Sozopol — The Artist's Town
Sozopol (Созопол) is the charming counterpart to the touristy Nessebar — a 7,000-year-old coastal town with a picturesque old town on a rocky peninsula, a vibrant art scene, and the most beautiful beaches in the region. While Nessebar sometimes groans under tourism, Sozopol has retained its bohemian character.
Old Town
Sozopol's old town sits atop a rocky promontory, surrounded by the sea on three sides. The narrow streets are lined with wooden houses in the typical Black Sea style: stone ground floors, dark wooden upper floors with projecting bay windows. Many houses have been converted into galleries, studios, and small boutique hotels. The atmosphere is artistic, relaxed, and authentic.
- Apollonia Festival: Since 1984, the Apollonia Arts Festival has been held in early September — ten days of theater, music, film, literature, and visual arts. One of the most important cultural festivals in the Balkans and reason enough to visit in September.
- Church of the Holy Virgin: The most important church in Sozopol with a valuable iconostasis and an underground chapel with relics of St. John the Baptist, discovered during excavations in 2010.
- Archaeological Museum: Greek and Roman finds from the ancient city of Apollonia Pontica, including a famous Greek amphora and ceramics. Admission: 6 BGN (€3).
Beaches
Sozopol has two beautiful beaches that border directly on the old town:
- Harmani Beach: The main beach south of the old town — 800 meters of fine sand, turquoise water, and views of the old town silhouette. In summer with loungers and bars, but never as crowded as Sunny Beach.
- Old Town Beach (Grad Beach): Small, rock-framed beach directly below the old town. More intimate and picturesque than Harmani.
For those seeking wild beaches, head south of Sozopol: The beaches of Kavatsite and Alepu are natural and surrounded by dunes and pine forests. In the Ropotamo Nature Reserve (15 km south), you can take a riverboat ride through untouched nature — with luck, you'll see turtles and rare birds.