Sozopol anchors

There is a small resort on the southern coast of Bulgaria that successfully competes with northern competitors such as Nesebar. Maybe not as crowded, maybe not as cheerful as they are, but its attractions are just as, if not more, tempting. Especially for diving enthusiasts.

We are talking about Sozopol, located about 31 km southeast of Burgas. It is considered by many to be the capital of cultural life on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It prides itself on the beauty of its long and wide beaches, its slow life and artistic community. The city is liked by musicians, painters and photographers who spend their holidays here. In addition, in the summer season, many cultural events, concerts and exhibitions take place here.

An important point on the list of Sozopol's advantages are also prices - both accommodation and food cost much less than in Nessebar.

Two faces of Sozopol

Sozopol is divided into two parts: new and old. The new one is located south of the bus station and is called Charmanite . Bursting with music coming from discos and cafes, she is laughing and noisy. The old one, in turn, was spread over a small rocky peninsula in the northern part of the city. It is covered with a cobweb of cobbled streets lined with charming wooden houses on stone basements. Almost 200 of them are on the list of high-class monuments.

In the old part of Sozopol there is a romantic seaside promenade, perfect for evening walks of lovers. When we get hungry, we can fill it in one of the many cafes, cafes and folk-styled taverns.

Underwater paradise - an offer for divers

The city is beautiful no matter which side you look at it from. It also delights with the beauty of its underground world, tempting diving enthusiasts. Both beginners and advanced enthusiasts of underwater swimming will find their way here. Local schools offer the so-called underwater walks and training for all difficulty levels. Some of them will also organize night dives . During them, you can see the petrified cedar forest and learn the secrets of shipwrecks on the seabed.

Where is it worth going? Certainly to St. Stephen's Bay, where practically all species of Black Sea flora live. The fauna is also abundant, covering the seabed like a wild forest. The big attraction of the bay - literally and figuratively - is a sunken ancient anchor. The underwater landscape is also diversified by beautiful underwater cliffs.

At the old part of the city, there is an underwater wall, which used to connect three islets and served as a gateway to the port. Over time, the sea level rose by more than 7 meters, ignoring artificial barriers and sinking islands. We find it by diving between St. Ivan's Island and the northern part of the headland. Both by it and by the ancient breakwater stretching nearby, there are dozens of anchors at the bottom . The oldest ones come from the 7th century BC. Glass vessels, Byzantine ceramics and antique amphoras are also buried in the sea mud.

Beauty under water and on land

The island of Saint Ivan is also interesting from the land side. Today it is uninhabited by people, but it is home to about 70 species of birds. It has the status of a nature reserve, and it houses a 19th-century lighthouse and the ruins of a 13th-century monastery and church.

After a long and eventful day, you can go to the night. About 3 km from the city center, Camping Gradina is waiting for tourists. There are over 250 pitches for motorhomes and caravans, 50 bungalows and over 400 places for tents. The campsite has a bar, restaurant and shop. The place is nice and often appears on tourist forums - caravers praise it very much.

Sozopol is really worth visiting. The city symbolized by the anchor has a lot to offer - not only for diving fans.