Sights in Nesebâr
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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.
The beach is lined with several giant hotel complexes, although the offic…
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Jet-Skiing
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 that has seen some major developments over the last few years. All the usual water sports are available, including jet-skiing. The beach is lined with several giant hotel complexes, although the officially protected sand dunes at the far end should, hopefully, prevent further construction. The longer sandy shores of Sunny Beach (Slânchev Bryag), just a few kilometres up the coast, are an alternativ…
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Sveti Stefan Church
Sveti Stefan Church is the best preserved 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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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.
Probably the most beautiful church in old Nesebâr was the St John Aliturgetos Church , accessible down some steps from the end of ul Ribarska. Built in about the mid-14th century and dedicated to St John the Unbeliever, the church was mostly destroyed by an earthquake in 1913. Concerts are sometimes held here in summer.
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Sveta Sofia Church
No visitor can help but be impressed by the ruins of the Sveta Sofia Church, also known as the Old Metropolitan Church. Dating as far back as the 5th century, this vast, three-nave basilica was rebuilt in the 9th century as part of a huge complex that encompassed the Bishop’s palace. It remained Nesebâr’s chief ecclesiastical centre until about 1257, when the church was ransacked by the Venetians. It contained three naves and boasted a spacious interior with high walls and wide windows. Today the ruins form the centrepiece of a busy plaza surrounded by cafés and artists’ street stalls.
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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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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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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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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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Museum
Ignored by the shopaholics and forgotten by the tour groups is this small 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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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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Church Museum
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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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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Archangels Michael & Gabriel’s Church
The Archangels Michael & Gabriel’s Church was built over the course of a few decades during the 13th and 14th centuries. It remains in relatively good condition, but is usually kept locked up.
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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.)
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Church of St John the Baptist
The Church of St John the Baptist was built in the 10th century and features some of the best-preserved murals from the 14th and 17th centuries. It’s also now occupied by an art gallery.
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Sveti Todor Church
This tiny church now serves as an art gallery and souvenir shop, with a range of better-quality keepsakes such as contemporary paintings, prints and studio pottery.
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Christ Pantokrator Church
This church has been converted into a commercial art gallery, selling the works of local painters, mainly seascapes and views of the old town.
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Sveta Paraskeva Church
An art gallery conversion, with mostly modern paintings and the odd sculpture.
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