Yesterday, being Sunday, we decided to go sight-seeing to Nesebar, a 30 minute boat ride or 15 minute bus ride south of Sunny Beach. Good thing we went yesterday as it was warm and sunny. Rained last night and is cold and cloudy today. Sleeping day.
Nesebar, a small almost-island, connected to the mainland by a very narrow neck of land, is a very old settlement, built by the Thracians over 3000 years ago. The museum has pottery examples going back to 5000 BC. Then as the Greeks settled the Black Sea, it became a Greek colony in about the 7th or 6th century BC. The Romans took it over about 70 BC and then it became part of the Byzantine Empire until the Turks finished that in 1453.
Nesebar is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bulgaria. Most of the fortification ruins are from Greek times but some remain of the original Thracian walls and towers. There area great many churches dating back to Byszantine times when the community became famous for its Icon Painting Schools. This continued even during Ottoman occupation up until the 19th century. Some of the locally painted icons are on display in the museum.
Needless to say, every square inch of the town that has been developed for tourists with hotels, shops and restaurants. Tanya has already investigated renting a flat there for "next time" as it would be much quieter and nicer than where we are in Sunny Beach.
Google Nesebar Bulgaria Images for hundreds of great pictures.
Nesebar, a small almost-island, connected to the mainland by a very narrow neck of land, is a very old settlement, built by the Thracians over 3000 years ago. The museum has pottery examples going back to 5000 BC. Then as the Greeks settled the Black Sea, it became a Greek colony in about the 7th or 6th century BC. The Romans took it over about 70 BC and then it became part of the Byzantine Empire until the Turks finished that in 1453.Nesebar is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Bulgaria. Most of the fortification ruins are from Greek times but some remain of the original Thracian walls and towers. There area great many churches dating back to Byszantine times when the community became famous for its Icon Painting Schools. This continued even during Ottoman occupation up until the 19th century. Some of the locally painted icons are on display in the museum.
Needless to say, every square inch of the town that has been developed for tourists with hotels, shops and restaurants. Tanya has already investigated renting a flat there for "next time" as it would be much quieter and nicer than where we are in Sunny Beach.
Google Nesebar Bulgaria Images for hundreds of great pictures.
Now, those picture are great. Such a rich place — rich in history!
ReplyDeleteHumankind spread from Africa to the Middle East through Asia Minor up through the Balkans into Europe so there is a great deal of ancient history in Bulgaria.
DeleteThat's fascinating - I didn't realize Bulgaria had such a colourful past!
ReplyDeleteThe Balkans have an incredibly old and complex history
DeleteI just hope this won't be a one trip adventure for you. With all the unrest in the world it's hard to say what will happen. Amazing architecture there must have taken years to hand craft.
ReplyDeleteWell, we won't be going to Tunisia any time soon. Whether we come back here or not is hard to say just now
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