Sozopol is situated on a picturesque bay on the southern Bulgarian coast, about 35 kilometers south of Burgas.
The settlement of 5,000 inhabitants is one of the oldest on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast and one of the most popular coastal resorts in the nation. Visitors from all over the globe come to experience the romantic ambiance of the city’s lovely old town.
According to archaeological evidence, the city has a 7,000-year-old cultural legacy. The earliest habitation on the Sozopol bay dates all the way back to the Neolithic Era, around 6,000 years BCE. In 610 BCE, the residents of Milet, a city in Asia Minor, founded the city-state of Apolloniya on the Sozopol peninsula. During the early centuries of its existence, the city-state saw remarkable expansion. Massive castle walls were erected in the fifth century BCE to safeguard the city’s enormous public facilities. The Temple of Apollo the Healer is described by ancient sources as huge, containing a 13-meter-high statue of the deity. Apollonia was taken in 72 BCE by Roman forces led by Marcus Lucullus, who destroyed and pillage the city. Apollo’s fabled statue was sent to Rome as spoils of war.
The city was reconstructed in the first century, and when Thrace became a Roman province, Sozopol retained its role as an administrative marine hub. When Christianity became the national religion, Apolloniya was renamed Sozopolis to conform to the new Christian theology.
In the fifth century, the city was fortified once again with additional defensive walls, vestiges of which may still be seen near the peninsula’s southeastern tip. The city was initially annexed by Bulgaria in 812, when it was conquered by Han Krum’s troops. Sozopol developed into a significant diocese, with over 20 Orthodox churches and five monasteries. The ruins of the Saint Ivan (Saint John) monastery complex, as well as the Medieval church in the city center and a portion of the Holy Apostles Monastery on Skamniy (Rocky) Point in the Old Town’s northeastern section, have been preserved.
On September 7, 1974, Ministerial Decree No 320 designated Sozopol’s Old Town as a museum-reserve. The reserve has around 180 homes built during the mid-eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Old Town’s houses are constructed of stone and wood in the style of the so-called Black Sea school of architecture. The Marieta Stefanova House, the Kreanoolu House, the Todor Zagorov House, the Kurtidi House, and the Dimitri Laskaridis House are among the most well-known.
Sozopol’s archeological museum and art gallery are two of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. In 2010, archaeologists discovered holy relics of Saint John the Baptist during archeological digs on adjacent Saint Ivan (Saint John’s) Island. Today, these priceless relics are entrusted to the authorities at the Church of St. Cyril and St. Methodius and draw pilgrims from all over the globe. In 2011, „Bulgaria’s Wonders“ chose Old Sozopol and the relics of Saint John the Baptist as the most significant of „Bulgaria’s Wonders.“
The Apollonia Festival (September 1-10) and the July Celebration are the two most important events in Sozopol (June 30-July 1).
Sozopol features two beaches – the major beach and Harmani Beach – as well as two other beaches nearby – Golden Fish Campground and Kavatsi Beach.
The city is separated into two sections: the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town, with its tiny cobblestone lanes and ancient old homes, is justly famous for its beautiful ambience. The contemporary area of Sozopol is densely packed with hotels, eating enterprises, and other pleasant distractions. There are several options for lodging, ranging from luxury hotels to tiny family hotels, guest homes to cottages. Additionally, there are other campsites nearby: Gradina (Garden), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Kavatsi, Veselie (Good Times), and Smokinya (Fig Tree). Restaurants in Sozopol provide traditional Bulgarian Black Sea cuisine as well as a range of specialities.
Numerous sporting activities including as jet skiing, surfing, beach volleyball, boating, and fishing are available along the city’s beaches.
The Ropotamo Nature Reserve is located south of Sozopol along the same-named river. Visitors may take riverboat tours to see the region’s diverse bird and plant life.
Transportation in Sozopol
How To Travel To Sozopol
Throughout the summer, multiple bus services connect Sozopol to the rest of Bulgaria. Additionally, bus services operate from Turkey to Burgas, from which local buses and taxis connect to Sozopol. Burgas to Sozopol is a 35-kilometer journey.
If you’re not a fan of the bus, flights from Sofia to Burgas are also available.
How To Travel Around Sozopol
Due to the tiny size of Sozopol, walking is the ideal mode of transport, and there is enough to see along the route.
