Church of Saint George, Sofia

Church of Saint George, Sofia tickets: which one to buy

The Rotunda of Saint George stands in the courtyard of the Presidency building and the Sheraton hotel in the centre of Sofia, Bulgaria, surrounded by ancient ruins, and entry is free, with donations welcome. It is considered the oldest building in Sofia and a rare survival from the Roman city of Serdica. Walking tours of central Sofia include it together with the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the Saint Sofia Church, the Banya Bashi Mosque, the Sofia Synagogue, the Serdica archaeological complex and the Changing of the Guard at the Presidency, which happens every hour nearby.

The rotunda is easily reached from the Serdika metro station. It is an active Orthodox church, and services are held regularly. The courtyard gives a quiet break from the busy streets. Photography is usually allowed without flash. The entrance to the courtyard is through a passage between the Presidency and the hotel.

Visiting Church of Saint George, Sofia: what to see

The rotunda was built in the fourth century, when Serdica was an important Roman city, possibly as a bath or ceremonial building, and it was later converted into a church. It is a circular brick building with a dome, and it stands among the excavated remains of Roman streets and buildings. Inside, the dome and walls are covered with several layers of frescoes, the oldest from the tenth century, including a painting of angels and a figure of Christ in the dome, and later ones from the twelfth and fourteenth centuries. During the Ottoman period, the church was converted into a mosque, and the frescoes were covered with plaster, which protected them; they were uncovered and restored in the twentieth century.

The rotunda was returned to use as an Orthodox church. The surrounding ruins include remains of a Roman road and a basilica. The dome's oldest layer of frescoes shows prophets and angels in a Byzantine style, and a portrait of an Ottoman-era patron can be seen on one wall. The apse holds a painting of Christ enthroned. The walls have niches that reflect the building's Roman origins. The small church holds an iconostasis and icons, and candles are lit by worshippers. The ruins around the rotunda include parts of Roman streets, drains and buildings. Excavations have revealed the rotunda's original floor level, below the present street. The church's bell hangs in a tree in the courtyard.

Church of Saint George, Sofia opening hours and the best time to go

The rotunda is open daily. Sofia has a continental climate, with warm summers and cold, snowy winters; spring and autumn are pleasant for walking. The Changing of the Guard at the Presidency, a short walk away, happens every hour during the day. Orthodox Easter and Christmas bring services and celebrations. The city centre is compact and walkable, and the free walking tours of Sofia leave from the Palace of Justice twice a day. Allow about fifteen minutes for the rotunda and the ruins, and continue to the Serdica complex in the metro station below. The Sofia Regional History Museum, in the former Central Mineral Baths, is a short walk away.