Orthodox Sofia: Symbols, Faith & Everyday Life
- 1–4 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Sofia’s Sacred Treasures: Ancient Orthodox Churches Tour Step inside some of Europe’s oldest functioning churches, dating back to 313 AD. Perfect for travelers with limited time who want a rich cultural experience. Gain insights from an expert guide in theology and local history. Discover the unique blend of Sofia’s sacred heritage, art, and architecture.
Inclusions
What's included
- Tickets for transportation
- Ticket for Ancient Necropolis of Saint Sofia EUR 4.00 per person
- Ticket of the Medieval Church Saint Petka EUR 3.00 per person
- Guide -Expert
What's not
- Gratuities
Itinerary
The Saint Sofia Church was built on the site of several earlier churches from the fourth century, and places of worship dating back to the days when it was the necropolis of the Roman town of Serdica. Travelers will visit also the necropolis of the church
. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and it is one of the 50 largest Christian church buildings by volume in the world.
It is one of the oldest functioning churches in Europe build in early 4-th century. The building, a cylindrical domed structure built on a square base, is famous for the 12th-, 13th-, and 14th-century frescoes inside the central dome
The church was first mentioned in the 16th century and was constructed at the place of a former Roman religious building. It is today a monument of culture known for its mural paintings from the 14th, 15th, 17th and 19th century depicting biblical scenes.
The cathedral, rebuilt at its previous location after it was destroyed by Allied bombing raids during World War II, was inaugurated on 21 May 2006 in the presence of Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals. The foundation stone of the new cathedral was laid personally by Pope John Paul II during his visit to Bulgaria in 2002.
The construction is a nave one with three domes in Romanian style of 18th century. The exceptionally beautiful frescoes inside were done by the famous icon-painter masters, the altar and furniture are of high quality oak wood with fine carving.
This is one of the first churches in Sofia which was built after the liberation of Bulgaria when Sofia became a capital of Bulgaria.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- look for a guide with blue hat and t-shirt ( jacket)
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Peter's Tours
- Wheelchair accessible
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour includes the travel time from place to place
How it compares in Sofia
- Its from-price is 36% below the median of the 44 city tours we list in Sofia.
- Its length is typical for the group.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, lies below Vitosha mountain, mixing Roman ruins, golden-domed churches, mineral springs and a busy café culture.
Sofia sits in a high basin at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and its centre layers Roman Serdica, Orthodox Bulgaria and the Ottoman and Soviet eras. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, completed in the early twentieth century, is the city's best-known building. Close by are the fourth-century rotunda of St George, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the remains of Roman streets that show through glass in the metro stations.
Top-ranked sights in Sofia: Rila Monastery, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theatre.
Special offers in Sofia
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