Taxis are always parked near the beach for visitors who have spent the whole day at the beach and are too exhausted to walk home. Between 12am and 5am, cabs are generally waiting for patrons departing nightclubs. Taxis are plentiful in Sozopol, since they get little business from residents and depend heavily on visitors for revenue. Spend close attention to the price you pay for a brief cab ride. Prior to embarking on your journey, agree on a fee and do not be afraid to haggle. For visitors, fares are sometimes jacked up by two to three times the real rate.
Tourism in Sozopol
Sozopol is situated on a picturesque bay on Bulgaria’s southern coast, about 35 kilometers south of Burgas. Sozopol is located on a lovely coastline on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, 35 kilometers south of Burgas. Sozopol is one of Bulgaria’s oldest seaside towns. Sozopol is one of Bulgaria’s oldest seaside towns. Sozopol has two beaches: the Central beach and the Harmani beach, as well as a few beautiful beaches and campers nearby. The city is separated into two sections: the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town is mostly made up of charming old residences, although the newer portion of town is densely packed with hotels of all types and rates. The resort is well-known for its nightlife, campgrounds, and beaches, which provide a variety of recreational activities such as jet skiing, surfing, and beach volleyball.
Beaches of Sozopol
Sozopol has many beaches, including central beach and Harmani beach, as well as a campground adjacent to town. Additionally, Sozopol is adjacent to many outstanding beaches and campgrounds: Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Gradina (Garden), Smokinya (Fig Tree), Veselie, and Kavatsi.
Central beach: Located between Sozopol’s Old and New Towns. Because it is easily accessible, it attracts an excessive number of visitors throughout the months of July and August. If you arrive later in the day, finding a place to stay may be tough. The beach is quite slender. If you choose to lay under the umbrellas or utilize a chair, a nominal fee will be charged for the day. If you do not choose to utilize any of these amenities, you will be sent to the beach’s end. Sunbathing without a top is permitted, however nudists are not permitted. The beach is completely free to enter..
Harmani beach: Located in Sozopol’s new town. This beach is broader and longer than the Central beach, making it a more convenient alternative during the busy summer months of July and August. This beach is surrounded by a slew of little eateries and places to dine and drink. If you choose to recline under the umbrellas or use a chair, you will be charged a day fee. If you do not want to utilize any of these amenities, you will be requested to move a short distance away from the Sea to a free parking area. This beach is patrolled by bay watch personnel, however caution is advised due to the presence of potentially hazardous underwater streams. If the waves are too large and the flag is red, the bay watch personnel will request that you refrain from entering the Sea. Sunbathing without a top is permitted, however nudists are not permitted. The beach is completely free to enter..
Gold Fish beach: (3 km north from Sozopol): On the route to Bourgas, not far from Sozopol. This is the beach of a campground named Gold Fish, which is mostly frequented by surfers. The beach is sufficiently long and broad, and very tranquil in comparison to the other nearby beaches. Very good location with lots of beach room. The neighboring Surf school rents out wind-surfing equipment and gives surf training. While topless sunbathing is permitted, nudists are not permitted here officially, however we have observed several at the end of the beach. Around the area, one or two small eateries provide quick meals and soups. If you like the ambience, you may stay in a tent at the campsite for an additional fee. The camping site has hot showers and toilets.
Sights & Landmarks In Sozopol
Ancient Sozopol, with its charming old town of winding cobblestone streets and charming wooden houses huddled together on a narrow peninsula, is a highlight of the coast. With two outstanding beaches, a friendly atmosphere, ample accommodation, and convenient transportation, it has long been a popular seaside resort and serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding area. While it is not as busy as Nesebâr, it is growing in popularity with foreign tourists. There is also a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous free concerts and other events throughout the summer.
The new town, dubbed ‘Harmanite,’ is located south of the town’s minuscule bus station. This section of town has the best beach, but is otherwise dominated by modern hotels and residential areas.
Make a point of seeing the old town, which has an antique church, an amphitheater, ancient sites, restaurants, a harbor, and a beach. Camping is popular among young people and travelers across the city. Saint Ivan and Saint Peter are both fascinating islands. Ravadinovo castle, located on the road connecting Burgas and Sozopol, is a must-see.
Things To Do In Sozopol
If you’re looking for a lesser-known spot to unwind, there is a rocky location by the sea near the old town. Ascend the hill past the old school (supposedly an old school) and through the parking lot, taking a little route down to the sea. There, you may sunbathe on the rocks, swim in the water, or jump/dive from the cliffs (some are rather high!). The water is rather deep and may be quite choppy at times, so have this in mind if you are not a reasonably good swimmer. If you like extreme activities, you may participate in a Quad Bike safari in Sozopol – in the vicinity of the town of Marinka.
