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Nessebar is one of the most visited Bulgarian resorts. It is situated on the Black Sea coast, on a small rocky Nessebar peninsula, which is beautifully jutting out into the sea. It is located 38 km north-east of Burgas and about 100 km south of Varna.
Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe – it was settled more than 3 millenniums ago, at the end of the Bronze Age. Initially, during the II millennium BC, it was a Thracian fishermen’s settlement. During the VI century BC, the chieftain Mena makes an agreement with the Dorians, settlers from Byzantion and Calchaedon, and so the city Menabria (“the city of Mena”) comes into existence, and becomes the only Dorian colony on the whole Black Sea coast, because all the other cities are Ionian. The Greek pronounced the name of the city as Mesambria and exactly this is the name by which the city remains in the history.
Today’s name Nessebar originates after the XI century.
Since Antiquity a water-conduit, a sewerage, fortified walls, an amphitheatre, a lot of religious buildings, one of which was the temple of Apollo, have been built. The artefacts found during the excavations are evidence that the city has been a centre of bustling trade with the whole ancient world for a long time.
The most interesting and fascinating monuments are situated in the old part of today’s Nessebar. This part was proclaimed an architectural, historical and archaeological reserve and in 1983 was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The old city is only 850 m. long and 350 m. wide. During the various periods of its existence, the sea has carried away 1/3 of the city’s territory. Remains of the fortified walls could still be seen under the water at about 80 m. off the shore. Only the western fortress wall and the gate, which defended the city from land attacks, have been preserved until present day.
Nessebar is also known as the Bulgarian Ravenna, thanks to its numerous and well-preserved churches, especially those dating from the 13th and 14th centuries. Legend tells that throughout its history, Nessebar had a total of 40 churches. Currently there are 23. The town is ranked number one in the world for number of churches per capita. The churches range from early Christian basilica to Byzantine dome church. They are an example of the architectural and artistic influence of the Greek, the Roman and the Byzantine age. The magnificent building of the central church in ancient Mesambria, called St. Sofia, now stands on a central place in the city and is often a stage for summer cultural events.
The biggest Bulgarian resort on the sea coast – Sunny Beach - is situated near Nessebar.
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St Sofia church in Nessebar, an early Christian Basilica from the IV-V century. |
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