The town of Nessebar consists of two cities that are unlike each other. New Nessebar is a modern house, hotel and resort complex "Sunny Beach", stretching along the Black Sea coast for several kilometers. Old Nessebar, located on a small peninsula, is one of the oldest cities in Europe. Here, each stone keeps the secrets of all eras that swept over the city and made it a bright adornment in a precious necklace of the most beautiful Bulgarian cities. Old Nessebar can be viewed in just a couple of hours, and then admired for ages. But no matter how beautiful the city itself is, excursions from Nessebar to Bulgaria will entice any of its guests.
The closest neighbor of Nessebar is the old town of Burgas, located 34 km to the south-west in the Burgas Bay. The town was founded by the Greeks and received the name Pyrgos, which means "Tower" in Greek. Worth seeing here:
- Archaeological Museum
- Museum of Nature
- Roman Baths
- Art Nouveau houses of the early 20th century.
- Sculptures "Gramophone" and "Suitcase with shells"
In the central part of Burgas stands the Cathedral of Cyril and Methodius, built at the beginning of the twentieth century. Inside the cathedral is decorated with malachite and marble, its carved wooden iconostasis is magnificent, and many icons in it have healing powers.
Burgas is famous for its marine park, which stretches along the coast for several kilometers. It has a large selection of water activities, many cafes and restaurants. A pleasure boat departs from the pier in the park to the picturesque island of St. Anastasia, located 6 km from the coast, in the Burgas Bay. The island has high steep banks, almost inaccessible, so that the monastery on the island is not even surrounded by walls. Until recently, the monastery was used as a prison. Now this place has turned into a popular tourist attraction with a restaurant, cafe and hotel. In the main monastery church, ancient paintings have been preserved.
Prices for excursions from Nessebar to Burgas vary depending on the theme, but they are all quite low.
You can also go from Nessebar to
- Sozopol and Ropotamo nature reserve
- Sofia and Rila Monastery
- Varna
- Balchik
Excursion to Veliko Tarnovo-Arbanassi
One day bus excursion from Nessebar to Veliko Tarnovo departs early in the morning. Its path lies through the Valley of Roses and the Shipka Pass to the northern foothills of the Balkans.
Veliko Tarnovo in the XII-XIV centuries was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom and, in the opinion of contemporaries, its beauty was second only to Constantinople. But even now this city is the most beautiful in Bulgaria. It stands on three hills: Tsarevets, Trapezitsa and Sveta Gora. There is a fortress on Tsarevets, in the center of it rises the Patriarchal Cathedral of the Ascension of the 19th century.
Under the fortress wall, there is the Asenov makhala artisans' quarter with many old churches.
To the south and west of the Trapezitsa hill, the old city stretches like an amphitheater. Its old houses hang over the Yantra River, creating an amazing panorama. There are many buildings here, designed by the most famous Bulgarian architect of the 19th century, Kolu Ficheto:
- Church of St. Constantine and Helena
- Haji Nikola's inn
- Old Turkish Konak where the police were stationed
Many amazing things can be seen in this city. Here, almost every stone is associated with significant events in the history of Bulgaria. And the excursion to Veliko Tarnovo also turns into a journey through time.
The ancient Bulgarian village of Arbanassi is located 4 km from the city on a rocky plateau. The village is famous for its solid large houses and richly painted churches. Here, in the monastery church of the Most Holy Theotokos of the XIV century, the miraculous icon of the Mother of God of the Three Hands is kept. On the street of artisans, there are many different workshops: pottery, weapons, icon painting, and there are also souvenir shops and art galleries.
The tour of Arbanassi ends in the evening with a rich dinner and a music and light show.
The approximate price of the excursion for adults is 60 euros, for children - 30 euros.