The city hosts the renowned Apollonia Festival of Arts in early September.
Food & Restaurants In Sozopol
There are several dining establishments in both the modern and ancient towns. However, many restaurants double as nightclubs, so if you’re not up for dancing the night away, inquire with your waiter what time patrons often begin arriving. The restaurant Kirik is named after the same-named island and is located directly across from the marine base. On a balmy summer day with panoramic views, the balcony is located directly under a large fig tree. The main issue is getting a seat, since there are never any empty seats at night. They serve a variety of foods, with a focus on seafood. They are famous for their marinated fish, roasted mackerel with lemon and fennel, octopus salad, and tsaganaki clams. They also offer a variety of appetizers and snacks, in addition to a full bar.
Accommodation In Sozopol
Sozopol is divided between an old and a modern section. The Old Town is mostly comprised of lovely old buildings, but the modern section of town is densely packed with hotels of all types and rates, ranging from tiny family hotels to luxury hotels, bungalows to guest houses.
Nightlife In Sozopol
Numerous taverns, restaurants, fast-food outlets, grill- and toast-bars are strewn throughout Sozopol’s alleyways. They provide a variety of Bulgarian and foreign dishes. The resort is well-known for its nightlife, which includes several clubs, discotheques, and pubs. The seafront lanes of Morski Skali and Milet are lined with modest taverns and restaurants.
Entertainment In Sozopol
Sozopol is quite crowded in July and August, but is a tranquil fishing village and a favorite destination for authors and painters during the off-season. Sozopol’s Old Town was designated a museum-reserve in 1974. It has almost 180 dwellings and houses from the 18th and 19th centuries’ National Revival era. Houses constructed of wood and stone with red-tiled roofs in the Mediterranean style adhere to the so-called Black Sea school of architecture.
The Apollonia Festival (1–10 September) and the July Celebration (30 June–1 July) are the two largest events in Sozopol.
Sozopol’s beaches provide chances for a variety of sports activities, including surfing, boating, jet skiing, fishing, and beach volleyball.
History of Sozopol
Sozopol is one of the oldest cities on the Black Sea coast of Bulgarian Thrace. The site’s initial habitation goes all the way back to the Bronze Age. Subsea explorations in the vicinity of the port have uncovered relics of that era’s dwellings, ceramic pottery, and stone and bone tools. Numerous anchors dating from the second and first millennia BC have been unearthed in the town’s harbour, demonstrating the town’s maritime history dating all the way back to prehistoric times.
Antheia was created in the seventh century BC by Greek immigrants from Miletus. The name was shortly changed to Apollonia in honor of the town’s temple devoted to Apollo, which houses a renowned gigantic statue of the god Apollo by Calamis, 30 cubits high, which Lucullus subsequently moved to Rome and installed in the Capitol.
Coins dating from the fourth century BC bear the name Apollonia and an image of Apollo; imperial coins dating from the first half of the third century AD, as well as the Tabula Peutinger, also bear the name Apollonia; however, the „Periplus Ponti Euxini“, 85, and the Notiti episcopatuum, only bear the new name Sozopolis. Cantacuzene (ed. Bonn, I, 326) describes it as a big and populous town in 1328. It was located on an islet that is now joined to the mainland by a small tongue of land. Its residents, who were mostly Greek in the past, subsisted on fishing and agriculture.
In the centuries that followed, the town developed itself as a commercial and naval center. It maintained significant political and commercial relationships with Ancient Greece’s towns – Miletus, Athens, Corinth, Heraclea Pontica – as well as the islands of Rhodes, Chios, and Lesbos. Its commercial presence in the Thracian lands was founded on a fifth-century BC pact with the kings of the Odrysian kingdom.
The town’s emblem, the anchor, which appears on all coins issued by Apollonia from the sixth century BC, attests to the town’s marine commerce prominence. The prosperous town quickly developed into a significant cultural center. During this historical period, it was known as Apollonia Magna.
Sozopol was ruled successively by the Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Ottoman empires until being allocated to newly independent Bulgaria in the nineteenth century. When the Greek War of Independence (1821) began, notable local figures were imprisoned and killed by the Ottoman authorities for their involvement in the struggle’s preparations.
