Sozopl - Apollonia Magna – Accent of the Heritage Of the Black Sea City

Sozopol is the oldest city on the Bulgarian Black-sea coast. It was founded in 610 B.C. as Greek colony, under the name of Apollonia Pontica. The first settlement in this location probably dated by the end of IV-III millennium B.C. The underwater research in the harbor area reveal remains of dwellings, ceramic utensils, stone and bone-made instruments dating back to the Bronze Age.

The city flourished as trade and port center – maintaining active relations with the large ancient Greek centers and islands. The anchor – emblem of the city and always depicted on the coins minted in the city since the end of VI century B.C. is proof of the importance of trade in the settlement. The rich city became a center of fine arts and was called Apollonia Magna (Apollonia the Great). In 72 B.C. the city was conquered and pillaged by the Romans and the city walls were demolished. In IV century A.C. the city flourished again, this time under the name of Sozopolis – city of salvation. A traditionally Byzantine city, it was not until 812 when the city when, under Khan Krum, the city was shortly included in the Bulgarian state. Many of the XVIII-XIX century churches and old houses are still preserved, thus creating the unique architectural appearance of today’s Sozopol. The ancient icons and marvelous wood-carved iconostatis attest the attainments of the old fine arts.

Through the reconstruction of the South city wall and Tower, as well as through the construction of a public tourist infrastructure for people with disabilities, the project “Creation and Popularization of the Tourist Products in Sozopol” aims to promote the famous city not only as a attractive sea destination, but also as a site taking pride in its exceptionally rich cultural and historical heritage.

The duration of the project is 10 months, with total value of 345 871 Euro, of which 302 155 are ensured by the PHARE program. The leading organization is the “Sozopol” foundation, in partnership with the Sozopol and Pomorie municipalities.

The project will create the architectural and historic complex of “South City Wall and Tower”, together with a museum exhibit. This would ensure the preservation and integration of the cultural monuments in the contemporary city infrastructure.

The complex is located in the south-east part of the old city’s Skamnia peninsula. Archeological and architectural monuments from the Hellenic, Late-antiquity, Medieval and the Renaissance periods may be seen.

The complex includes:
- Exhibit of the city wall and tower - IV-XIV century A.C.
- Overall exposure of antique well dating IV-III century B.C.
- Museum exhibit in part of a building dating back to V-VI century B.C.
- Gallery for exhibitions of paintings, sculptures, plastic arts.
- Restoration and adaptation of Renaissance-period house

Exposure of the IV-XIV century city wall and tower

Here you can find the best preserved south-eastern section of the city walls, built in the end of the IV century which once circled the entire city.

Sozopol was the largest port near the heart of the Eastern Roman Empire – Constantinople. The city was well fortified – with double city walls, with height between 8 to 11 meters, 1.7 meters thick. The Tower was connected to the walls to offer better defense – the tower is rectangular, with thick masonry. The Tower was accessed through stone stairs and wooden platform while there was a chapel under the stairs.

Further south one can see the remains of another tower meant to defend the vulnerable low part of the shore. The south-eastern wall section contained eight such towers, the remains of which may still be seen on the rocks overseeing the sea shore.

Museum exhibit in building dating back to V-VI century B.C.

This is the largest building uncovered in Sozopol – 26 m. long, 17 m. wide. The masonry is massive, and is preserved to 2.50m. height, the basement probably served as grain storage. The masonry is front-type, filled in with broken stone and plaster.

This building is proof that in the Medieval Age Sozopol served as the main Black-sea port for grain export. Interesting historical events tell how the Bulgarian Tzar Svetoslav Terter achieved territorial expansion of his kingdom thanks to the grain storages of Sozopol. He offered to the then-starving Constantinople grain, since the starvation threatened to provoke insurrection against the Byzantine emperor. The Emperor accepted the grain in exchange for his daughter’s hand and concession of the Black sea coastal territories from Sozopol to Ahtopol.

The antique and medieval archeological finds dug out in excavations have been restored, preserved and grouped in a separate museum exhibit.

Gallery for the exhibition of paintings, sculpture and plastic arts

The exhibition room encompasses the space enclosed between the interior section of the “South city wall”, the exterior part of the commercial building and the exterior of the antique well. The mere proportions of the gallery, the good acoustics and the lighting allow multi-functional use – possibility for exhibits of archeological finds, paintings, icons, photos, maps, plastic art, etc.

The upper level of the gallery features the “Magic of Wine”, where tourists take a minute to sample wines.

Restored and adapted – a Renaissance House on No. 60 “Milet” street

The house is one of the most beautiful traditional houses, built around 1877. The house is exceptionally valuable for the wooden ornaments, built in the XIX characteristic architectural style – deep-gap stone masonry, with interior paneling with wood and oak logs. The house has a distinctive silhouette with the bow-windows in the upper part, where the living floor is located.

The cultural-historic complex offers organized, all-year tours.

There are also custom tours for individual tourists in the old Sozopol. Tour-guides may show you around the cobblestone roads of the ancient city, relating the story of its cultural and historic heritage in four languages.

And for the first time people with disability problems will have access to the “South panoramic alley”. The project has helped create a new image of the tourist product in Sozopol, the tourist season has been extended, larger numbers of tourists may be seen and new jobs have been created. Besides, the project has an important educational aspect, since connections with many educational institutions have been established – with the Burgas Free University, the New Bulgarian University, as well as with the Canadian Concordia University.

A marketing plan has been elaborated aiming to further promote Sozopol as a tourist destination, and contracts with tour-operators have been signed.

This is a PHARE-sponsored project, aiming to develop the Bulgarian cultural tourism and proving Sozopol to be a not just a sea-only tourist destination.


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