Burgas (often incorrectly spelled as Bourgas) is smaller and less crowded than
Varna (population 210,260). It is Bulgaria's largest port and this is the
primary focus of the city. Burgas has a relaxed atmosphere with good shopping
and an abundance of restaurants and outdoor cafes.
The District Museum of History was founded in 1925 with the archaeological
association. Today it houses an archaeological hall with a rich collection
from the old colonies on the Black Sea coast. There are a number of ceramic
vessels, objects from everyday life, coins and jewellery from antiquity,
tombstones, plates of Thracian horse-riders, tools, and miniature models of
ancient settlements. There are exhibits of modern history, photos of Revival
eminent leaders, of Bulgarians born in the district having blazed a trail in
the history of the native land.
The Art Gallery was established in 1945 with halls exhibiting foreign art,
works of Bulgarian artists, and icons painted by Revival icon-painters.
The Sea Park is situated on a high shore, all of it cut by flowerbeds, trees
and sculptures. There is the bust of Adam Mizcewic, Polish writer and
revolutionary, who stayed in the city in 1850. Within the park there is the
casino, a small zoo and the open-air theatre, which houses the annual
International Folklore Festival, and where part of the guests at the Golden
Orpheus Pop-Festival perform.
The central beach is situated below the Sea Park, a beautiful forked staircase
in verdure leads to the beach. The sand is a mixture of various alloys of
magnetite which are the reason for its dark colour. The city has a northern
beach, too, close to the Izgrev Quarter, adjacent to the salt-mines.
The St. Cyril and Methodius Cathedral is situated near the marketplace, and is
interesting for its marvelous frescos and wooden altar. The Ethnographic
Museum has an interesting collection of traditional masks of koukeri, and
costumes typical of the region, objects from everyday life, and ritual
accessories. There is a video-hall where one can see ethnographic and
historical films. A number of traditional Bulgarian fabrics and embroidery
typical of the district are exhibited. The museum is arranged in a house from
1873, later declared a cultural monument.
The Museum of Nature and Science contains many exhibits describing the
geological characteristics of the earth, the region, the flora and fauna. More
than 1200 exhibits relating to insects and reptiles have been exposed. More
than 140 species of fishes, plants growing in the district of Strandzha,
protected and endemic species are on display.
The Philharmonic, the Opera House, and the Theatre of Drama are housed in
three different buildings and function all through the season. Together with
the Puppet Theatre they outline the cultural atmosphere in the city with their
interesting concerts and performances. An interesting sight of Bourgas is the
Armenian Church located close to the Bulgaria Hotel. It was built in 1855 by
the local Armenian minority supported by Bulgarians. |