In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, almost all of its Greek population was traded for Bulgarians from Eastern Thrace. In 2011, the ruins of an ancient Greek village, part of Apollonia, were discovered off the coast of Sozopolis on the little island of St. Kirik (Saint Cerycus).
Since 1984, Sozopol has hosted the Apollonia art festival, which features theatrical performances, exhibits, films, musical and dance performances, book presentations, and other cultural activities.
Ecclesiastical History
Sozopol was early Christianized. Bishops are known as having lived there as early as 431. At least eight bishops are recorded (Le Quien, Oriens christianus, I, 1181): Athanasius (431), Peter (680), Euthymius (787), and Ignatius (869); Theodosius (1357), Joannicius (1524), Philotheus (1564), and Joasaph (1565). (1721).
From being a suffragan see to Hadrianopolis in Haemimonto, it became a metropolis without suffragan sees in the 14th century; it may have vanished momentarily during the Turkish occupation, but returned later; in 1808, the Greek Orthodox Church combined it with the see of Agathopolis. The titular was based at Agathopolis, formerly known as Akhtébolou in Ottoman times.
Eubel (Hierarchia catholica medii vi, I, 194) cites four 14th-century Latin bishops.
The bishopric is listed as Sozopolis in Haemimonto on the Catholic Church’s list of titular sees and as a suffragan of Hadrianopolis in Haemimonto.
During the Christian period, art blossomed. The old icons and beautiful woodcarvings in the iconostases are a marvel of nineteenth-century artistry. The Renaissance architecture of the residences in the old town makes it a fascinating destination to visit today.
The Vampire of Sozopol
In 2012, archaeological investigations uncovered the bones of a skeleton wounded in the heart by an iron rod. Those are thought to be the bones of local lord Krivich (or Krivitsa), ruler of Sozopol’s citadel (castrofilax). Locals ensured that he would not return to haunt the city after his death by piercing him in the chest with an iron rod. Over 100 medieval burials like that of Krivitsa have been discovered across Bulgaria. The chest was punctured with either an iron or a wooden bar to ensure that the deceased do not resurrect as vampires from the grave.
Sozopol
Sozopol
Sozopol is situated on a picturesque bay on the southern Bulgarian coast, about 35 kilometers south of Burgas.
The settlement of 5,000 inhabitants is one of the oldest on Bulgaria’s Black Sea Coast and one of the most popular coastal resorts in the nation. Visitors from all over the globe come to experience the romantic ambiance of the city’s lovely old town.
According to archaeological evidence, the city has a 7,000-year-old cultural legacy. The earliest habitation on the Sozopol bay dates all the way back to the Neolithic Era, around 6,000 years BCE. In 610 BCE, the residents of Milet, a city in Asia Minor, founded the city-state of Apolloniya on the Sozopol peninsula. During the early centuries of its existence, the city-state saw remarkable expansion. Massive castle walls were erected in the fifth century BCE to safeguard the city’s enormous public facilities. The Temple of Apollo the Healer is described by ancient sources as huge, containing a 13-meter-high statue of the deity. Apollonia was taken in 72 BCE by Roman forces led by Marcus Lucullus, who destroyed and pillage the city. Apollo’s fabled statue was sent to Rome as spoils of war.
The city was reconstructed in the first century, and when Thrace became a Roman province, Sozopol retained its role as an administrative marine hub. When Christianity became the national religion, Apolloniya was renamed Sozopolis to conform to the new Christian theology.
In the fifth century, the city was fortified once again with additional defensive walls, vestiges of which may still be seen near the peninsula’s southeastern tip. The city was initially annexed by Bulgaria in 812, when it was conquered by Han Krum’s troops. Sozopol developed into a significant diocese, with over 20 Orthodox churches and five monasteries. The ruins of the Saint Ivan (Saint John) monastery complex, as well as the Medieval church in the city center and a portion of the Holy Apostles Monastery on Skamniy (Rocky) Point in the Old Town’s northeastern section, have been preserved.
On September 7, 1974, Ministerial Decree No 320 designated Sozopol’s Old Town as a museum-reserve. The reserve has around 180 homes built during the mid-eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Old Town’s houses are constructed of stone and wood in the style of the so-called Black Sea school of architecture. The Marieta Stefanova House, the Kreanoolu House, the Todor Zagorov House, the Kurtidi House, and the Dimitri Laskaridis House are among the most well-known.
