Medieval Magic of Old Nessebar on a Rainy Night... #TheLongestTrip

I explored this Pearl on the shore of the Black Sea in Bulgaria on one rainy evening, and it stayed in my memory like a true journey into the medieval era, where in the darkness and silence under the rain there were only us and the spirit of centuries past…

I heard a lot about this city from my friends when I lived in Ukraine. Then Bulgaria was the cheapest country to visit to relax by the sea. and I thought: one day I will visit this famous city. But what I saw completely turned my imagination upside down. At first it was my impressions and feelings, and only then I read the story...

At first we wanted to park our car by the sea and continue walking, but the wet wind was hitting our faces and our hands were freezing as if it was a fierce winter, although it was the beginning of November. Then we slowly drove into the city, moving slowly, stopping at amazingly beautiful churches and wooden houses. When the rain subsided, we got out of the car. I was overcome by an amazing feeling, as if I had suddenly found myself in a medieval country. In the darkness, when the lanterns illuminated the wet ancient cobblestones, this feeling intensified. I stood in silence, afraid to disturb this magical atmosphere, listening to the sounds of the night, which seemed to tell me the history of this Pearl on the Black Sea coast...

Suddenly I saw a beautiful church, in an original style. Its facade was decorated with a mosaic of red and white bricks. At the top, arches were made of ceramic green and black tiles. This building looks like a true masterpiece. I examined it from all sides, fascinated by this unique structure. Later I found out: this is the Church of Christ Pantocrator, recognized as the most beautiful church in Old Nessebar.
Built in the 14th century, in the Byzantine style. Now it functions as a museum. Art exhibitions are often held here.

Church of Christ Pantocrator. Old Nessebar. Bulgaria
In the evening, when lanterns illuminate its ornaments, it becomes like a fairy-tale box full of secrets!

It looks as if it was created by artists. Each arch, each pattern is like a painting made of stone and ceramics. This church has not just survived the centuries, it has preserved the powerful spirit of past centuries.

I continued my walk through the old streets of the city in the rain, enjoying the churches surrounded by autumn trees against the evening sky and the various wooden houses decorated with grapevines.
Each of them had their own unique face and at the same time they were similar to each other. They looked like old wise men who had seen a lot in their lives. The fig trees with their yellowed leaves complemented this picture very harmoniously.

The rain softly rustled on the ancient stones, as if someone invisible was turning the pages of time. Moving slowly between the houses, we came to a wide square, where we saw ruins that looked like a perfect, perfect monument of history.
These are the ruins of the Basilica of St. Sophia. We stopped between the columns and walls destroyed by time and listened to the silence. Only the sounds of the rain complemented this silent story... Every step echoed in the silence. The wet slabs under our feet shone like mirrors of the past, and the cold walls breathed with old grandeur.

Night lanterns flooded the ruins with a soft golden light. It's a strange feeling - when the ruins do not scare, but envelop, and among the stone and silence, suddenly it becomes calm and the heart is filled with happiness ...

One of the most characteristic features of the old town is the wooden houses combined with stone, which create a special picturesque atmosphere of the streets of Old Nessebar.
The stone lower floor is used for economic needs, and the living quarters are located on the upper floors with a wooden facade, which usually protrudes above the street, forming picturesque bay windows.

Wooden beams are not hidden, on the contrary - they are demonstrated: massive corner elements, wooden joints. This creates a feeling of reliability.

Old Nesebar was included in the List of World Cultural Heritage Sites of UNESCO...

Each house catches my eye, and I take in their unique features. The wood of the houses is a matte, deep brown, almost black, with an uneven surface and distinct texture. Wind and salty sea air have darkened the wood in places.
These wooden houses create a sentimental image, transporting visitors back in time to a time when the city was a vital trading port and cultural center. Today, these houses have been partially restored and operate as museums, cafes, and hotels, yet they retain their historic charm.

During the city's existence for more than 3,000 years, various peoples have left their legacy here: Thracians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Ottomans, Bulgarians, who have influenced the cultural and architectural appearance of the city.

Nessebar is a historic town and resort in eastern Bulgaria on the Black Sea coast. Nessebar is located on an island connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The Greek colony of Mesembria was founded on this site in the late 6th century BC and flourished due to trade between Greece and Thrace. It was relatively insignificant during the Roman occupation, but regained its former prosperity in Byzantine times. The gradual decline of Nessebar under Turkish rule was accelerated by the development of the nearby port of Burgas after 1878...

I really wanted to see the old mill, which stands on the very shore of the sea, not far from the historic center of the city. The old mill stands like a silent guardian of Nessebar. Unfortunately my phone couldn't take a good enough quality photo.
Now the mill is a tourist attraction and a mini-museum. It preserves the atmosphere of the past and interesting historical objects.

We returned home a little cold and tired, but full of beautiful impressions, having bought one bottle of the famous Bulgarian wine 🙂

Our #TheLongestTrip is now in its fourth year. I am in a hurry to write a report post about the third year. It has already become a good tradition for me and a treasure trove of all those wonderful memories of all the fascinating cities and natural places in the 14 countries we visited! And you can view a collection of the best posts from our first two years here:

1 year of #TheLongestTrip that the war sent us on... 27 cities in 12 months 🛳️🏝️🕍 // 56 photos

2 year of #TheLongestTrip that the war sent us on... 36 articles and 75 best photos in one post 🏝️⛵⛱️