Nessebur and the Ancient Spirit of the Black Sea

Bulgaria offers a great variety of tourist products as it combines century – old historical monuments, fine beaches, beautiful mountains and well – equipped spa treatment facilities. The Balkan country is the fastest growing tourist destination in Europe with number of foreign visitors in 2003 rising by 18% on the year to over 4 million. The number of European tourists visited the country over the last 2003 have gone up by 25.3% as compared to 2002. Bulgaria enjoys greatest interest among tourists from UK , Luxemburg , Germany , Greece and the Netherlands . The 2003 tourism revenues are expected to reach USD 1.6 B that marks an increase of 20%.

Nessebar is one of the most magnificent sites along Bulgaria 's coastline as it combines the ancient spirit of the past with modern infrastructure and recreation facilities. It is located on a small peninsula in the Black Sea , which is linked with the land only by a long and narrow isthmus. It has existed for more than 9,000 years. It emerged as a fortified Thracian settlement; afterwards it was a Greek polis, then a Roman colony, a Byzantine town.

Nessebur lies nestling along a romantic isthmus. Its cobble-stone streets, well kept Medieval churches and and timbered houses from the 19th century lend the place its chequered past Nessebur's churches can be best described as a cross between Sval and Greek orthodox architecture - some of the finest in the area.

Nowadays Nessebar, with its unique ancient atmosphere , gives excellent opportunity for recreation and attractions. The accommodation is centralized in well equipped family hotels and private lodgings, offering every convenience necessary for real recreation at the best prices. The numerous restaurants, night clubs, etc. meet even the most refined tastes. .

Today the spirit of the ancient market lives on with a multitude of sidewalk vendors, hawking all sorts of art work and tourist souvenirs, such as fine crochet works, knitwear, pottery, wood-carvings, paintings. The most appealing are located on the peninsula's scenic southern tip. The romantic place has cast a spell on us since we visited it for the first time in 1991 and we shall certainly return whenever we have a chance. .

You can stroll for hours through its streets, looking at the wide choice of local street waters on offer or else head for the shade of the many churches and museums to capture something of Nessebur's rich and exotic past.

The largest number and best known buildings date from 11th to 14th centuries almost all of them churches in the so called "picturesque" style: walls intersected by pilasters and lunettes, with stone, brick and ceramic ornaments and arches along the cornice. Christ Pantokrator church (10th - 11th c.) Some of the churches have stunningly beautiful facades and interiors and are among the best preserved ones in the Balkan Peninsula . The oldest one is the Sveti Ioan Krastitel (St.John the Baptist, 10th -11th century.

Nessebur is just 2 km north of Sunny Beach , which is one of the most beautiful and famous modern seaside resorts in Bulgaria . The complex is built on a flat terrain by a long and wide beach with fine golden yellow sand and dunes. The sea bottom is slightly sloped, suitable for bathing. There are numerous hot-water mineral springs. Hotel clusters are strewn amidst luxuriant greenery. The Mediterranean climate of the resort, a wide semi-circular bay facing east an over 8 km long beach strip, 30-60 m wide, fine golden sand, natural dunes a clean and gently sloping sea no dangerous fish, 1700 hours of sunshine from May trough September and average daily temperature in summer 27C makes it preferable for family tourism. It offers the whole spectre of services as well as plenty of entertainments for the children.

If you go to Bulgaria , the mediaeval city of Nessebur is a jewel and a must. It's fascinating, charming and old world with narrow cobblestone lanes, medieval churches and ancient fortress walls. It is a place worth seeing and once visited it will never be forgotten!