The town of Nessebar is located only 36 km northeast of Burgas, on a peninsula connected to the coast only by a narrow isthmus. It was founded more than 3200 years ago. At the end of the Bronze Age it was inhabited by Thracians, and in the 6th century BC. was taken over by the ancient Greek tribe Dorians
At the beginning of the 1st century AD the city became part of the Roman Empire and was named Messemvria. During this period, the city established itself as an important economic and cultural center, and after the Roman Empire moved its capital to Constantinople and adopted Christianity as the official religion, Christian temples began to be built intensively in Messemvria.
Old Town of Nessebar
The city became part of the First Bulgarian State during the reign of Khan Krum in 812, and the Slavs who settled there began to call it Nessebar. The city fell under Ottoman rule in 1453.
Nessebar is famous for its churches built in the Middle Ages. On the territory of the Old Town, on an area of less than 3000 square meters, there are as many as seven temples, built within four centuries – between the XI and XIV centuries. Two of them – “St. Spas” and “St. Stefan”, have been turned into museums.
History From Old Times
Tourists can learn more about the history and development of the settlement in the Archaeological Museum, where the finds discovered during archaeological excavations are stored.
One of the symbols of the city is the windmill, which is located in the middle of the isthmus. The peninsula on which Old Nessebar is located is included by UNESCO in the List of World Cultural Heritage Monuments. In the summer, concerts and many other events are organized in the ancient theater of the Old Town.
