Sozopole

Location: The town of Sozopol has a population of about 7,000 people and is situated 31 km south – east of Bourgas, and 421 km south – east of Sofia . The town lies on a small rocky peninsula in the farthest southern part of Bourgas Bay . A one hundred – meters long strip of land connects it to the mainland. After 1925 the town started to grow in the direction of Harmanite Areas and today it occupies a considerably larger territory on the mainland.
The earliest settlements in the area belonged to the Thracian tribes of Nipsei and Skirimian. In the 7 th century BC Greek colonisers settled there and named the town after their god Apollo, the God of arts. Apolonia developed mainly as a trading centre for honey, wax, corn, wine, olive oil, olives, textiles, jewellery, and pottery. The numerous finds are evidence that this small town used to be the trading centre of the whole of the Black Sea coast. Much earlier in 13 th century BC the Argonauts led by Iazon, Heraklitis and Orpheus came ashore. The love for traveling and discovering made the inhabitants of Apolonia in those times travel, trade and found new colonies.
Thus were founded the settlements of Anhialo and Pirgos, Termopolis and Aetos. The town was included in the union of sea town – states founded by Percales. Apolonia was frequently in economic and political dispute with the Doric inhabitants of Messembria; wars were even waged. At the time the island of Kirik was mainly inhabited. Apolonia sought help from Philip of Macedonia against the attacks of the Scythians. It was included in the territory of the Macedonian State at the time of Alexander the Great.
It was constantly subject to invasions but it struggled against the attacks of number of Nomadic tribes flowing from north and west. The town fell under Roman domination in 1 st century BC and was severely ruined by the armies of Marcus Lucul. It is an interesting fact that the Romans quickly restored the ruins, built new temples, and ordered a thirteen – meters high bronze statue of the god Apollo by the sculptor named Kalamis. The statue was sent to Rome as an example of the arts of this particular Roman province. As early as 6 th century Apolonia minted coins on its own. The Roman domination provided three centuries of peace until the invasion of the barbarian tribes.
It was only in 5 th century that the town was included in the territory of Byzantium . During the reign of Khan Kroum it was within the borders of Bulgaria and like all other sea towns it frequently fell under the rule of Byzantium . In the middle Ages it preserved its status of a district town. It was severely devastated in the middle of 14 th century during an attack by the Genoa fleet. Later it was conquered and sold by the knights of Amadeus of Savoy. After a long siege the town fell under Turkish rule in 1453. Only wooden houses have been built there ever since; the oldest samples can be observed even today in the unique old streets.
Sozopol welcomed the Liberation as small fishermen's settlement. Later the town became the biggest fishing centre of the Black Sea coast and developed recreation and tourism. The famous Tsar's Beach is located to the north of the town. Nestled between the rocks to the south of the town is the Raiski Beach ( Paradise ) and further southwards is the Kavatsite beach and camping site. The Harmanite Beach is immediately to the south of the so – called “new” town. An ancient necropolis was found here in 1993 and excavations are still going on.
Places of Interest: The sights of Sozopol are many, but none of them can be separated from the rest since all of them impact the visitors as an attractive ensemble. The ancient churches from the Renaissance period– St. Zosim Church and The Holy Virgin Church. The following houses are quite interesting: the house of Dimitur Laskaridis (17 th century, now an art gallery), a fish trader, Ana Trendafilova's (the house with the sun), of Kourtidis, Lina Psarianova's (now arranged as Stenata Restaurant), of Grandmother Koukoulissa Hadzhinikolova (today housing the office of Sturshel Newspaper), Metropoliev's House (a medical centre at present), of Kreanoolu, ets.
The old cobbled streets and high fences in front of which the old women sit and chat, knit laces and sell fig jam, are inseparable elements of a whole complex of three – centuries of history. Interesting places to visit are the Archaeological Museum and the Art Gallery . Moreover, at the beginning of September each year the town hosts the big Apolonia International Art Festival, which attracts artists and art lovers from all over the country and abroad. The isle of St. Ivan is situated just 2 km away from the old town in northern direction.
St. Ivan is the biggest Black Sea isle in Bulgarian territorial waters.The isle of St. Ivan is situated just 2 km away from the old town in northern direction. St. Ivan is the biggest Black Sea isle in Bulgarian territorial waters. The isle shelters a sonar lighthouse, which together with lighthouse on the Emine cape shows the way to Bourgas Bay . Once upon a time, the isle hosted a monastery called the Holy Virgin, which was later renamed into St. Ivan Prodromos.
