is lined with several giant hotel complexes, although the officially protected sand dunes at the far end should, hopefully, prevent further construction.
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St John Aliturgetos Church
Nesebâr was once home to about 80 churches and chapels, but most are now in ruins. Characteristic of the Nesebâr style of church design are the horizontal strips of white stone and red brick, which are offset by striped blind arches resting on the vertical pilasters, the façades decorated with green ceramic discs.
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Sunny Beach
There are a few scrappy beaches around the coast of the old town which are popular with some locals and visitors, but they're small and rocky and the water is often choked with seaweed. The longer sandy shores of Sunny Beach , just a few kilometres up the coast, are an alternative option.
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Sveta Bogoroditsa Church
The relatively plain, 19th-century Sveta Bogoroditsa Church is the only functioning church in town and modestly dressed visitors are welcome. (Shawls are provided at the entrance for bare-armed women.) The typically colourful interior is splashed with saintly murals, and if you still haven't seen enough icons, there's a small church museum attached, with examples going back to the 13th century.
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Sveta Paraskeva Church
A fine example of 13th-century architecture is Sveta Paraskeva Church, which has only one nave and one apse. The building is now occupied by yet another art gallery.
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Sveta Sofia Church
Nesebâr was once home to about 80 churches and chapels, but most are now in ruins. Characteristic of the Nesebâr style of church design are the horizontal strips of white stone and red brick, which are offset by striped blind arches resting on the vertical pilasters, the façades decorated with green ceramic discs.
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Sveti Spas Church
Sveti Spas Church is a small, single-nave church built in 1609; like all churches established during Ottoman rule, it had to be built below street level. Some comparatively well-preserved murals can be viewed inside.
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Sveti Stefan Church
Sveti Stefan Church is the best preserved church in town, originally built in the 11th century and reconstructed 500 years later. It's a relatively large, three-nave basilica, renowned for its rare and impressive murals dating from between the 16th and 18th centuries, which cover virtually the entire interior. The Byzantine-style paintings depict scenes from the life of the Virgin as well as numerous saints, and restoration is ongoing. Also of note are the elaborate 16th-century iconostasis and the gilded 18th-century pulpit. Try to come early, as the church sees a rapid succession of large, multilingual guided tour groups throughout the day in summer.
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Sveti Todor Church
Very little is known about the origins of Sveti Todor Church, which has been partially restored and is now an art gallery operating irregular hours.
Showing 1-16 of 16 results
