Sozopol Old Town Walk
Overview
Sozopol is the oldest town on Bulgaria's Black Sea coast. Greek settlers from Miletus founded it in the 7th century BC and named it Apollonia after their temple of Apollo, whose 13-metre bronze statue was carried off to Rome when the Romans sacked the town in 72 BC.
With a local guide you walk the Old Town on its rocky peninsula, where cobbled lanes run between 18th- and 19th-century houses built in the Bulgarian National Revival style: stone ground floors, overhanging upper storeys of weathered timber and tiled roofs. You stop at the Church of St Cyril and St Methodius at the entrance to the Old Town, where relics of St John the Baptist are kept, and at the small Church of the Holy Virgin, set half below street level, with its carved wooden iconostasis.
The walk continues to the restored southern fortress wall and gate, excavated since 2010, and out along the sea-cliff promenade with views of St Ivan Island. Finish near the Archaeological Museum, home to amphorae and stone anchors pulled from the bay, and stay on for a seafood lunch by the harbour.
Highlights
- Cobbled lanes of timber-and-stone Revival houses
- Church where relics of St John the Baptist are kept
- Half-sunken Church of the Holy Virgin
- Restored southern fortress wall and gate
- Sea-cliff promenade facing St Ivan Island
What's included
- Guided walk with a local English-speaking guide
- Museum entrance fees
- Food and drinks
- Tips
Location
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Itinerary
Frequently asked questions
The relics are kept in the Church of St Cyril and St Methodius, which you visit on the walk. It is a working church, so cover shoulders and knees.
Yes. The Old Town is compact and mostly level, but the lanes are cobbled, so wear comfortable shoes.
Yes. Day 7 of the Camino is a free day in Sozopol, which suits this walk. It is booked separately, at extra cost.
