Nestledin the foothills of picturesque Mount Vitosha is the centuries-old BoyanaChurch, a true gem of Sofia’s architectural landmarks. Marvel at the church’sarchitecture, which dates back to the late 10th century, and then step insideto discover a collection of Medieval art. The church was originally one of 35fortresses that protected the ancient streets of Sofia. In 1979 it was added tothe city’s collection of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Thechurch is made up of three separate wings, so take time to see them all. Theoldest section is on the church’s eastern side, built between the late 10thcentury and early 11th century. Check out its simple cross-vaulted style. TheBulgarian nobles Sebastocrator Kaloyan and Desislava then enlarged the churchin the 13th century by adding a two-story wing, decorated with ceramics. Notethe church’s fortress-like appearance and bricked-in windows.
Inside,you’ll have the chance to admire art from between the 11th and 19th centuries. Intotal there are 89 scenes and some 240 icons. See a portrayal of ChristPantocrator and scenes from the Passions of Christ in the church’s oldestsection. Look for portraits of Kaloyan and Desislava, as well as paintings ofBulgarian Tsar Constantine Asen Tikh and his wife. Don’t miss the 18 scenesthat portray the life of St. Nicholas and representations of two reveredBulgarian saints, St. John of Rila and St. Paraskeva.
BoyanaChurch is about a 20-minute drive from Sofia’s city centre. Public buses stop ashort walk from the church’s entrance. If arriving by car then you’ll find freeparking on the street that leads to the main entrance. Combine your visit witha visit to Sofia’s National Museum of History, which is just a 5-minute driveaway. Find thousands of exhibits that depict the history of Bulgaria, from theprehistoric era to the present day.
BoyanaChurch is open daily and admission is free. Access to the church’s interior islimited to small groups so expect queues during the busy summer months. Paidguided tours are available and provide insightful information about thechurch’s history and art.