The city of Nessebar is located in South-Eastern Bulgaria. It is located in the municipality of Nessebar, Burgas region, adjacent to the largest Bulgarian Black Sea resort, Sunny Beach, to the north. The distance to Burgas is 34 km.
The city of Nessebar is one of the oldest cities in Europe, founded more than 3200 years ago. Settled by the Thracians at the end of the Bronze Age, they called it Melsambria, which meant “city of Melsas” – probably the name of the founder of the settlement.
After them, the Dorians (an ancient Greek tribe) arrived in the settlement at the end of the 6th century BC. Under their rule, the settlement grew, a fortress wall was built, residential districts appeared. At the beginning of the 1st century AD the city became part of the Roman Empire. Then they began to call him Messemvria. The city continues to be an important economic and cultural center. After the Roman Empire moved its capital to Constantinople and Christianity became the official religion, Christian temples began to be built vigorously in Messemvria. The city became part of the First Bulgarian State in 812, when the Bulgarian ruler Khan Krum captured it. The Slavs who settled here began to call the city Nessebar. The city played an important role during the reign of King Kaloyan (1197-1207), Ivan Asen II (1218 – 1241), Constantine Tych (1257-1277).
The city experienced great prosperity during the reign of Tsar Ivan Alexander (1331 – 1371) – many new churches were built, cultural and spiritual activities developed.
Nessebar fell under Ottoman rule in 1453.
Today, the old and new parts of the city are separated by a narrow isthmus. The old town is located on a small peninsula. Due to its exceptional cultural and historical wealth, Nessebar was declared a museum, tourist and resort complex of international importance by Decree No. 243 of the Council of Ministers dated 18.07.1956. In 1983, UNESCO included Old Nessebar in the List of World Cultural Heritage Monuments.
Tourists can learn more about the history and development of the settlement in the Archaeological Museum, which is located at the beginning of the peninsula. Finds discovered during archaeological excavations are exhibited there. Traces of past historical eras are everywhere. Finds discovered during archaeological excavations are exhibited there. On the territory of the Old Town, a part of the fortress wall can be seen, which was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture of national importance in issue 41 of the State Gazette of 1964. There are a large number of churches preserved, such as two of them – “Sveti Spas” and “Sveti Stefan”, have been turned into museum objects.
A large part of the houses in the old part are from the Renaissance (XVIII-XIX centuries). The architecture of Moskoiani’s house, which houses the exposition of the city’s Ethnographic Museum, is interesting. In the museum you can learn a lot about the lifestyle and culture of the inhabitants of Nessebar, many household items and traditional costumes are displayed.
In the summer, concerts and different types of events are held in the ancient theater of Old Nessebar. Behind it is the sea station of Nessebar, where during the active summer season cruise ships can often be seen docked to visit the UNESCO city. If you want to feel the spirit of Old Nessebar, you can stay there – a variety of accommodation is offered in terms of type and price – family hotels, private lodgings. There are also numerous restaurants in the area offering superb seafood.
In addition to connecting the old and the new town, the isthmus is a favorite place for walks for guests and residents of Nessebar. On both sides, near the sea, there are pedestrian walkways. One of the symbols of the city is the windmill, which is located in the middle of the isthmus.
The new part of Nessebar also offers a variety of accommodation options. The buildings of the administration and other institutions are also located there. The northern and southern beaches of Nessebar are located on the side of the new part of the city. There is also a beach in Stariya Nessebar, but it is not big. Those looking for more adrenaline and entertainment can take a tour over Nessebar by helicopter, there are also boat rides and various water sports on the beaches. The establishments in the city are extremely diverse in terms of category and prices. Romantic natures prefer restaurants in the Old Town, while young people look for entertainment in the new part of the city and in the nearby Sunny Beach resort.
In summer, there is convenient public transport between the two resorts and other destinations in the area. The resorts of Saint Vlas, Elenite and Ravda are also nearby.
The city of Nessebar celebrates its holiday on August 15. City Day is accompanied by numerous events – exhibitions, concerts on several stages, a religious procession (August 15 is the Day of the Great Mother of God).