Nessebar
Nessebar
is one of the oldest towns in Europe and has existed for more than 9,000 years.
It is a town with a rich history and is the successor of the ancient Thracian
settlement called Mesambria founded in the second century A.D. Its name means
town of Melsa. In 510 A.D. it became a Greek colonised town occupied by Dorian
settlers. They called it Messambria and turned it into a rival to the town of
Apollo for the Black Sea trade.
The
largest number and best known of its buildings date from the 11th to 14th
centuries and almost all of them churches. Some of the churches have stunningly
beautiful facades and interiors and are among the best preserved in the Balkan
Peninsula. The oldest of them is the Sveti Ioan Krastitel (St.John the Baptist)
from the 10th or 11th century. - funny how the churches remain preserved,
whatever happened to the pubs and clubs from that time…?
Today the
old part of the town has regained its original romantic atmosphere; narrow
cobblestone lanes, tiny squares, two-storied period houses with stone-built
ground levels and wooden upper floors jutting out above the streets. There are
also plenty of gift shops, pubs, restaurants and lovely flower gardens.
Nessebar
has become a major tourist attraction and can get quite busy at times with lots
of tourists. Probably the best time to go there is mid-morning, do your
sightseeing and then have a leisurely lunch while doing a spot of people
watching.
The
ferries in the port operate to a jetty in front of the Victoria Palace hotel
and also to the Marina in St Vlas so once you have done your sightseeing in
Nessebar, had a bite to eat you can relax and enjoy a boat trip across Sunny
Beach bay to St Vlas. Recommended. |
