Sozopol The town of Sozopol is situated on the marvelous Black Sea coast, 32 kilometers away from Burgas and the International Airport there. The old and authentic part of it is located on a peninsula tied to the dry land with a narrow isthmus. History: Sozopol is one of the oldest Black Sea settlements originating with the name Apolonia. In 610 B.C. immigrants from the rich city of Miletus in Asia Minor founded a Hellenistic colony and named it Apollonia Pontica in honor of the god Apollo. Its livelihood was sea trade. The ships exported wheat, honey, wax, hide and cattle and imported Greek wine, olive oil, luxurious tissues and fine art products. Apollonia started coinage of silver coins in 520 B.C. engraving them with its symbols - an anchor and a crab. Sozopol was famous for its stone Apollo temple in which trade treaties were kept. A huge bronze statue of the god raised in the centre of the town created by the famous Athene sculptor Kalamis. The town was conquered by the Romans in 72 B.C. and the Apollo statue was sent to Rome. The zenith of the town during the Roman rule was cut short after three centuries by barbarian invasions. In 330 A.D. the town of Apolonia was renamed Sozopolis (Saving City) because its calm and sheltered gulf saved sailors' lives in storms. According to some historians the right translation is Salvation City because early Christianity was widely spread in it.
Active sea trade turned Sozopolis into a lively center town. Solid walls were built remaining of which could be seen even now on the south coast of the peninsula. The rich monastery St. St. Kirik and Yulita was built on the Isle of Kirik. After establishment of the Bulgarian state Sozopolis followed the destiny of the most Black Sea towns - being in either Bulgarian or Byzantian possession. Its inhabitants' life was stormy and troubled. In 1352 it was plundered by the Genuez, in 1366 crusaders conquered it and delivered it to Byzantine and finally Turks conquered it in 1453. During the Ottoman rule Sozopolis declined and became a poor fishing and vine-growing village.
Following the Bulgarian Liberation in 1878 Sozopol turns into a fish center and a popular resort. The contemporary town divided into Old and New quarters is an unique place with special atmosphere. The old part of the town is declared an architectural and historical reserve. You could see marvelous authentic houses with typical Black Sea architecture from 17th to 19th century; museum exposition near the restored south fortress wall; ancient churches and an art gallery. Archeological museum shows history of ancient shipping, establishment and development of Apolonia trade colony, late-antique fortress, medieval city. You can see the biggest Bulgarian collection of painted antique pottery from the fourth-second century B.C. and others.
You can see magnificent places resembling fiords south from Sozopol. The high coast here is cut from the rising waves. Romantically disposed holiday-makers have their pleasure to find isolated gulfs here. Landmarks: - The Archeological Museum with a rich collection of ceramic vessels and stone obelisks, reliefs, amphoras and coins.
- Architectural Reserve - includes more than 1180 homes of the National Revival, historical and memorial monuments.
- Remains of the fortification system and the fortress walls
- Necropolises in the village of Veselie, in the Lobodovo Kale, at Cape Atia
- Prehistoric dolments (graves) in the village of Rosen, Sadakovo Kladenche etc.
- St. Ivan Island is the biggest Bulgarian sea island. It is 1 km away from Sozopol in North-East direction. There are remains from the medieval monastery complex St. Joan Prodrom existing between 15th to 17th century. St. Ivan Island's territory and the neighboring St. Peter Island's territory were declared an archeological reserve in 2001.
- St. Kiril Island (St. Kirik Island) is located north-east from Sozopol. It is linked with the dry land by a breakwater and it is inhabited. The famous medieval monastery St. St. Kirik and Yulita was built on it.
- Resort complex Kavatsite is south from Sozopol near the gulf of the same name. Being beautiful and convenient Kavatsite is one of the most visited resorts on the South Black Sea coast. You could visit the Sand Lily natural reserve near Kavatsite where you could see the rare and endangered plant species of Sand Lily.
- The village of Chernomorets stands north of Sozopol on a beautiful gulf. It is a well-appointed and popular resort. The camping sites Gradina and Chernomorets are located near the village.
Nowadays Sozopol is a big sea resort with excellent condition for relaxation and available tourist infrastructure. Thanks to its historical material heritage, the unique coastline and especially the numerous inlets cut into the coast turns into one of the most preferable place for holidays and investment too. The climate is temperately continental, strongly influenced by the Black Sea and also by the air flows coming from the Mediterranean Sea. The average temperature in July is 27 °C, in January - 6 °C and the average annual temperature is 16.4 °C. |