Varna
Varna (Bulgarian: Варна) has a population of 350,000, being Bulgaria’s third largest city after Sofia and Plovdiv. It is the capital of Varna Province. It is a port city in the eastern part of the country, located on the Black Sea coast. It is sometimes referred to as “The Sea Capital” or “The Summer Capital” of Bulgaria.
History
Varna was founded around 6,000 B.C. near the site of the ancient Greek trading colony Odessos which was founded about 580 BCE.
Historically, Varna is perhaps best known for being the site of the oldest gold treasure to be found by archaeologists. The Roman city had baths, built in the 2nd century CE, that are the largest Roman remains in Bulgaria.
Varna is called the sea capital of Bulgaria, because it is the biggest Bulgarian city on the seacoast. Varna was also the base of the Bulgarian Navy. Currently, there is a Naval Museum with a museum ship torpedo boat Draski. The archaeological museum contains some of the finds from the so-called “Gold of Varna”, a cache of Chalcolithic grave-goods which are the oldest gold treasure in the world.
Economy
Varna is an important economic centre for Bulgaria and the Black Sea region in general. Major industries include trade and transportation shipbuilding, and manufacturing. Tourism is of great importance to the city, with the nearby resorts of Albena, Golden Sands, SS Constantine and Helena, Riviera and many others each year attracting millions of visitors from all over the world. Together with the nearby town of Devnya, Varna forms what is known as the Varna-Devnya Industrial Complex, home to some of the largest chemical, electrical and manufacturing plants in Bulgaria.
Entertainment
The beaches of the Black Sea provide refreshment on hot summer days. There are several cinemas in the city (Palace Cinema, Mustang, Bulgaran, FC), several theaters and an Opera House. The Cathedral of Varna is an impressing monument, architecturally and historically, that you should not miss when you visit the city.
A walk in the Sea Garden always offers a relaxing break. There are many night clubs, bars, cafés, and restaurants. You can practice, or watch many sports in Varna. The Bulgarian volleyball team plays in Varna, and usually more than 5000 people come to support the team. Varna has two football teams – Spartak Varna and Cherno More. Spartak Varna is one of Bulgaria’s most famous football clubs and the people of Varna enjoy a long-going love affair with the club.
You can play basketball, football, tennis, or beach volleyball on one of the many fields. You can also practice most of the water sports on the Black Sea coast.
Night Life
Varna has a rich night life, especially in the summer. If you prefer going to a night club, you will like all the clubs in the Sea Garden, right next to the beach. Popular clubs during the summer months are Avenue, Cocaracha, Exit, Momo. If you prefer going to a restaurant, you can enjoy a tasty Bulgarian meal in Restaurants “Paraklisa”, “Nashentzi”. If you prefer Mediterranean cuisine, “La Pastaria” is the place to go. For a quick meal, “Happy” restaurants and Bistro Europa offer nice meals at good prices. Of course, there are many fish restaurants especially near the beach.
