List of oldest buildings in Sofia

This article attempts to list the oldest buildings in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria, including the oldest temples and any other surviving structures. In most instances, buildings listed here were reconstructed numerous times and only fragments of the original buildings have survived. Some dates are approximate and based on architectural studies and historical records.In order to qualify for the list a structure must:

  • be a recognisable building (defined as any human-made structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or continuous occupancy);
  • incorporate features of building work from the claimed date to at least 1.5 metres (4.9 ft) in height.

This consciously excludes ruins of limited height, roads and statues.

BuildingLocationYear builtPhoto
Saint George RotundaKaloyan Street
42°41′49″N 23°19′22″E / 42.69694°N 23.32278°E / 42.69694; 23.32278
4th century [1]
Saint Sofia ChurchParis Street, 2
42°41′48″N 23°19′53″E / 42.69667°N 23.33139°E / 42.69667; 23.33139
4th - 6th century [2]
Boyana ChurchBoyana Quarter
42°38′41″N 23°15′58″E / 42.64472°N 23.26611°E / 42.64472; 23.26611
10th century - early 11th century [3]
Saint Petka of the Saddlers ChurchMarie Louise Boulevard, 2
42°41′52″N 23°19′20″E / 42.69778°N 23.32222°E / 42.69778; 23.32222
11th century [4]
Saint Elijah ChurchIlientsi Quarter
42°45′8″N 23°18′27″E / 42.75222°N 23.30750°E / 42.75222; 23.30750
12th or 16th century[5]
Saint Petka ChurchKaloyan Street 9
42°41′47″N 23°19′21″E / 42.69639°N 23.32250°E / 42.69639; 23.32250
13th century (1241 - 1257) [6]
Saint Nicholas Mirlikiyski ChurchKaloyan Street, 8
42°41′45″N 23°19′22″E / 42.69583°N 23.32278°E / 42.69583; 23.32278
13th century (1263) [7]
National Archaeological MuseumSaborna street, 215th century (1451 – 1494) [8]
The church of Dragalevtsi Monasterynear Dragalevtsi Quarter15th century (1476) [9]
The old church of Kremikovtsi Monasterynear Kremikovtsi Quarter15th century (1493) [10]
Saints Sedmochislenitsi ChurchGraf Ignatiev Street, 25
42°41′24″N 23°19′39″E / 42.69000°N 23.32750°E / 42.69000; 23.32750
16th century (1528) [11][12]
Banya Bashi MosqueMarie Louise Boulevard, 1816th century (1576) [13]
The Old WallStara Stena Street16th or 17th century [14]

Other structures

The following are old constructions, mostly ruins that might not fit the above criteria for a building.

BuildingLocationYear builtPhoto
Neolithic settlement of SlatinaSlatina, Boulevard Shipchenski Prohod6000 BC [15]
Amphitheatre of Serdica2 Budapest Street3rd -4th century [16]
Tomb of Honoriusnext to Saint Sofia Church entrance5th -6th century [17]
Necropolis and three earlier churchesUnder Saint Sofia Church3rd -6th century [18]
Western Serdica Gate146 Boris I Str. (Near Saint Joseph Cathedral)2nd century(176 -180) [19]
Eastern Serdica GateLargo subway2nd century(176 -180) [20]
Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex "Serdica"Sofia, 1 Nezavisimost Sq, 2 Maria Luiza Blvd(Largo subway and Serdika Metro Station)3rd century - 6th century [21]
North Eastern Serdica Tower1 Iskar Str.3rd - 5th century [22]
St. George Rotunda archeological complexaround St. George Rotunda3rd - 4th century [23]
Lozenets MausoleumLozenets, 110, D.Hadzhikotsev Str4th - 5th century [24]
St Spas Church remainsSveta Nedelya square 711th - 12th century or 15th - 16th century [25]
Ottoman Barracks2 Shipka Street16th century

See also

References