Surrounding areas: Outside Sozopol, there is a number of fiord – like formations to the south. The coast here is particularly high and jagged by the incoming waves. There are numerous secluded caves as well. Some 20 km to the south is the mouth of Ropotamo River , which is declared a natural reserve. Ropotamo river takes its sour ce from land nearby village of Bosna. The important feature of the river is its salt water. Its rise is freshwater , but some kilometers after it becomes salt. The unique place in the south Black sea cost, where was a freshwater it was the “Tsarskoto kladentche”(The king fountain) along the riverside.
In the salt water s of the river there is mostly sea fish- grey mullet, goby etc. Everything here is ecologically clean, and river color is such because the red plankton spawns here. F ishing and hunting are forbidden in Ropotamo region. Duni Resort is situated 12 km north of Primorsko and was completed in 1987 as a Bulgarian – Austrian project. It offers lots of hotels, villas and bungalows. Aleopou Beach and Arkoutino Beach just next to the resort in southern direction are wild and beautiful places where the sea is traditionally rough.
The Saint Toma Island is situated quite nearby. It is a small island and it takes its name from saint Toma and the chapel in honour of him. According the legend, the island was a pirate hiding place from time immemorial. Here the pirates bur i ed the takehold treasure. In the rocks along the cost there are c a ves. They got inside only by under water entrance. The pirates put their treasures- gold, silver, jewelleries…
On the island there are many snakes. Therefore it is called Snake island. Its area is 10 decares. “Snake island” Reserve is the only one find of wild cactus. It is announced for a buffer zone with 707, 7 hectares which conclude the natural sithtseeng “Maslen nos”, the furthest eastern point of Stranja mountain and the third largest cape in Bulgarian Black sea cost. Its steep slopes make it inaccessible. From time s immemorial it had a notorious name of a place of execution of many ships, which broke into its sharp rocks. As the carg o of most of the ships were olive amphoras, that is why th e place was named “Maslen nos”(The oiled cape).
Further southwards is the Perla Camping located in one of the most beautiful bays along the Black Sea coast. Here the beach gradually turns into a green grove. Nearby is the marsh of Stomoplo. Two natural reserves cover this area – Vodna Lilia (water lily) and Velyov Vir . Via Pontica – here pass migrating birds on their way to the south. Every year, at the end of the summer thousands of storks, pelicans, and about 30 other species of birds of prey gather in the area before they head southwards to spend the winter.
Accommodation and Catering: In Sozopol there are lodgings in the old part and in the new part of the town as well. Radik Hotel and Groudov Hotel are among the well – know ones. There are a lot of camping sites around Sozopol where many tourists spend their holidays: Kavatsite (The Willows), Smokinya (The Fig), Vesselie (Feast), Zlatna Ribka (Golden Fish) and Gradina (Garden). They offer bungalows of different categories, sites for caravans, tents and vehicles. The prices are quite moderate, the service and the hygiene are of good quality. One can also choose to sleep in the nearby town of Chernomoretz , where prices are much lower than in Sozopol. Chernomoretz is just 6 km away from Sozopol, while it offers a rich choice of accommodation in spacious new houses.
Judging by occupancy rates, tourists seem to rate best most of the small coastal restaurants and private pubs both in the old and new part of the town. Stalls for fish, pizza places, and snack – bars scattered all over the camping sites are also popular among visitors. Among the most attractive places are Vyaturnata Melnitsa, Sozopol Tavern, the restaurants Xantana, Neptun, Drouzhba Fishing Boat, Orpheus, Olymp, Stenata, Kladenetsa, Lilia. Some of these are very interesting as they are built on ancient remains after detailed archaeological research and restorations. Such an example is Stanata Restaurant, the basement of which was used as a grain warehouses far back in time while Kladenetsa Restaurant was built over a spring, which used to supply the town with drinking water via water pipes. Prices at restaurants are traditionally high. Places at camping sites and small restaurants along the beach offer more moderate prices. There are a lot of groceries and marketplaces. One could buy fish directly from fishermen at the quay.
Transport: In Sozopol there are high – frequency bus lines connected Sozopol to Bourgas. Route taxis, minibuses and ordinary taxis run along the same route as well.