Sofia's museums are almost exclusively Bulgaria-oriented and are aimed at chronicling the conflicting fortunes of this once great empire, the peoples that have passed through it from Thracians through Greeks, Romans and Turks, and the lives of the Bulgarians themselves in recent centuries. They can provide a fascinating insight into the Balkan Peninsula, and entrance fees are laughably low so there's no excuse not to visit them.

 

*NATIONAL HISTORY MUSEUM 2, Vitosha Blvd.(tel: 884 160)

Working time: 09.30 - 18.30; No day off

The museum covers the whole period from prehistory to the present day. The ground floor houses relics from the earliest period up to the Middle Ages and includes gold and silver treasures (the Panagyurishte treasure), ceramics and archaeological remains. The first floor concentrates on ecclesiastical art, the 19th century Bulgarian National Revival including folk costumes, carpets and typically furnished rooms from that period.

Map of the Museum

 

*ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM 2, Saborna St.(tel:882 406)

Working time: 10.00 - 12.00/ 14.00 - 18.00; Closed on Mondays.

Remains of Thracian, Greek and Roman settlements in the ivy-clad 15th century 'Buyuk(Big)Mosque'.

 

*THE EARTH AND MAN MUSEUM 2, CherniVrah Blvd.(tel:656 639)

Working time: 10.00 - 18.00; Closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Founded in 1986. Over 20,000 exhibits are on display, divided into six sections: Giant Crystals, Minerals of the Earth, Industrial Minerals, Raw Material Sources of Bulgaria, Gems, New Materials. The museum also holds art exhibitions and classical music evenings, which are noted in our cultural supplement.

 

*NATIONAL NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 1, Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.(tel:885 215)

Working time: 10.00 - 19.00; No day off.

The museum was founded in 1889 and opened to visitors in 1907. Nowadays the museum has three major sections: Geology, Zoology and Botany. Apart from several meteorites, the 'Earth and Space' exhibition features unique lunar samples and an impressive dinosaur skeleton. A special exhibition shows live pythons, crocodiles, and iguanas.

 

*ETHNOGRAPHICAL MUSEUM 6A, Moskovska St.(tel:874 191)

Working time: 10.30 - 17.30; Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The museum displays folk costumes, fabrics, jewellers,woodcuttings, hammered ironwork, etc. A small craft shop sells crafts, costumes and musical instruments from all over Bulgaria. In the former Royal Palace on Tsar Osvohoditel Blvd., along with the National Art Gallery.

 

*THE ALEXANDER NEVSKY CRYPT 1, St. Alexander Navsky, Sq.(tel:877 697)

Working time: 10.30 - 12.30/14.00 - 18.30; Closed on Tuesdays.

The crypt museum was founded in 1965 and contains items from the very beginnings of Bulgarian iconography (the end of the 9th century) until the end of the 19th century. All stages of the Bulgarian iconography school are represented in a collection of 1500 items.

 

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