Sozopol is situated on a rocky peninsula jutting deeply into the Black Sea. The passage of time has obliterated much and only archaeological excavations and written sources testify to the existence of Thracian settlers and of ancient Apollonia.

     In 610 BC Greek settlers from Miletus founded a rich city state with its own army and fleet. Red and black figural vases, coloured glass vessels and beautiful jewellery remind of the prosperity of its former inhabitants. A statue of the town’s patron god, Apollo the Healer, which was removed by the Roman legions in 72 BC, once rose outside a magnificent church. In the Middle Ages the town had already become known as Sozopol – Town of Salvation. It was frequently shifted to and from the boundaries of Byzantium and Bulgaria. During the Ottoman rule it turned into a small fishermen’s settlement. A visible recovery, typical for the Bulgarian National Revival, started in the 18th century.
     More than 150 houses, typical examples of Black Sea architecture, form a beautiful ensemble. Cobbles lanes wind below stone walls and lead right up to the shore. Sozopol houses preserve the spirit of their inhabitants. The ground floor is a symbol of security, while the timber-faced upper floor is an expression of the desire for space. The windows have wooden shutters and vines shade the cozy verandas. Strings of the small yards and even in the streets. The house of A. Trendafilova is interesting both in an architectural and decorative aspect.

     Sozopol today is a romantic oasis for fishermen and artists. Everything here is bright, attractive and inspiring. It is no accident that the town hosts the traditional Apollonia Festival of the Arts.

Museums: Archaeological Museum