Sozopol’s archeological museum and art gallery are two of the city’s most popular tourist attractions. In 2010, archaeologists discovered holy relics of Saint John the Baptist during archeological digs on adjacent Saint Ivan (Saint John’s) Island. Today, these priceless relics are entrusted to the authorities at the Church of St. Cyril and St. Methodius and draw pilgrims from all over the globe. In 2011, „Bulgaria’s Wonders“ chose Old Sozopol and the relics of Saint John the Baptist as the most significant of „Bulgaria’s Wonders.“
The Apollonia Festival (September 1-10) and the July Celebration are the two most important events in Sozopol (June 30-July 1).
Sozopol features two beaches – the major beach and Harmani Beach – as well as two other beaches nearby – Golden Fish Campground and Kavatsi Beach.
The city is separated into two sections: the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town, with its tiny cobblestone lanes and ancient old homes, is justly famous for its beautiful ambience. The contemporary area of Sozopol is densely packed with hotels, eating enterprises, and other pleasant distractions. There are several options for lodging, ranging from luxury hotels to tiny family hotels, guest homes to cottages. Additionally, there are other campsites nearby: Gradina (Garden), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Kavatsi, Veselie (Good Times), and Smokinya (Fig Tree). Restaurants in Sozopol provide traditional Bulgarian Black Sea cuisine as well as a range of specialities.
Numerous sporting activities including as jet skiing, surfing, beach volleyball, boating, and fishing are available along the city’s beaches.
The Ropotamo Nature Reserve is located south of Sozopol along the same-named river. Visitors may take riverboat tours to see the region’s diverse bird and plant life.
Transportation in Sozopol
How To Travel To Sozopol
Throughout the summer, multiple bus services connect Sozopol to the rest of Bulgaria. Additionally, bus services operate from Turkey to Burgas, from which local buses and taxis connect to Sozopol. Burgas to Sozopol is a 35-kilometer journey.
If you’re not a fan of the bus, flights from Sofia to Burgas are also available.
How To Travel Around Sozopol
Due to the tiny size of Sozopol, walking is the ideal mode of transport, and there is enough to see along the route.
Taxis are always parked near the beach for visitors who have spent the whole day at the beach and are too exhausted to walk home. Between 12am and 5am, cabs are generally waiting for patrons departing nightclubs. Taxis are plentiful in Sozopol, since they get little business from residents and depend heavily on visitors for revenue. Spend close attention to the price you pay for a brief cab ride. Prior to embarking on your journey, agree on a fee and do not be afraid to haggle. For visitors, fares are sometimes jacked up by two to three times the real rate.
Tourism in Sozopol
Sozopol is situated on a picturesque bay on Bulgaria’s southern coast, about 35 kilometers south of Burgas. Sozopol is located on a lovely coastline on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, 35 kilometers south of Burgas. Sozopol is one of Bulgaria’s oldest seaside towns. Sozopol is one of Bulgaria’s oldest seaside towns. Sozopol has two beaches: the Central beach and the Harmani beach, as well as a few beautiful beaches and campers nearby. The city is separated into two sections: the Old Town and the New Town. The Old Town is mostly made up of charming old residences, although the newer portion of town is densely packed with hotels of all types and rates. The resort is well-known for its nightlife, campgrounds, and beaches, which provide a variety of recreational activities such as jet skiing, surfing, and beach volleyball.
Beaches of Sozopol
Sozopol has many beaches, including central beach and Harmani beach, as well as a campground adjacent to town. Additionally, Sozopol is adjacent to many outstanding beaches and campgrounds: Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish), Gradina (Garden), Smokinya (Fig Tree), Veselie, and Kavatsi.
Central beach: Located between Sozopol’s Old and New Towns. Because it is easily accessible, it attracts an excessive number of visitors throughout the months of July and August. If you arrive later in the day, finding a place to stay may be tough. The beach is quite slender. If you choose to lay under the umbrellas or utilize a chair, a nominal fee will be charged for the day. If you do not choose to utilize any of these amenities, you will be sent to the beach’s end. Sunbathing without a top is permitted, however nudists are not permitted. The beach is completely free to enter..
