Historical sites in Bulgaria

• Bulgarians have many traditions related to the building of a home.

Their houses are built of stone and wood and they pay special
attention to the decorations which consist of different symbols
carved in wood – ornaments resembling snakes, spirals, stars, small
circles. Bulgarians have a feeling for aesthetics and beauty and use
this feeling for arranging their houses. In the process of development
of building and decoration, Bulgarians show their talent – the lively
and picturesque Bulgarian medieval buildings are typical examples.
• Bulgaria is full of historical sites which have kept, keep and will
continue to keep the history of our ancestors alive so that the coming
generations will remember their work and what they had to go
through so we can have a peaceful live.
 Rila Monastery

• Rila Monastery was

founded in the 10th
century, a hermit
canonized by the
Orthodox Church.
• It played an important
role in the spiritual and
social life of medieval
Bulgaria.
• The main church of the monastery was erected in the middle of
the 19th century. Its architect is Pavel Ivanov, who worked on it
from 1834 to 1837. The church has five domes, three altars and
two side chapels, while one of the most precious items inside is
the gold-plated iconostasis, famous for its wood-carving, the
creation of which took five years to four handicraftsmen: Atanas
Teladur, Petar and Georgi Dashini and Dimitar Stanishev.
 The Roman Theatre in Plovdiv
• The Antique Theater in
Plovdiv is situated in the
Old Town, in the saddle
between the two hills –
Dzhambaz and Taksim
Tepe.
• It was built in the
beginning of the 2nd
century AD during the
ruling of Emperor Trayan
It is one of the best
preserved antique
theaters in the world.
• The Roman theatre of Philippopolis is one of the world's best-
preserved ancient Roman theatres, located in the city center of
modern Plovdiv, Bulgaria, once the ancient city of Philippopolis. It
was constructed in the 1st century AD, probably during the reign
of Domitian. The theatre can host between 5,000 and 7,000
spectators and it is currently in use.
 Belogradchik Fortress

• The Belogradchik Fortress is

situated at a distance of 1.5
km from the town of
Belgradchik among the
renowned Belogradchik rocks.
• The fortress has existed since
Roman times. In 1st – 3rd
century AD the Romans built
roads in the new provinces of
the empire on the Balkan
peninsula, as well as
fortresses to guard them.
• The initial fortress was constructed during the time when the
region was part of the Roman Empire. The rock formations in the
area served as a natural protection, as fortified walls were
practically only built from the northwest and southeast, with the
yard being surrounded by rocks up to 70 m (230 ft) high from the
other sides.
 Baba Vida Fortress

• The Baba Vida fortress is the

main landmark of Vidin. It is
the only medieval fortress
that’s been preserved in its
original form.
• It is located on the great bend
of the Danube River in the
city.
• The fortress served as the
main defensive installation of
Vidin during the Middle Ages
and acted as the most
important fortress in
northwest Bulgaria.
 Ancient Villa Armira

• Villa Armira is one of the earliest

and most accurately dated villa
complexes from the Roman era,
studied in Bulgaria.
• She is an outstanding
architectural monument from
2000 years ago. This is the most
sumptuously decorated private
house (palace) of the Roman
period, discovered in the
Bulgarian lands.
• The villa was a center of land
tenure, founded by Thracian rich
aristocratic family.
Ancient Villa Armira
 The old city of Nessebar

• Beach resort Nessebar,

Bulgaria is one of the oldest
European towns. The summer
holiday venue is situated on
a small peninsula, 37 km
northeast of Bourgas and 429
km east of Sofia.
• Nessebar has best beaches
on the Black Sea coast,
reasonably priced hotels,
many aqua parks and it
ideally suits tourists who love
cultural tourism.
 The Roman Rotunda St. George in Sofia
• The Roman Rotunda /the
church “St. George”/ is
the oldest preserved
structure which still
serves its original
purpose in Sofia city.
• It was built in the 4th
century by the Romans
according to a fairly
complex plan: a vast,
circular central chamber,
surmounted by a dome
and surrounded by four
semi-circular apses.
 Thracian Sveshtari tomb

• Discovered in 1982 near the village of Sveshtari, this 3rd-century BC

Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of
Thracian cult buildings.
• The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-
human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals.
• The 10 female figures carved in high relief on the walls of the central
chamber and the decoration of the lunette in its vault are the only
examples of this type found so far in the Thracian lands.
Thracian Sveshtari tomb