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Sozopol

by Tanichka on 06/09/2007 21:01   0 comments , 253 views
Categories: Places To See, History, Cultural Heritage
Tags: Sozopol, seaside, Black Sea coast, Apolonia Art Festival, Old Town
Sozopol (Bulgarian: Созопол) is a small town with ancient history, 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 (taking place in early September), which has been named after one of Sozopol's ancient names - Apolonia.

The busiest times of the year for Sozopol 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, the multicultural fusion cuisine (Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish), and overall atmosphere of that colorful 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 Sozopol’s beauty and charm.

History

Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on Bulgarian 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 town established itself as a trade and naval centre in the following centuries. It kept strong political and trade relations with the cities of Ancient Greece – Miletus, Athens, Corinth, Heraclea Pontica and the islands Rhodes, Chios, Lesbos, etc. Its trade influence in the Thracian territories was based on a treaty with the rulers of the Odrysian kingdom dating from the fifth century BC.

The symbol of the town – the anchor, present on all coins minted by Apollonia since the sixth century BC, is proof of the importance of its maritime trade. The rich town soon became an important cultural centre. At these times it was called Apollonia Magna.

Occupied in turn by Byzantines, Bulgarians and Ottomans, Sozopol was assigned to the newly independent Bulgaria in the 19th century. Almost all of its Greek population moved to Greece to be replaced by Bulgarian refugees from Eastern Thrace.

The city remains a titular see of the Roman Catholic Church, that of Sozopolis in Haemimonto, suffragan of Adrianopolis. The seat has stood vacant since the death of the last titular bishop in 2000.

Art flourished in the Christian era. The ancient icons and magnificent woodcarving in the iconostases are a remarkable accomplishment of the craftsmanship of these times. The architecture of the houses in the old town from the Renaissance period makes it a unique place to visit today.



Names

The original name of the city is attested as Antheia.

Coins were minted in the town bearing the inscription Apollonia, which date from the sixth century BC to the first half of the third century AD. During this period, appellations such as Apollonia Pontica (Apollonia on the Black Sea) and Apollonia Magna (Great Apollonia) have been recorded.

By the first century AD, the name Sozopolis began to appear in written records (e.g., in the Periplus Ponti Euxini).

After the town became part of the Ottoman Empire, the name was Turkified to Sizeboli, Sizebolu or Sizebolou.

After Bulgaria took possession of the town, the name turned to the Slavonic pronunciation of Sozopol.


Sightseeing in Sozopol

Archaeological Museum – It is located off the Main square, between the bus station and port. Housed in a stylish building constructed in 1977, this small museum is a must-see.

Sveta Bogoroditsa (i.e. Holy Virgin) Church - It's easy to pass by this church - it used to be built half-buried in the earth during the 17th century, so as not to offend the Ottomans ruling at the time. The church is opened only for tour groups, so you should join one or just ask the museum how you could visit it. The wood-carved iconostasis and bishop's throne are representative examples of one of the country's foremost Art Schools – the one in Debar.

St Cyril and St Methodius Church – It is ocated across from the Sozopol Summer Theater. No longer a working church, the large white structure is part of the Archaeology Museum and is used for art exhibitions during the Apollonia Festival days.

Sveta Nedelya Chapel - The door to this very small chapel is tied shut by means of a rope; you should simply untie and go inside – you could find icons and candles in there. Sozopol offers its visitors a number of other small neighborhood chapels like this one – just look around.

Art Gallery – It is located in the former town high school. The gallery opened in 1986. The unobstructed sea views seem like inspiration to art lovers. The main floor features temporary exhibitions of Bulgarian sculptures and paintings. Works by foreign artists created during the month-long plain air workshop are also displayed in the art gallery.

Apollonia Arts Festival - Named after one of the old names of thetown, this annual ten-day arts festival is held in early September.Half a dozen venues around the town stage everyday performancesfeaturing a variety of music, theatre, dance, cinema, with bothnational and international guests attending the festival.



info based on Wikipedia; photos: Wikipedia

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