Bulgaria is a country with thousands of years of history and a cultural heritage that embraces ancient civilizations. Visitors will find much to interest them in the country’s history, culture, ethnography, religion, architecture and the arts. Unique archaeological sites abound throughout the country – ancient settlement mounds from the Neolithic age, Thracian sanctuaries and tombs, remains of Roman cities, Byzantine and Medieval fortresses, architectural reserves, ethnographic complexes, churches and monasteries, Tekkes (mosques), among many others. Despite the fact that it occupies only 2% of Europe’s territory, about 40,000 historical monuments…
Category: Historical Tourism
Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia
St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world. It is one of Sofia’s symbols and primary tourist attractions. St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 5,000 people inside. It is among the 10 largest Eastern Orthodox church buildings. It is…
Rogozen Silver Treasure
The Rogozen Silver Treasure, called the find of the century, is a Thracian treasure. It was discovered by chance in the autumn of 1985 by tractor driver Ivan Dimitrov, digging a hole for an irrigation system in his garden in the Bulgarian village of Rogozen. On January 6,1986 an archaeological team, consisting of Bogdan Nikolov, Spas Mashov and Plamen Ivanov from the County Historical Museum in Vratsa discovered a second half, consisting of 100 silver and gilded silver vessels. It consists of 165 receptacles, including 108 phiales, 55 jugs and…
Panagyurishte Treasure
The treasure consists of a phiale, an amphora, three oinochoai and four rhytons with total weight of 6.164 kg of 24-karat gold. All nine vessels are richly and skilfully decorated. It is dated from the turn of the 4th-3rd centuries BC. It is thought to have been used as a royal ceremonial set by the Thracian king Seuthes III. The items may have been buried to hide them during 4th century BC invasions of the area by the Celts or Macedonians.The phiale carries inscriptions giving its weight in Greek drachmae…
Peperikon
Peperikon is a particular archeological site often discussed by Bulgarian media nowadays. The ancient sanctuary became popular thanks to the excavations performed by the famous Bulgarian archeologist Nikolay Ovcharov. Yet, the knowledge of its real function, history, and significance is scarce. Perperikon is an enormous rock formation in East Rodopi Mountain, and scientists believe that a sanctuary of the same name emerged 8000 years ago. The rocky monument stands 15 kilometers away from the town of Kardjali near the Perpereshka river, which is said to have been a site of…