Sozopol is a Bulgarian town located 30 kilometers south of Burgas on the southern coast of the Bulgarian Black Sea, in Burgas Province. It is the administrative seat of the Sozopol Municipality. According to data from the Bulgarian National Statistical Institute from December 31, 2011, the town had a population of 4,285. The town is now a well-known resort and hosts a film festival called Apollonia, named after one of Sozopol’s ancient names.
- It stretches across two peninsulas and is divided into Old and New Sozopol. Old Sozopol delights with its wood-and-stone architecture, folk-style taverns, cafes, and seaside promenade. The town is crisscrossed by a maze of cobblestone streets, and most of the houses are historic buildings. New Sozopol is a vibrant and musical part of town, with hotels, guesthouses, cozy restaurants and cafes, and discos. Wide, sandy beaches gently sloping into the sea ensure an active and enjoyable holiday. The beach is divided into North (located near the old town) and South (in the new part of town), so despite the crowds, there’s usually plenty of space to set up your beach gear.
- This is where painters, photographers, and all those who love special places with unique charm relax. What makes Sozopol so special is that, in addition to the typical tourist attractions, you can enjoy the ancient atmosphere of the Thracian, Greek, Roman, and Byzantine eras. The history of this city dates back to the 6th century BC. It was founded on the site of a Thracian settlement by displaced people from Miletus – the wealthy center of Ionia in Asia Minor. The ancient city flourished primarily as a trading and port center, as evidenced by the city’s coat of arms – an anchor. In the 5th century BC, the ancient Greek sculptor Kalalis carved a 13-meter statue of Apollo. The tombstone (a work of the Apollonian school) of Deonis, son of Anaxander, has achieved worldwide fame. In 72 BC, the city was captured, sacked, and burned by the legions of Marcus Lucullus. The statue of Apollo was then taken to Rome as a war trophy and placed on the Capitoline Hill. In the 4th century BC, the city changed its name from Apollonia to Sozopol, meaning “city of salvation.” In 811 AD, the Bulgarian Khan Krum annexed Sozopol to the territory of the first Bulgarian Empire. The city was located on the border between Bulgaria and Byzantium, and was favorably influenced by both cultures. In the second half of the 18th century and the 19th century, during the Bulgarian Renaissance, Sozopol returned to its former glory as a cultural center of Bulgaria. Preserved from this period are the Church of the Holy Theotokos, the Church of St. George the Conqueror, and the Chapel of St. Zosima, while the famous Sozopol houses—architectural monuments—have been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.
