The Rotunda can be called one of the main attractions of Sofia. It is located in the heart of the capital, in the courtyard of the Presidency. Free admission. Any tourist can see it on their own.

The church-rotunda "Holy Great Martyr George"

What is the beauty of the Rotunda? The fact that this is the only Roman building in Sofia, preserved to the ceiling. That's right - not to the roof, but to the ceiling. The ceiling in this active temple dates back to the 4th century AD, and the first layer of paintings - to the sixth. Another unusuality is in the presence of five layers of painting. During the restoration at the beginning of the last century, it was decided to leave all five layers:

     Antique layer - 6th century.

     The first medieval - 9-10 century.

     The second medieval - 11-12 century.

     The third medieval end of the 14th century.

     The Ottoman layer is a Turkish floral ornament of the late 16th century.

Я считаю это отличным решением. Таким образом мы можем видеть, что называется, исторический срез: в каком веке как и чем расписывали стены. Это гораздо ценнее, чем новодел. Студенты художественной академии иногда сидят тут с мольбертами. В общем, не думайте, что это обшарпанность - это специально!

It is believed that this building was built in the 4th century on the territory of the "Konstantinovsky quarter" of Serdika Ulpiya fortress before Constantine the Great. It is assumed that this was a martyrium: a chapel in a Christian cemetery. Because under it and around it were found antique tombs.

Also this Rotunda is called "balneum", because, say, Constantine made from it a bath (this is the territory of the thermal deposit Sofia-Center).

After the Edict of Milan, a baptistery was made from this balnea - a place for mass baptism.

In the 6th century, during the time of the Emperor Justinian, the baptistery became a church and got its name "St. George".

In the 15th century the Rotunda was the Cathedral Metropolitan Church, here lay the body of John Rilski before sending it to the Rila Monastery.

In the 16th century, the Turks made a mosque from the Rotunda: they built a minaret and painted all the frescoes with whitewashing, and drew their flowers on it.

After the Liberation, the Rotunda was forgotten and only in 1915 it was converted from a mosque back to a Christian temple.

The height of the Rotunda is 14 meters, diameter is 9.5 meters. Nearby, opposite the presidential guard, there is no less interesting Archaeological Museum.

Thank you for your time and attention.

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All photos in this blog are taken by me unless otherwise attributed.

With love from Bulgaria @varya-davydova

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