Saint George Rotunda Church

Saint George Rotunda Church is a small circular brick church in central Sofia, Bulgaria, that dates to the late Roman period and is the oldest preserved building in the city. It is commonly called the Rotunda of St George and stands as an intact example of early Christian architecture in Sofia.

The interior contains extensive medieval frescoes, with paintings from roughly the 10th to the 14th centuries arranged on several levels of the rotunda walls. The building’s compact, cylindrical plan and red-brick exterior are distinctive and make the rotunda a frequent stop on walking tours of the city center.

The rotunda was constructed in the 4th century as part of the late Roman city; it later served as a Christian church through the medieval period and survived subsequent urban changes. Conservation and restoration work in the 20th century exposed and preserved many of the layered frescoes.

The church sits within the small courtyard between the Presidential Offices and the larger medieval Church of St Sophia, in Sofia’s central Largo area, a short walk from the city’s main boulevards and transport hubs.

• Medieval frescoes: Contains layers of medieval frescoes dating mainly from the 10th to the 14th centuries, visible inside when the church is open.
• Central courtyard location: Sits inside the courtyard of the Presidency building in central Sofia and can be viewed from outside even when interior access is limited.