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The Sofia Underground: Archaeological Level of the Basilica of St. Sophia

20 Oct 2023 by Amby

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price-icon $3.5 city-icon Sofia country-icon Bulgaria location-icon Saint Sofia Church

One of the reasons Drew and I wanted to visit Bulgaria in general was the archaeology and history of the country. Sofia certainly did not disappoint in that regard, and the Basilica of St. Sophia provided a fascinating look into the early Christian life of the city.

St. Sophia is one of the oldest churches in Sofia, and the city is actually named after this church. On the outside, the church does not look that spectacular, especially compared to some of the other ornate churches nearby like the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

However, St. Sophia really shines for its large underground museum and archaeology site, which was one of the coolest activities Drew and I did in Sofia. The church was built on top of a Roman necropolis, and has itself been destroyed and rebuilt five times over the centuries, the most recent being in the 500s, a contemporary of the more famous Hagia Sofia in Istanbul.

Getting There:

Drew and I spent the early afternoon visiting multiple churches and museums in Sofia, starting at St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

St. Sophia is a short walk away, and there are a lot of interesting shops, parks, and cafes nearby, so this is a good central location in the city.

St. Sophia from the outside. It's certainly not one of the more spectacular churches in the area. I actually forgot to take a picture of it, so this one is from Wikipedia. St. Sophia from the outside. It's certainly not one of the more spectacular churches in the area. I actually forgot to take a picture of it, so this one is from Wikipedia.

We got to St. Sophia and had a look around. Photography is not allowed without paying a small fee, which we declined.

We went downstairs (there are plenty of signs showing where to go), and paid 6 BGN to enter the “archeological level” of the church.

Exhibition plan. Exhibition plan.

The Exhibits:

Drew and I were surprised by how extensive the crypts were—the complex was much larger than expected.

We were also impressed by how old and how intricate these crypts were, including ornate painting and mosaics from earlier churches built on the site. Tombs range in age from the 3rd to 5th century AD.

The floor of the third church built (and later, built over) on the site. This is from the 5th century. This church was destroyed by the Hunnic invasion in the middle of the 5th century. The floor of the third church built (and later, built over) on the site. This is from the 5th century. This church was destroyed by the Hunnic invasion in the middle of the 5th century.

On a level even lower than the archaeological floor is the “Complex with the Tomb of Honorius,” a 5th century tomb featuring the name of the deceased—the only one of its kind in Bulgaria.

Exhibits explained how the style of tombs changed over time and the symbolism behind the artwork. Signage was in Bulgarian and English.

A rare tomb painted on the inside, evoking the Garden of Eden. This tomb is from the end of the 3rd century. A rare tomb painted on the inside, evoking the Garden of Eden. This tomb is from the end of the 3rd century.

Conclusion:

It took us about a half hour to get through the church and crypts. We thought the price was well worth the experience and it’s an easy activity to add into your Sofia itinerary that increases your appreciation for the history and religious character of the city.

Five snacks!

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