St. George Rotunda Church
About St. George Rotunda Church
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What people say
Pedro Pereira
Available for hire
"The Church of St. George, the oldest surviving building in Sofia, is a red-brick rotunda dating back to the 4th century. Its architectural design features a circular plan on a square base with semicircular niches. Historically, it was used for baptismal ceremonies and is part of a larger archaeological complex that includes Roman ruins such as a street with preserved drainage, the foundations of a basilica, and other structures. It is believed that some meetings of the Council of Serdica in 343 were held here.
The church's walls contain five layers of partially preserved frescoes, the oldest being Roman-Byzantine floral motifs from the 4th century. Notable frescoes include 10th-century angels and a frieze with prophets from the 11th and 12th centuries, depicting scenes like the Ascension and Assumption. During the Ottoman period in the 16th century, the church was converted into a mosque but was later abandoned in the 19th century and eventually restored as a Christian church."
Lyndsey Kerridge
Available for hire
"If you pass through the only arch on the President’s office, you will get to the inner yard which you will find more peaceful than the Independence square.
One interesting monument in this inner yard is the red-brick rotunda of St George. This is the oldest building in Sofia, dating back to the 4th century and around it you will find the remainings of the ancient town of Serdica. St George church is famous for it frescoes inside the central dome.
It was originally built in the early 4th century as Roman baths before it was converted into a church during the Roman Empire and Byzantine Empire."
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Silvia De Caro
Available for hire
"St. George's Rotunda is considered the oldest building in Sofia.
It too has undergone many changes. At the beginning it seems to have been used as a source for mass baptisms, it was then transformed into a mosque during the Ottoman invasion and after the liberation from the Ottomans it returned to being a functioning church for a while.
👣How to get there: reachable on foot from St.Nedelya Church(180m- 2min). Metro stop: Serdika, lines M1 and M4.
🎟️Ticket cost: free"
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