Boyana Church

If you enjoy exploring UNESCO Heritage Sites during your travels, then Boyana Church should definitely feature on your list of things to see in Sofia. It is located on the outskirts of the city, at the foothills of Mt. Vitosha. The Boyana Church is unique because it is an ensemble of 3 buildings, which were constructed in 3 stages—10th and 11th centuries, 14th century and mid-19th century. As part of conservation efforts, the church was closed to the public in 1954. It was opened later on 2006 and even today, visitors can’t stay inside the church for more than 15 min. Being able to witness such a rare and endangered architecture, even for 15 min, makes the experience of visiting Boyana Church extra special.
The church is heralded as one of the masterpieces of Medieval Art due to the frescoes that date back to the 11th century. It also houses some exceptional portraits of Bulgarian aristocrats and Tsars. Visit it to witness the finest examples of Eastern European Medieval Art. It is an exceptional church, one that definitely deserves to be seen from the inside.