Tourism minister visits Aladzha monastery near Bulgaria’s coastal city of Varna

Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Mariana Nikolova visited Aladzha Monastery near the Black Sea coastal city of Varna and Golden Sands resort. She was accompanied by the district governor of Varna, Stoyan Pasev, the press office of the Ministry of Tourism said on August 9

Aladzha Monastery is the most famous medieval cave monastery on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. It was inhabited by hermit monks in the XII-XIV century. There is an opinion that the monastery is part of an extensive rock cult complex on the territory of Northeastern Bulgaria, associated with the widespread in the XIII-XIV century doctrine of "Divine Tabor light" - hesychasm.

The premises of the Monastery are carved and arranged on 2 levels in a limestone rock that is almost 40 m high: the Monastery temple, the monastic cells, a refectory and a kitchen, the cemetery church, a crypt and the entrance on first Level, a monastery chapel on the second level and a wooden staircase between. In some parts are exposed the original murals representing scenes of life.

Part of the original mural decoration in the chapel is preserved. It dates back to the end of the XIII - beginning of the XIV century.

Minister Nikolova said that such landmarks should attract more and more visitors from all over Bulgaria, as well as foreigners who come on holidays in the region.

She also left a message in the monastery, encouraging tourists to enter this monastery and immerse themselves in the Bulgarian culture and history.