Varna Museum of Archaeology

The Varna Museum of Archaeology

The Varna Museum of Archaeology is one of Bulgaria's most important museums and an unmissable attraction of this Black Sea city. Its worldwide fame comes from the Varna Necropolis, discovered in the 1970s, which brought to light the oldest processed gold in the world — objects more than six millennia old, evidence of a surprisingly advanced prehistoric civilisation on the western Black Sea shore. The museum is housed in an imposing late-Revival building in the centre of Varna.

What to see

The centrepiece is, without question, the Varna gold treasure: ornaments, insignia and symbols of power found in the graves of the necropolis, regarded as the oldest known hoard of worked gold. Beyond the gold, the exhibition spans thousands of years of the region's history — remains from prehistory, Thracian, Greek and Roman antiquity, and the Byzantine and medieval periods. You will see pottery, sculpture, inscriptions, icons and religious objects that round out the picture of an area continuously inhabited since the most ancient times.

Practical

The museum stands in the centre of Varna, easily reached on foot or by public transport. Varna, the largest city on the Bulgarian coast, is accessible by air, rail, bus or car. As an indoor site, the visit suits any season and is an excellent alternative on a rainy seaside day. Allow at least one or two hours to take in the collections. Nearby lie the Sea Garden, the cathedral and the famous Roman Baths. For exact opening hours and fees, check the official information on site.