BEACH HOLIDAYS IN BULGARIA |
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Varna city - area information
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Location:
The city of Varna is the third largest city
in Bulgaria. It is widely called the seaside
capital of Bulgaria as it is the biggest
city at the Bulgarian coast. The city lies
in the Bay of Varna. The city's structure
resembles an amphitheatre as it follows the
curves of the Bay. It is surrounded by
gardens, vineyards and groves. |
History:
The city of Varna is about thousand
years old. Due to its favorable
geographic location, the place was first
inhabited by an ancient Thracian tribe,
Corbisi, which had a small fishermen
settlement there. In the 6th century BC
a Greek polis, named Odessos, emerged
there. The town became fishing and
farming colony, which soon turned into
commercial hub. The town fell under the
siege of Alexander of Macedonia's troops
in the 4th century BC, but after the
siege did not succeed to subject it, the
town was given autonomy within the
limits of his Empire. Up to the 1st
century BC it was an independent polis,
which minted its own coins with the
image of its god. Later on, conquered by
Mark Lukulus' legions, it became a Roman
centre though gradually it lost
supremacy in the region. In the 9th
century it was already called Varna.
The town was included in the territory
of Bulgaria in the beginning of the 13lh
century during the reign of King Kaloyan.
Despite its strong defence system, the
town was conquered by the Turks in 1391
which gradually transformed it into an
oriental city with konaks (town-halls),
Turkish baths and mosques. In 1878 Varna
was finally liberated from Ottoman rule
and became the most important Bulgarian
seaport. Even if the city was
industrialised, it also developed into a
seaside resort, and a favourite holiday
place for the Bulgarian cultural elite.
The city carried the name of Stalin for
a short time, but after 1956 it returned
the name of Varna.
Places of Interest:
In the city: A restored Roman spa
built in the 2nd century during the
reign of Antony Pii and a Roman Bath
dating back to the 3rd century can be
found in the downtown. The Holy Virgin
Cathedral, considered to be the most
impressive monument of the city, rises
in the very centre of the city. The
cathedral's construction started in the
second half of the 19th century but it
was not sanctified until 1910. Another
church, the St. Nikola Church is located
near the Sea Garden Park and dates back
to 1866. The Clock Tower, built in 1880,
rises just across the cathedral. The
Theatre of Drama, where the first-ever
Bulgarian theatre performance was held,
is also a must-see place in the city
centre. It was built nearly a century
ago and resembles Vienna buildings of
that time. It houses a theatre, an opera
and philharmonic halls and stages
performances during the entire summer
season.
Not far away from the Theatre of Drama
is the Puppet Theatre, where the Golden
Dolphin Festival of puppets takes place
each year. The city also has a number of
museums, including the Archaeological
Museum, the Museum of National
Renaissance, the Naval Museum, the
Vladislav Varnenchik Park-Museum, the
Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of
Nature and Science, the Aquarium and the
Black Sea Museum, the Museum of Medicine
and the Museum of Art and History of
Varna.
The latter has a particularly rich
collection including the Gold Treasure
of Varna, dating back 6,000 years ago,
weighing some 6kg and containing the
oldest gold works found in the world.
Besides, the city's Art Gallery, opened
in 1950, exhibits paintings of
outstanding Bulgarian artists as well as
works of a number of foreign artists,
donated to the gallery by private
persons. There are about ten cinemas
functioning in Varna with the best ones
being in the city centre, including the
Mustang Cinema.
The Sea Garden is another favourite
place of visitors of Varna. The garden,
finally completed in 1908, shelters an
amphitheatre, an astronomic site with an
observatory, planetarium and a tower,
children playgrounds, and a small
channel, where one can practice rowing,
a pool with water wheels and a zoo.
The beach, where one can find mud and
water therapy complexes, two quays,
numerous restaurants and disco clubs, is
also just beneath the Sea Garden Park.
The Dolphinarium is one of the favourite
attractions for children and guests of
Varna for its regular performances of
talented dolphin artists. The Festival
Complex can be found just opposite the
entrance of the Sea Garden Park. It is a
modern building of aluminum, stone and
glass and has several stages,
conference-halls, and a big bazaar.
Another noteworthy place is the Asparouh
Bridge (named after the founder of the
Bulgarian state, Asparouh), which
connects the city centre with the
residential quarters of Asparouhovo and
Galata. It is the longest bridge in
Bulgaria and risklovers can even try a
dreadful Bunji jump here.
Outside the city: The famous
village of Vinitsa, inhabited by
so-called Gagaouzi people, is situated
10 km north-east of Varna. The Gagaouzi
are Christians who speak an ancient
Turkish dialect and have very
interesting traditions. Besides, the
Galata Cape is attractive to
naturelovers for its meadows, groves,
natural water springs with drinking
water, and rocks convenient for fishing.
Remians of the rampart of Khan Asparuh
can be seen close to the famous Asparuh
Bridge situated at the Varna lake.
The founder of the Bulgarian state built
the rampart 13 centuries ago in order to
resist the raids of the Byzantine fleet.
One can also visit the Dzhanavar Hill,
located to the south of the lake of
Varna and sheltering a basilica from the
early Christian times. Another place of
interest close to the city is Pobitite
Kamuni (Rammed Stones), 18 km west of
the city. The stone figures were formed
by erosion about 50 million years ago
and hold in various forms of fossils.
Many of them were used as places of
worship during Thracian, Slavonic, and
ancient Bulgarian times.
The nearby industrial town of Devnya
holds the remains of the ancient town of
Marcianopolis, the second biggest town
in ancient Bulgaria after Philippopolis
(the latter currently named Plovdiv and
being the second largest city in the
state). These include defence walls, a
rampart, turrets, and a forum. The
Petrich Kale (Petrich Fortress) rises
just opposite the railway station of
Razdelna close to the city. The fortress
was built in the 5th century, but was
rebuilt in the 13-14th century following
its destruction. The rocks near the
fortress are perfect for mountaineering.
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Holidays in Bulgaria - promoted beach holidays
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Beach holiday in Bulgaria
Byala town on the sea sleeps:
4
people
per week: 534 euro
one bedroom, bathroom, equipped kitchen,
balcony overlooking the sea and roof
terrace with furnishing and amazing sea
water view, pools, 2 minutes from the beach |
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Holiday in Bulgaria
Saint George Complex
sleeps: 4 persons
per week: 329 euroone bedroom, bathroom, living room with equipped kitchen, balcony with sea view, pool, sauna, gym, 600 meters from the beach |
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Holiday in Bulgaria
villa near Balchik
sleeps: 6 persons
per week: 581 euro private villa for rent; swimming pool, BBQ, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living room with kitchen, 10 min from Balchik beach |
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Holiday in Bulgaria
Elit 3 Complex
sleeps: 4 persons
per week: 252 euro
one bedroom, living room with kitchen and sofa-bed, bathroom, balcony with view to the pool, 600 m from the beach |
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