The Church of St. Sophia, sometimes referred to as the Basilica, stands almost literally in the shadow of the much more famous Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. The church is only about 200 metres away from this cathedral and due to the fact that St. Sophia's is quite low, many tourists miss it completely.

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St. Sophia Basilica, however, is one of the most important monuments in Sofia and is the oldest church and one of the most valuable Christian monuments in southeastern Europe.

The church, which gave its name to the city

Construction of the church began in the 4th century and was probably completed in 343. Over the centuries, there have of course been repairs, extensions and changes in appearance, but the basic elements have been preserved to this day.

The present form dates from the 14th century.

In 1376 the whole town, which was formerly called Sredets and even before that Serdica, was named after this church. Between the 14th and 16th centuries both names were still in use, but from the 16th century onwards the name 'Sofia' was used exclusively.

The building is built in an austere Romanesque-Byzantine style, which is also evident in the interior.

Admission and opening hours

The Church of St. Sophia is open to the public daily from 7:00-18:00.

Admission to the church is free. Tickets for 6 bgn are only for the small museum in the crypt below the church.

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