Located on a cliffy peninsula 34 km to the south from Burgas, the small town of Sozopol has ancient history. In the 7th century BC the Greeks coming from Miletus in Asia Minor erected walls around the old Thracian settlement and named it “Apollonia”. During submarine studies carried out in the waters of the berthing place of Sozopol there were discovered remains of houses, ceramic bowels, stone and bone instruments of labour dating back to the bronze age. In the Sozopol bay there were found numerous stone anchors and stocks. It is the anchor that represents the symbol of Sozople and an unchanging image on the coins made here, in Apollonia. The city was a prosperous center of merchandise. Approximately within the given period there was built a 13 m high bronze statue of Apollo - the god of health, sun, and beauty; this statue is a true masterpiece of the ancient Greek art (the sculptor - Kalamis). Today the statue can be seen in Roman Capitol, where to it was transferred by Mark Lucull, who conquered and ruined Apollonia at the end of the 1st century.
Modern Sozopol represents houses of the late 20th century surrounded by rich gardens. Like Nessebar, Sozopol is situated on a peninsula. Tourists are attracted here by two quiet and beautiful beaches with golden sand - one within a closed bay, and another one of larger size stretching to the south from the town. For many decades narrow and steep streets of Sozopol, its ancient wooden houses with bow windows, grapes, wine vaults, ancient churches and chapels, museums and fishing boats have been attracting artists and writers to the town. To the south from Sozopol there can be found one of the most beautiful beaches of the Black Sea with fine golden sand; in summer some of them have absolutely no visitors.
Sozopol is divided into two parts: “the old town” located on the peninsula, and “the new town” called “Harmanit” due to numerous mills - “harmans” - which used to occupy the area (only one of the mills remained preserved). The “old” and the “new” parts of Sozopol are separated by a green park with churches located in it.
Warmly welcoming private hotels, cottages, and houses are offered to the tourists coming to Sozopol; there is a wide range of options for family and individual vacation. Rooms and apartments with comfortable interior design provide an opportunity of convenient and inexpensive staying in calm and pleasant surroundings. Sozopol is a tourist centre attracting with its hot sun, the sea, and the history of the town.
