Varna

The city of Varna lies in the Bay of Varna and is one of the oldest Bulgarian cities. In the 6th century Greek colonists from Millet first inhabited the area and gave it the name of Odessos. During the Roman times it was a big cultural and trading centre. Odessos was severally destroyed and finally fell under Byzantium power. Slavs renamed it to Varna and in the end of the VIII century it was included in the territory of Bulgaria. During the Second Bulgarian state, Varna was one of the most important trading and craft centres in the country. Its citizens traded with Italian towns’ republics and exported honey, wax, furs, grains, etc. In the XII-XIV centuries the town had an impоsing fortress, that functioned after numerous reconstructions till 1829. During the first centuries of the Ottoman domination,in 1444, a spectacular Christian campaign, leaded by the Polish king- Vladislav III was directed to Varna. The town was sieged by the knights during that campaign. The young king died in a battle near to Varna, and locals erected a mausoleum to his honour. The surrounding area is well known as Vladisav Varnenchik Park-Museum. After the Liberation (1878), Varna became the third largest city in Bulgaria. It is the biggest sea port and one of the favorite holiday places. Numerous hotels, restaurants and night clubs make it a preferable seaside center. Summer is fresh and pleasant because of the breezes and the wide beach strip attracts thousands of tourists. The city lies in the bay of Varna and is 11 km long. The city`s structure resembles an amphitheatre as it follows the curves of the Bay of Varna. Its population is about 325 000 people. Gardens, forests, vineyards surround the city and shelter a lot of private houses and hotels.

The fastest way to go to Varna is by airplane. There are flights during the whole year .The railway station is a final point and also connected with all railway lines in the country. The water transport is regural and well developed.

In the city you can visit many places of interest. Varna is an important cultural centre. There are four universities, an opera, a theatre, radio and television centre. In Varna is built a Palace of the Sport that hosts different competitions and contests every year.

The Archeological Museum disposes of exhibits, dating from prehistoric times- Thracian, Greek, Roman- mainly from the ancient Odessos.

The Museum of National Renaissance is housed in the building of the first Bulgarian school in Varna, built in 1861. Old books, weapons, documents and photos, illustrating the economic growth and the fight for cultural and national independence, are exibited there.

The unique golden treasure of Varna go back 6000 years, which is the oldest gold all over the world.

The Naval Museum is situated in the Sea garden. In it is represented the history of the Bulgarian Navy from the middle Ages to nowadays. There are exhibited different kinds of ships, documents, photos, weapons, etc.

The Park-Museum Vladislav Varnenchik is located in the northwestern part of the city. There is a mausoleum monument of Vladislav Varnenchik, monument of Yan Huniadi, six sarcophagi, a solemn place- an altar and a museum hall. Under the museum there is a Thracian tomb from the IV century B.C.

The natural science museum exhibits specific species of the Bulgarian flora and fauna.

The Museum of Medicine is unique in the Balkan Peninsula. In its exhibition you can see medical instruments and clothes from past times to nowadays.

Place of great interest is the roman thermal springs, situated in the centre of the city. They represent large (7 000 m2) ruins of Romans baths from the II century (during the empire of Antonii Pii), destroyed in the V century. Near to them is the church "St. Atanasii" with unique icons, mural paintings and wood-carving altar.

The art gallery was founded in 1950 and there you can see great masterpieces of Bulgarian painters.

One of the symbols of the city is the superb cathedral temple “The Assumption”. The clock tower was erected in 1880 in front of the cathedral in the centre of the city. Behind it are the Dramatic theatre and the club of the figures of the culture. There is also a Muppet theatre where every year takes place the festival "Golden dolphin". In Varna take place various festivals as: international theatre fetes, an international choir festival, an international festival for orchestras, playing classis music and so on. The most famous is the international cinema festival which holds in the Festival complex, situated in the Sea garden. On the promenade there is a Dolphin hall with attractive shows.

In the confectionary with panorama window– glasses you can watch sub aquatic games of the dolphins.

In the Sea garden there is a Museum of the Black Sea and an Aquarium with interesting exposition of the Bulgarian seaside flora and fauna, and in the zoo you can see various exotic animals.

The outskirts of the city are favorite places for picnics and strolls- a district of Vinitsa with forests around it, a district of Asparuhovo with the bridge and the place called Dzanavara where you can also see a basilica from the early Christian period, a district of Galata with a high rocky cape above the sea.

At 20 km from Varna are the Fossil forests- one of the most attractive geographical sightseeing