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Nessebar

Nesebar, an ancient town founded 3200 years ago, transitioned from a Thracian settlement to a Greek colony and is now recognized for its rich architectural and historical heritage. The Old Town, declared a national architectural-historical reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, features numerous churches and archaeological finds that reflect its diverse history under various empires. Key landmarks include the Church of St. Stefan, the Church of St. John Aliturgetus, and the Ethnographic Museum, showcasing the town's cultural significance and historical evolution.

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Teodora Kiryakova
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14 views2 pages

Nessebar

Nesebar, an ancient town founded 3200 years ago, transitioned from a Thracian settlement to a Greek colony and is now recognized for its rich architectural and historical heritage. The Old Town, declared a national architectural-historical reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, features numerous churches and archaeological finds that reflect its diverse history under various empires. Key landmarks include the Church of St. Stefan, the Church of St. John Aliturgetus, and the Ethnographic Museum, showcasing the town's cultural significance and historical evolution.

Uploaded by

Teodora Kiryakova
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Originally a Thracian settlement t became a Greek colony at the beginning of the 6th century BC.

But the peninsular town possesses more than the remains of an assortment of iconic and historic
eras.

Nesebar Architectural-Historical Reserve is located in the Old Town and takes the form of an 850
m long and 350 m wide peninsula. The Old Town was declared an architectural-historical reserve
of national importance by virtue of Ordinance No 243 of the Council of Ministers of 18 July 1956.
In 1983, Old Nesebar was included in the List of World Cultural Heritage Sites of UNESCO.

Nesebar is one of the most ancient towns in Europe, founded 3200 years ago. Numerous
archaeological finds evidently reveal the centuries-old history ot this peninsular town. Different
museum halls provide information about the town’s existence under the control of the Thracians,
the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and its transformation under the realm of the
Bulgarian State. Ever since it was founded, the town has always been surrounded by fortification
walls, The first fortification walls were built by the Thracians in the 8th century BC. Later, in the
5th century BC, the Greek colonisers also constructed fortification facilities. After Romans
conquered Mesembria, they used the fortification walls as well. The period, over which
Mesemvria was under the rule of the Byzantine Empire, was characterised by a construction
boom (5th century AD). The wall by the town’s gate is the best-preserved example of a
fortification wall from this period. During the early Byzantine period, a fortification wall was built on
the southwestern shore as well. It has survived until the present day.

After the capital of the Roman Empire moved to Constantinople and Christianity became the
official religion, there was a boom of Christian temples built on the territory of Mesemvria.
St. Stefan Church, also known as the New Metropolia is located near the amphitheatre in
Nesebar and dates back to the 11th century. More than 1000 figures in about 260 compositions
were beautifully painted therein five centuries later. The church functions as a museum and was
declared an architectural-construction monument of culture of national importance. The same
status has the the unfinished 14th century Church of St. John Aliturgetus. In 1913 this temple was
severely damaged by an earthquake and now it offers free access to the visitors. According to
some legends, there used to be around 40 churches in Nesebar. Today there is information about
23 of them. Nessebar is proud of its churches but if tourists take a walk around the town, they can
also see rigorous remains of early Byzantine thermal baths. Being a real treasury of Bulgaria,
Nessebar was declared a museum town with an archaeological and architectural importance, but
due its unique historic value it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983. Today, the Old
Town is an attractive place for romantic walks but it also provides tourists with authentic glimpses
into ancient European culture.

The Church of St. Paraskevi is located nearby. It was built in the 13th – 14th centuries and has an
extremely interesting architectural design. It was declared an architectural-construction
monument of culture by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No 41 of 1964.
The main church of ancient Mesemvria was called St. Sofia, just like the main temple of
Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire. It is also called the Old Metropolia. The
temple is 25.50 m long. It used to be mortared, its walls were painted, and its entire floor was
covered with a mosaic made of small multicoloured rocks. The basilica was built at the end of the
5th and the beginning of the 6th centuries. It got its present shape at the beginning of the 9th
century. It was declared an architectural-construction monument of culture of national importance
by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No 41 of 1964.
The Church of St. Demetrius was discovered in 1968 during excavations which took place nearby
St. Sofia Church. What survived from it are the columns that supported its dome.
Church of St. John the Baptist was constructed in the 10th century. It keeps a portrait of the
church-donor that dates back to the 14th century. It was declared an architectural-construction
monument of culture of national importance by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No 41
of 1964. Archangels Michael and Gabriel Temple has richly decorated exterior. It was declared an
architectural-construction monument of culture by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No
41 of 1964. The remains of the Basilica of Madonna Eleusa lie on the northern shore of the
peninsula. It was built in the 6th century, and according to historical sources was part of a
monastery complex. Nowadays the church is restored and partially preserved. It was declared an
architectural-construction monument of culture by virtue of publication in State Gazette, issue No
41 of 1964.
Apart from the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnographic Museum of Nesebar is also located on
the peninsula. Its exhibition is displayed at Moskoyani House which was built during the Bulgarian
Revival Period. The house is a typical representative of the Nesebar residential architecture. It
was built in 1804 and was owned by a wealthy merchant from Nesebar. The museum shows
objects and items used in the everyday life and crafts of the people of Nesebar, as well as
traditional local costumes.

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