The St. Sofia Church is one of the oldest Orthodox churches in Sofia. The name of the capital city of Bulgaria mostly derives from this church (The previous name originated from the Greek word Serdika). It is the largest Byzantine church outside the borders of Constantinople; built in the 6^th century A.D. during the reign of Justinian. The materials used to build the church are dated back to the 5^th and 6^th centuries A.D. Under Ottoman rule, the church was rebuilt into a mosque, but in the 1800s the church ceased to be used due to structural damage caused by multiple earthquakes. From the year 1900 a new construction project began, resulting in the Basilica returning to its original state as an Orthodox church. After multiple restoration projects, the St. Sofia Basilica opened its doors once again during the year 2000. Today, the likeness of the church is made to very closely resemble that of its original appearance during the Middle Ages. St Sofia represents the divine wisdom not through its saintly icons in the church, but through its namesake, who stands on the top of the church above three other women, depicting: faith, hope, and love. She is an important figure in the lives of the residents of Sofia.

The first wall was made of brick and sits on a 2 meter foundation of stone. It stood at a height of around 8 or 9 meters, with a width of 2.2 meters. About 50-60 meters distance from each other, towers built for defensive purposes rise 2-3 meters above the wall. The remains of the first wall were then replaced by a new second wall in during the 4^th century. The construction of this second wall utilized an ancient Roman building technique called “opus mixtum”, with 4 rows alternating between brick and stone. The new walls follow the form of the original, with the addition of stairs which enhance the thickness of the walls. In some places there were also added side exits called posterns.

During the reign of Emperor Justinian (527-566), construction of the existing wall was set in motion. This wall was surrounded with yet another barrier with a width of 1.8 meters. New triangular towers were placed between the existing ones. These triangular towers were located near the three main pentagonal entrances. Around this was built a third wall 2 meters thick with a distance of 20m from the main rampart.

Part of this wall, which was situated on the eastern border of the ancient city, was discovered under Alexander Dondukov Boulevard. They were found under the Presidential office and the Ministry building. Some reconstruction work was carried out in 1997-1999 in order to allow visitors to see the fragments of the past that are buried underneath the capital.

The Church of St. Petka of the Saddlers, dating back to the 15th century during the reign of the Ottoman Empire, was created with donations from the Saddlers guilds of Sofia, hence the name. The church was dedicated to the martyr Petka Ikoniyska. It was built on top of the ruins of an 11th century Roman temple. During this time, construction of churches was allowed, with the restriction that their height was not allowed to exceed the height of a soldier on horseback. Thus, many churches were partially constructed underground. This is a great example of one of these structures. There are some visible traces of antique frescoes in the semicircular arches (part of a three stage of a mural painted in the 15th, 17th, and 19th centuries. There is a theory suggesting that the church is the resting place of Vasil Levski, a national hero and symbol of resistance, who was arrested and hung in Sofia during 1873. A vestige of the past, miraculously preserved through time among the hulking communist buildings, this church is a great example of the rich and diverse heritage of the capital.

Arrival in Sozopol which welcomes you for the night.

The former city of Appollonia was the largest and richest city on the Black Sea coast. It was a great artistic and commercial center, and evidence of that time still remains. Today, Sozopol is perhaps one of the most beautiful places in Bulgaria and a favorite city of artists, due to its special atmosphere. It welcomes many diverse visitors, but has kept its charm with its beautiful beaches located on the small bay.

The main sites of Sozopol are many, but none of them should be seen alone, as they all add to the overall feeling of the city. In Sozopol you will find old churches from the Bulgarian Revival period, such as the St. Zosim Church and the Church of the Virgin Mary. Also, there are many old houses made from beautiful dark wood, some of which are adapted for visitors, like the house of Dimitar Laskaridis (17^th century) which is now an art gallery, the Anna Trendafilova House, and many others.
You can also visit an interesting archaeological museum. One can easily picture old women sitting on the benches engaging in lively conversation on the ancient cobbled streets of the old city, while beautiful embroidered carriages pass by and local traders sell fig jam, all part of the magical atmosphere of the city that can now only be felt. Sozopol hosts many cultural events, including the Appollonia Festival of Arts, which is held in August and is a scene of Bulgarian and foreign artists and their crafts (theater, art, concerts, etc.). This is one of the most popular evens on the Black Sea. The city has many attractions for kids, dance and music festivals, workshops, various competitions and playgrounds.

The Memorial Temple of the Birth of Christ, more commonly known as the Shipka Church, was built in 1902 to honor the soldiers who died in the Russo-Turkish war to help free Bulgaria from Ottoman rule. In the crypt of the Russian church there are seventeen marble sarcophagi containing the bones of soldiers who died in 1877.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Church in Koprivshtitsa was built in 1817, on the location of a previous church that was burned by Kurdzhali (generally deserters from the Ottoman army who benefitted from the lack of government power and preformed attacks against the Christian population).
Local guilds received permission from the Sultan to construct the church. Architecturally, it is a basilica. The building is low, dimly lit, and painted like an ordinary house, so as to not attract attention during this tumultuous time. The iconastasis is the work of one of the greatest craftsmen of Bulgaria, Georgi Hadji of Vidin, a representative of the school of Tryavna. The church has preserved icons of great artistic value.
In the churchyard, there were once housed two convents of the Hilandar and Rila Monasteries. The followers created the first monastery schools in Koprivshtitsa.

The belfry was placed later in 1896, thanks to donations from the illustrious merchant Hadji Nencho Palaveyev, the richest Bulgarian of all time. He financed the construction of many public buildings in Koprivshtitsa and created a guaranteed fund to ensure the development of the city in the future. In 1980, the communist leaders declared that the money had run out. Nencho Palaveyev was buried in the churchyard in 1936. According to legend, his restless soul wanders the streets of Koprivshtitsa, unhappy at the loss of his fortune, which he bequeathed to the city.