Further South, lying on
the Gulf of Bourgas, you can find the resorts of Sozopol, one of Ancient
Greece's oldest settlements - formerly known as "Apolonia Pontica"
named after Apollo, the patron of seafarers. Today it resembles a cluster
of welcoming turn-of-the century housess dotted along the rocky headland,
interested with small garden shrines. Somewhat quieter than Nessebur,
the resort also provides the tourist with two fine, sandy beaches, set
off nicely against the tranquil charm of fishing life. One lies within
a sheltered bay with the second, larger beach extending southwards beyond
the headland. Sozopol is traversed by beautiful narrow lanes, old houses
and its romantic charm has attracted artists and writers throughout
the centuries.
Accommodation
in Sozopol consists of a small guesthouse-inn, a former naval club,
or either private rooms in old houses on the peninsula or else larger
chalet-style dwellings in the new town. Nearby, the port of Burgas is
well worth a visit. In addition to an international airport, this important
commercial coastal town has an attractive centre with lively terraces
and plentiful cafes, offering tourists a warm welcome. The presence
of visiting ships and passing tourists lends Bourgas a certain cosmopolitian
air, especially during its folk festival, held in late August.
Walking down the streets
of the old town in Sozopol you can see many different types of buildings.
There are modern two story buildings made of concrete and new three
or four story apartment houses built with brick. But every now and then
you can find a sturdy house made of wood and stone that looks like it
has stood for many years and will last for many more.
These buildings are built
in an architectural style common to the areas around the southern coast
of the Black Sea and Mediterranean. This style uses heavy stones with
wood pillars as a base on the bottom half of the building, and wood
planks with windows on the upper floors.
Buildings
in this area of Bulgaria have been built in this style since the middle
ages. In Sozopol, the Seveta Bogarostva Church was built in the 15th
century, and there are several other houses which date from the 17th
century. There are also many other good examples of this architecture
in the ancient town of Neseber north of Burgas. Most of the buildings
that you see today, however, have been restored and updated in the same
style.
The reason why this architectural
style became so important in this area was because the people needed
strong houses that would last a long time. Wood and stone were materials
that were easy to find and build with. The stone bottom floors are important
because they stay cool all year round. Even today people use them as
cellars, keeping wine or other foods that need to be kept cool on the
bottom floor. The upper floors are the living part of the house with
wood floors and windows on all sides.
Not only are houses of
this style well-designed and long-lasting, they are also beautiful to
look at. Every summer student artists from all over Bulgaria come to
Sozopol to practice their skills by painting these buildings. They feel
that the materials and the interesting designs are perfect for drawing
and painting. It's probably not what the architects who built these
buildings hundreds of years ago had expected, but they probably wouldn't
mind.
