Sunny Bulgaria is in the east of the Balkan Mountains. The coast of this country, its gorgeous beaches with golden sand have always attracted tourists from all over the world. There are many mineral springs here, thanks to which Bulgaria gained fame not only as a beach resort, but also as a balneological resort. The city of Varna is especially rich in hot springs. The name of this resort comes from the word "var" (hot), which indicates that back in the 12th century (before that the city was called differently), local residents discovered mineral springs and their beneficial properties. And since then, the city began to attract people who want to improve their he alth with the help of the miraculous power of thermal waters.
What was the name of Bulgaria in ancient times? Varna and Odessa - two names of the famous resort
The territory on which modern Bulgaria is located today was called Thrace in ancient times. It is said that the ancient Greeks borrowed from the Thracians the art of winemaking, as well as other aspects of culture. As for Varna, it is mentioned in chronicles somewhere from the 6th century BC under the name Odessos. It was a well developed Greek colony. However, madeArchaeologists' discoveries testify that 7 thousand years ago, on the site of Varna, there was a civilization that is older than both Egyptian and Mesopotamian. Is it really incredible? That's Bulgaria! Varna, it turns out, is not only a popular beach resort, but also the richest cultural and historical center of world significance. And its main attraction, of course, is the Varna Necropolis (fifth millennium BC), which belongs to the Chalcolithic era. During its excavations, the oldest gold jewelry in the world was discovered, including symbols of power.
Varna: general characteristics
Varna is one of the largest cities and the largest seaport in Bulgaria. It is justly called the summer capital of the country. In terms of population (about 350 thousand people), it is the third in the country, but in terms of popularity, perhaps, it occupies a leading position. Even in Soviet times, the dream of tourists from the USSR was sunny Bulgaria, Varna and nearby resorts were associated with a prestigious high-class vacation.
Location
The distance from Sofia to the resort is approximately 500 km, as much as 5-6 hours by car. However, Varna has an airport (more on this later in the article), as well as a railway station. But many residents of the Bulgarian capital and other areas remote from the coast prefer to come to rest on their own cars and stay either in hostels (guest houses), or in motels, or in campsites. But tourists mostly useby air.
This port city is located near the border with Romania, in the northeast of the country. There is a ferry service between Varna and the ports of Ilyichevsk, "Kavkaz" (Temryuk district of the Krasnodar Territory), Poti, Istanbul and Batumi. It is mainly used for the transport of goods.
Administrative divisions
Varna is divided into five districts: Primorsky, Mladost, Odessos (in honor of the ancient name of the city), Vladislav Varnenchik, Asparuhovo. The most densely populated of them is the Primorsky district. Most of the city's major hotels and tourist sites are also concentrated here.
Varna airport: history of formation
Even during the First World War in Bulgaria, near the city of Varna, the country's first airport, Tigina, appeared. A few years later, air flights began to operate between the capital and the city, but they were of a non-permanent nature. In order to establish regular flights, a new, more spacious airport was needed. By 1947, a new air terminal was built near the village of Akskakovo. The terminal and the runway were built much later, by the mid-70s of the last century. Well, when in June 2006 the airport was transferred to AG Frankfurt Airport Services Worldwide (for 35 years), two years later a completely new terminal was built that meets all international requirements.
Today there are charter flights toVarna. The annual passenger turnover is about two million people, which indicates the growing popularity of the resort city among lovers of beach and educational recreation.
Recreation features and hotels
In terms of their climatic characteristics and level of service, Varna and nearby resort villages can compete with the Black Sea and Mediterranean resorts. There are all conditions for this, namely: wonderful sandy beaches with "golden" sand, fashionable hotels and restaurants, many unique cultural and historical sights, etc. In a word, Varna (Bulgaria), whose hotels are mainly classified 3-4, can become a competitor to the resorts of Turkey, Croatia, Montenegro and even Greece. By the way, there are hotels in the city that belong to world hotel brands ("Best Western", "Golden Tulip", etc.), which, of course, only speaks in favor of this resort. Some deluxe hotels are all inclusive, but most hotels still offer half board (HB) service.
