The Church of St. Sophia is one of the most important monuments in Bulgaria and is, of course, part of the UNESCO list.

Its relatively well-preserved ruins are located right in the centre of Nessebar and can be accessed at any time for free.

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History and Destruction

The Church of St. Sophia stood in the centre of ancient Nessebar and was the most important building in the town. It was a three-aisled basilica over 25 metres long and 13 metres wide.

St. Sophia Church

The structure was built around the turn of the 5th and 6th century. The church survived a violent sacking by the Venetians in 1257 and an earthquake in the 14th century.

In the 18th century, however, it was abandoned and left to decay.

The outer walls in particular have survived to the present day.