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Sozopol

Sozopol is a city in Bulgaria.

Get in

Numerous buses from all around Bulgaria arrive at summertime.

See

Make sure to visit the old town. Nearby campings all around the city are also popular for young people and backpackers.


Sozopol (Созопол) is a small ancient town located 30 km south of Burgas on the southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, in Bulgaria. Today the town is mostly a seaside resort known for the Apollonia art and film festival (which takes place in early September) and is named after one of Sozopol's ancient names.

The busiest times of the year are, of course, the summer months, ranging from May to September as tourists from around the world come to enjoy the fine weather, sandy beaches, history and culture, fusion cuisine (Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish), and overall atmosphere of the colourful resort. The increasing popularity of the town has led to it being dubbed the Bulgarian St. Tropez, seeing stars like Ralph Fiennes, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Goldfrapp exploring its beauty and charm.

Part of Burgas Province, as of September 2005 Sozopol has a population of 4,641. The town is located at and the mayor is Veska Karamanova. One of the most active and popular mayors had been Nikola Kaloyanov, who initiated numerous infrastructure changes to modernize the town in the 70s.

History

Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on Bulgarian Thrace's Black Sea coast. The first settlement on the site dates back to the Bronze Age. Undersea explorations in the region of the port reveal relics of dwellings, ceramic pottery, stone and bone tools from that era. Many anchors from the second and first millennium BC have been discovered in the town's bay, a proof of active shipping since ancient times.

The town, at first called Antheia, was colonized in Thrace on the shore of the Pontus Euxinus, principally on a little island, by Anaximander (born 610-609 BC) at the head of Milesian colonists. The name was soon changed to Apollonia, on account of a temple dedicated to Apollo in the town, containing a famous colossal statue of the god Apollo by Calamis, 30 cubits high, transported later to Rome by Lucullus and placed in the Capitol. At various times, Apollonia was known as Apollonia Pontica (that is, Apollonia on the Black Sea, the ancient Pontus Euxinus) and Apollonia Magna (Great Apollonia).

The coins, which begin in the fourth century BC, bear the name Apollonia and the image of Apollo; the imperial coins, which continue to the first half of the third century AD, and the Tabula Peutinger also contain the name Apollonia; but the "Periplus Ponti Euxini", 85, and the Notitiæ episcopatuum have only the new name Sozopolis. In 1328 Cantacuzene (ed. Bonn, I, 326) speaks of it as a large and populous town. The islet on which it stood is now connected with the mainland by a narrow tongue of land. Sozopolis, in Turkish Sizebolu, in Bulgarian Sozopol, is in Burgas Province, Bulgaria. Its inhabitants, in the past mostly Greeks, lived by fishing and...

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Hotels in Sozopol
Lucky Beach Apartments Score 6 from 1 reviews
Republikanska St. 6/10
This family-friendly luxury apartment complex is situated only 10 metres from one of Bulgaria's best beaches - Harmanite in Sozopol - and provides a variety of top-level facilities. There are a fine restaurant and various shops available. The 4 luxury apartments are an ideal place for family vacations and long-term stays, offering high-quality design furniture and a host of amenities. Explore the charming Old Town of Sozopol - the oldest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, and enjoy your holidays in this inviting place, still widely untouched by mass tourism. ... more
 
Nikki Hotel Score 10 from 1 reviews
12A Ropotamo St 10/10
This hotel is conveniently located in the centre of the new town of Sozopol. Restaurants, night clubs, shopping centres and the magnificent beaches of Sozopol are easily accessible on foot. The historical Old Town district is approximately 10 minutes away from the hotel. Sozopol is a major international summer resort located on the South Black Sea coast. Its fine sandy beaches and warm sea make it a great choice for a summer vacation. The town has much to offer, from its vivid old Balkan-style architecture to the large diversity of restaurants and night clubs. ... more
 
Gardenia Vacation Settlement Score 0 from 0 reviews
Area Budjaka 8036 0/10
The apartments consist of a cosy living room, a dining room, a kitchen, a bedroom and a bathroom with a shower. Each apartment also has a large terrace with a view towards the magnificent Kavatzite beach. ... more
 
Hotel Chiplakoff Score 8.225 from 40 reviews
Ferdinandova Str. 88 8.23/10
Тhe building is аn architectural monument.It was built in 1925 on request of a well-known tradesman Bozveliev,by the Italian architect Ricardo Toscani,the representative of the ’’Ar Nuvo’’ art school.His works are also the Art Gallery/Jewish Synagogue/ dated from 1905 and the Bourgas Railway Station from 1917.The building was reconstructed and renovated in the years of 2004-2006 by the restorer Atanas Chiplakoff. The old-fashioned style and spirit of the building turns time back to the aristocratic luxury of the 19 century.Each room is luxuriously desighed. The hotel is situated in the very heart of Bourgas,nearby most of the government,municipal and financial buildings. ... more
 
 Wind Mill Apartment Hotel Score 0 from 0 reviews
13 Hristo Kudev St. 0/10
Located on the isthmus between the old and new towns of Nessebar, the Wind Mill Apartment Hotel combines modern style with ancient architecture. The hotel offers 4 comfortable and spacious apartments and features a built-in wind mill in the traditional Nessebar style. This popular beach resort offers ancient buildings and historical monuments as well as quiet restaurants and fashionable cafés and discos. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria's biggest beach resort, is only 3 km away, offering a variety of entertainment options and excellent night life. ... more
 
More hotels in Sozopol

Rila Monastery Excursion 6 hours

Rila Monastery Rila monastery is a national icon for Bulgarians, and a wonderfully situated monument of the highest architectural and historic interest. It is protected under the shield of UNESCO, and contains the remarkable frescoes and wooden Cross - are historical pieces of medieval art. Travel by bus to the monastery, approximately 1 1/2 hours drive, before enjoying some sightseeing of the Monastery and the History museum. Enjoy a delightful lunch before heading back to Sofia. Click here for more information and Booking Details


Plovdiv Excursion 8 hours

Plovdiv Plovdiv is the most important southern city of Bulgaria, with some of the best Classical remains, Byzantine churches, mosques and Bulgarian National Revival buildings. The Roman theater is considered to be the finest and the most accessible Classical monument in Bulgaria. The town is ethnically mixed with large Greek, Turkish, Armenian presence. There are lots of small shops with craftsman still keeping their family's tradition. Travel approximately two hours drive on the highway from Sofia to Plovdiv where you will enjoy sightseeing in the Old town. Stop for lunch and relax before heading back to Sofia. Click here for more information and Booking Details


Private Sofia Arrival Transfer Varies

Private Sofia Arrival Transfer Take the worry out of your arrival in Sofia! Prebook an arrival transfer and let your holiday be just that - a holiday free from organizing! Have it all ready before you leave and enjoy every bit of your time in Bulgaria. Be met by a driver who will be holding a notice board with your name displayed. Click here for more information and Booking Details


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