Harmani beach: Located in Sozopol’s new town. This beach is broader and longer than the Central beach, making it a more convenient alternative during the busy summer months of July and August. This beach is surrounded by a slew of little eateries and places to dine and drink. If you choose to recline under the umbrellas or use a chair, you will be charged a day fee. If you do not want to utilize any of these amenities, you will be requested to move a short distance away from the Sea to a free parking area. This beach is patrolled by bay watch personnel, however caution is advised due to the presence of potentially hazardous underwater streams. If the waves are too large and the flag is red, the bay watch personnel will request that you refrain from entering the Sea. Sunbathing without a top is permitted, however nudists are not permitted. The beach is completely free to enter..
Gold Fish beach: (3 km north from Sozopol): On the route to Bourgas, not far from Sozopol. This is the beach of a campground named Gold Fish, which is mostly frequented by surfers. The beach is sufficiently long and broad, and very tranquil in comparison to the other nearby beaches. Very good location with lots of beach room. The neighboring Surf school rents out wind-surfing equipment and gives surf training. While topless sunbathing is permitted, nudists are not permitted here officially, however we have observed several at the end of the beach. Around the area, one or two small eateries provide quick meals and soups. If you like the ambience, you may stay in a tent at the campsite for an additional fee. The camping site has hot showers and toilets.
Sights & Landmarks In Sozopol
Ancient Sozopol, with its charming old town of winding cobblestone streets and charming wooden houses huddled together on a narrow peninsula, is a highlight of the coast. With two outstanding beaches, a friendly atmosphere, ample accommodation, and convenient transportation, it has long been a popular seaside resort and serves as an excellent base for exploring the surrounding area. While it is not as busy as Nesebâr, it is growing in popularity with foreign tourists. There is also a vibrant cultural scene, with numerous free concerts and other events throughout the summer.
The new town, dubbed ‘Harmanite,’ is located south of the town’s minuscule bus station. This section of town has the best beach, but is otherwise dominated by modern hotels and residential areas.
Make a point of seeing the old town, which has an antique church, an amphitheater, ancient sites, restaurants, a harbor, and a beach. Camping is popular among young people and travelers across the city. Saint Ivan and Saint Peter are both fascinating islands. Ravadinovo castle, located on the road connecting Burgas and Sozopol, is a must-see.
Things To Do In Sozopol
If you’re looking for a lesser-known spot to unwind, there is a rocky location by the sea near the old town. Ascend the hill past the old school (supposedly an old school) and through the parking lot, taking a little route down to the sea. There, you may sunbathe on the rocks, swim in the water, or jump/dive from the cliffs (some are rather high!). The water is rather deep and may be quite choppy at times, so have this in mind if you are not a reasonably good swimmer. If you like extreme activities, you may participate in a Quad Bike safari in Sozopol – in the vicinity of the town of Marinka.
The city hosts the renowned Apollonia Festival of Arts in early September.
Food & Restaurants In Sozopol
There are several dining establishments in both the modern and ancient towns. However, many restaurants double as nightclubs, so if you’re not up for dancing the night away, inquire with your waiter what time patrons often begin arriving. The restaurant Kirik is named after the same-named island and is located directly across from the marine base. On a balmy summer day with panoramic views, the balcony is located directly under a large fig tree. The main issue is getting a seat, since there are never any empty seats at night. They serve a variety of foods, with a focus on seafood. They are famous for their marinated fish, roasted mackerel with lemon and fennel, octopus salad, and tsaganaki clams. They also offer a variety of appetizers and snacks, in addition to a full bar.
Accommodation In Sozopol
Sozopol is divided between an old and a modern section. The Old Town is mostly comprised of lovely old buildings, but the modern section of town is densely packed with hotels of all types and rates, ranging from tiny family hotels to luxury hotels, bungalows to guest houses.
Nightlife In Sozopol
Numerous taverns, restaurants, fast-food outlets, grill- and toast-bars are strewn throughout Sozopol’s alleyways. They provide a variety of Bulgarian and foreign dishes. The resort is well-known for its nightlife, which includes several clubs, discotheques, and pubs. The seafront lanes of Morski Skali and Milet are lined with modest taverns and restaurants.
Entertainment In Sozopol
Sozopol is quite crowded in July and August, but is a tranquil fishing village and a favorite destination for authors and painters during the off-season. Sozopol’s Old Town was designated a museum-reserve in 1974. It has almost 180 dwellings and houses from the 18th and 19th centuries’ National Revival era. Houses constructed of wood and stone with red-tiled roofs in the Mediterranean style adhere to the so-called Black Sea school of architecture.
The Apollonia Festival (1–10 September) and the July Celebration (30 June–1 July) are the two largest events in Sozopol.
