Architecture sights in Bulgaria
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Sveta Nedelya Cathedral
The magnificent domed Sveta Nedelya Cathedral is one of the city's major landmarks. Built between 1856 and 1863 on the foundations of several older churches, the cathedral's interior is covered with rich, Byzantine-style murals of saints. A glass case to the right of the iconostasis holds the body of Sveti Kral Stefan Milotin, a medieval king of Serbia, wrapped in a velvet robe. The bones are said to have miraculous healing powers.
A small plaque near the southern entrance explains, in English, how the cathedral was blown up by communists on 16 April 1925 in an attempt to assassinate Tsar Boris III. Over 120 people were killed in the attack, including most of the cabinet,…
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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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Church of Uspenie Bogorodichno
The Church of Uspenie Bogorodichno on ul Dimcho Debelyanov, built in 1817, is usually closed, but visitors can peer through the window and wander around the gardens. The church grounds contain Kableshkov's grave, and, in the upper section, Debelyanov's grave. A poignant statue features Debelyanov's mother anxiously awaiting his return, and reads 'I die and am yet born again in light'.
Beside the park along ul Hadzhi Nencho Palaveev is the Sveta Kiril & Metodii School, built in 1837.
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Church of Sveti Konstantin & Elena
The Church of Sveti Konstantin & Elena, Plovdiv’s oldest, was built over a late Roman church. It’s dedicated to Constantine the Great, the 4th-century emperor who made Orthodox Christianity the state religion, and his mother, Sveta Helena. The current church, however, dates mostly to 1832. The wonderful iconostasis was painted by Zahari Zograf between 1836 and 1840, and the covered portico features sumptuous frescoes.
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Dzhumaya Mosque
The Dzhumaya Mosque, currently undergoing heavy renovation, is one of the Balkans’ oldest, dating from the mid-15th century. This enormous structure with a 23m minaret was the largest of Plovdiv’s more than 50 Ottoman-era mosques. Another Ottoman structure, the Imaret Mosque is open; note the unusual minaret. It’s between the Hotel Elit and the river.
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Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa
The huge, three-aisle Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa stands atop a grand series of stone stairs at the old town’s base. With its unmistakable pink and blue belltower, this church (built in 1844 on the site of a 9th-century shrine) contains icons and murals, including one depicting a sword-wielding Turkish soldier harassing chained and lamenting Bulgarian peasants.
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St Michael the Archangel Church
St Michael the Archangel Church was founded in 1865 and is historically significant as the first place where religious services were given in Bulgarian. The building also contained Varna’s first school. The church is small and badly lit but there are some fine wooden icons.
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St Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church
The elegant St Sarkis Armenian Apostolic Church was built in 1842 and features a barrelled wooden ceiling and a wonderful collection of naive icons. It’s normally closed, but the custodian will be happy to open it up for you if he’s around.
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Sveta Marina Church
Originally built in 1561, Sveta Marina Church was burnt down 50 years later, rebuilt in 1783, and repaired in 1856. See the 17m-high pagoda-shaped wooden bell tower (1870), and the intricate, 170-year-old iconostasis.
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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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St Anastasios Orthodox Church
The beautiful St Anastasios Orthodox Church overlooks the Roman Thermae. Built in 1602, it’s one of the oldest churches in the city and features an intricately carved bishop’s throne.
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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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Sveta Nedelya Church
The grand, reopened Sveta Nedelya Church, built in 1578 and renovated in the 1830s, contains exquisite, carved walnut iconostases and now faded wall murals from the mid-1800s.
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St Nikolai Church
The quaint St Nikolai Church, which seems stranded along the modern mall, is worth a visit for its murals. It’s always busy, and is a popular venue for weddings.
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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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Imaret Mosque
Another Ottoman structure, the Imaret Mosque is open; note the unusual minaret. It's between the Hotel Elite and river.
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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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