Apollonia Pontica Archaeological Site

Apollonia Pontica is the ancient Greek city-state located at the site of modern Sozopol on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, founded in the 7th century BCE. It served as a major Greek trading and cultural center on the western Black Sea.

Founded by settlers from Miletus in the 7th century BCE, the city prospered through the Classical and Hellenistic periods and remained important under Roman rule as Apollonia Pontica. It continued to be occupied and rebuilt through Byzantine and later medieval periods, producing the layered archaeological record seen today.

Located in Burgas Province on Bulgaria’s southern Black Sea coast, the remains lie within and immediately around the modern town of Sozopol, which serves as the access point for the archaeological areas.

• Foundation: Often called Apollonia of the Pontus, it was an important Greek colony on the Black Sea coast founded in the 7th century BCE by settlers from Miletus.
• Site layout: Remains are dispersed through the modern town and on the adjacent peninsula and island, so walking the Old Town and the archaeological reserve gives the most complete view.

What to See#

• Acropolis (Sozopol peninsula): Sited on the modern town of Sozopol, the peninsula acropolis contains visible remains of fortification walls, house foundations and scattered temple platforms dating to the Archaic and Classical periods.
• Apollonia Archaeological Museum: Houses finds from local excavations including pottery, inscriptions and sculpture spanning the Greek, Roman and Byzantine periods and displays material from Apollonia Pontica.
• Old Town (Sozopol): The historic Old Town of Sozopol preserves a dense network of streets and buildings layered above the ancient settlement and contains visible ancient remains integrated into later architecture.

Apollonia Pontica is near Sozopol in Burgas Province. From Burgas, drive along the coastal road (E87) south toward Sozopol and follow signs for archaeological sites; local buses connect Sozopol with surrounding points of interest.

• Bring a sunhat and water if exploring the coastal remains - shade is limited.
• Visit in the morning for cooler light and to see the archaeological site at its quietest.
• Read up on Thracian colonization of the Black Sea to appreciate the hybridity of Greek and local features here.