Sozopol’s beaches provide chances for a variety of sports activities, including surfing, boating, jet skiing, fishing, and beach volleyball.
History of Sozopol
Sozopol is one of the oldest cities on the Black Sea coast of Bulgarian Thrace. The site’s initial habitation goes all the way back to the Bronze Age. Subsea explorations in the vicinity of the port have uncovered relics of that era’s dwellings, ceramic pottery, and stone and bone tools. Numerous anchors dating from the second and first millennia BC have been unearthed in the town’s harbour, demonstrating the town’s maritime history dating all the way back to prehistoric times.
Antheia was created in the seventh century BC by Greek immigrants from Miletus. The name was shortly changed to Apollonia in honor of the town’s temple devoted to Apollo, which houses a renowned gigantic statue of the god Apollo by Calamis, 30 cubits high, which Lucullus subsequently moved to Rome and installed in the Capitol.
Coins dating from the fourth century BC bear the name Apollonia and an image of Apollo; imperial coins dating from the first half of the third century AD, as well as the Tabula Peutinger, also bear the name Apollonia; however, the „Periplus Ponti Euxini“, 85, and the Notiti episcopatuum, only bear the new name Sozopolis. Cantacuzene (ed. Bonn, I, 326) describes it as a big and populous town in 1328. It was located on an islet that is now joined to the mainland by a small tongue of land. Its residents, who were mostly Greek in the past, subsisted on fishing and agriculture.
In the centuries that followed, the town developed itself as a commercial and naval center. It maintained significant political and commercial relationships with Ancient Greece’s towns – Miletus, Athens, Corinth, Heraclea Pontica – as well as the islands of Rhodes, Chios, and Lesbos. Its commercial presence in the Thracian lands was founded on a fifth-century BC pact with the kings of the Odrysian kingdom.
The town’s emblem, the anchor, which appears on all coins issued by Apollonia from the sixth century BC, attests to the town’s marine commerce prominence. The prosperous town quickly developed into a significant cultural center. During this historical period, it was known as Apollonia Magna.
Sozopol was ruled successively by the Byzantine, Bulgarian, and Ottoman empires until being allocated to newly independent Bulgaria in the nineteenth century. When the Greek War of Independence (1821) began, notable local figures were imprisoned and killed by the Ottoman authorities for their involvement in the struggle’s preparations.
In the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, almost all of its Greek population was traded for Bulgarians from Eastern Thrace. In 2011, the ruins of an ancient Greek village, part of Apollonia, were discovered off the coast of Sozopolis on the little island of St. Kirik (Saint Cerycus).
Since 1984, Sozopol has hosted the Apollonia art festival, which features theatrical performances, exhibits, films, musical and dance performances, book presentations, and other cultural activities.
Ecclesiastical History
Sozopol was early Christianized. Bishops are known as having lived there as early as 431. At least eight bishops are recorded (Le Quien, Oriens christianus, I, 1181): Athanasius (431), Peter (680), Euthymius (787), and Ignatius (869); Theodosius (1357), Joannicius (1524), Philotheus (1564), and Joasaph (1565). (1721).
From being a suffragan see to Hadrianopolis in Haemimonto, it became a metropolis without suffragan sees in the 14th century; it may have vanished momentarily during the Turkish occupation, but returned later; in 1808, the Greek Orthodox Church combined it with the see of Agathopolis. The titular was based at Agathopolis, formerly known as Akhtébolou in Ottoman times.
Eubel (Hierarchia catholica medii vi, I, 194) cites four 14th-century Latin bishops.
The bishopric is listed as Sozopolis in Haemimonto on the Catholic Church’s list of titular sees and as a suffragan of Hadrianopolis in Haemimonto.
During the Christian period, art blossomed. The old icons and beautiful woodcarvings in the iconostases are a marvel of nineteenth-century artistry. The Renaissance architecture of the residences in the old town makes it a fascinating destination to visit today.
The Vampire of Sozopol
In 2012, archaeological investigations uncovered the bones of a skeleton wounded in the heart by an iron rod. Those are thought to be the bones of local lord Krivich (or Krivitsa), ruler of Sozopol’s citadel (castrofilax). Locals ensured that he would not return to haunt the city after his death by piercing him in the chest with an iron rod. Over 100 medieval burials like that of Krivitsa have been discovered across Bulgaria. The chest was punctured with either an iron or a wooden bar to ensure that the deceased do not resurrect as vampires from the grave.
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