For the attention of the most fastidious tourists: all Varna hotels fully comply with European quality standards. This is very strict here. However, their distinguishing feature is the relatively low prices for accommodation and other services.
Climatic features of the resort
Of course, resort Bulgaria (Varna, Burgas, Nessebar, etc.) owes its popularity to excellentclimatic conditions that are close to the Mediterranean. Varna is located on the outskirts of the subtropical zone. In the beach season, which lasts from late April to mid-October, the average air temperature is +30 degrees, and the water in the sea reaches +24 degrees. Thanks to excellent conditions and moderate humidity, many types of Mediterranean plants grow here, such as kiwi, pomegranate, dates, laurel, figs, etc.
Historic Sites
As noted above, the territory of Varna and the surrounding areas are very rich in historical and even prehistoric monuments, the main of which is the Varna Necropolis (fifth millennium BC). Other sights no less significant for the history of the city are the Roman baths (II-III centuries AD), located on the oldest street of Varna - Khan Krum. And the baths, which are located in the area of the central port, belong to the IV century. They are much better preserved: here you can see part of the stone walls, spacious halls, as well as a heating system that amazes with its genius. This ancient building is the third largest in Europe. Here it is, the city of Varna (Bulgaria). The photos presented in the article clearly demonstrate the beauty and singularity of this ancient city.
Fans of medieval architecture can visit the oldest surviving church in the city - the Cathedral of St. Anastasia (XVII century). A younger Orthodox shrine is the Cathedral of the AssumptionVirgin Mary, which dates back to the end of the 19th century. It is notable for its frescoes and carved decoration of the patriarchal throne. The archaeological museum of Varna houses the oldest collection of gold items, which was discovered by scientists near the Varna necropolis.
By the way, tourists in most cases want to make excursions on their own, without a guide. In this case, they will definitely need a map of Varna, which can be bought at any kiosk.
Modern Landmarks
Returning to the topic of sights, it should be noted that of the modern ones, the most interesting for the guests of the country is the Maritime Museum, located in the area of \u200b\u200bthe Marine (or Primorsky) Park. Tourists are also recommended to visit the Wishing Bridge - one of the symbols of the city, an aquarium, a zoo and a terrarium. I would especially like to dwell on the description of the aquarium, because it is one of the oldest in Europe, and was founded in 1911. Its facade, which is decorated with bas-reliefs of marine life, leaves a special impression. By the way, underwater inhabitants not only of the Black Sea, but also of other seas and oceans live within its walls. However, the most visited place for 30 years now has been the only dolphinarium in Varna on the entire Balkan Peninsula. It is also located in Seaside Park, in a bizarre glass building overlooking the bay. The capacity of this facility is 1200 spectators.
Beaches
No matter how interesting excursions are, however, tourists who come to the seaside resort are primarily concerned about the condition of the beaches. From this side they canbe absolutely calm. Everything here is conducive to a pleasant beach holiday. Despite the fact that this is a port city, the beaches of Varna are clean and well-groomed. The coastline of the resort is divided into many zones. Here are the names of some of them:
- "South".
- "Central".
- "Officer".
- "Bunite".
- "Bunite-2" and others.
On all beaches the sand is very fine and golden. It is very pleasant to sunbathe on it, especially for people who have problems with the musculoskeletal system. Although on especially hot days it is able to heat up to very high temperatures, and then you can’t do without sun loungers. On private beaches owned by hotels, guests can use umbrellas and sunbeds for free, while on city beaches, all this is provided to tourists for a fee. Fans of water entertainment will find many interesting attractions, and party lovers can stay here until the evening and take part in incendiary dances. Along the line of the beach there are many cafes, bars, discos, nightclubs, retail outlets, etc. In a word, each of the vacationers will find here something to suit their interests. If after reading this article you are interested in the country of Bulgaria, Varna deserves to be the first of the resorts that you will visit on your next vacation.
