Sozopol
Sozopol (Bulgarian: Созопол [soˈzɔpoɫ], Greek: Σωζόπολη,
Sozopoli) is an ancient seaside town located 35 km south of Burgas on the
southern Bulgarian Black Sea Coast. Today it is one of the major seaside resorts in the country, known
for the Apollonia art and film festival (which takes place in early September) that is named after
one of the town's ancient names.The busiest times of the year are the summer months, ranging from May to
September as tourists from around the world come to enjoy the weather, sandy beaches, history and culture,
fusion cuisine (Balkan and Mediterranean), and atmosphere of the colourful resort.Part
of Burgas Province and administrative centre of the homonymous Sozopol Municipality, as of
December 2009, the town has a population of 5,410 inhabitants.
Climate
| Climate data for Sozopol (2004-2017) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 8.2 (46.8) |
10.2 (50.4) |
12.5 (54.5) |
17.2 (63.0) |
23.5 (74.3) |
27.1 (80.8) |
29.8 (85.6) |
29.7 (85.5) |
26.1 (79.0) |
21.5 (70.7) |
15.5 (59.9) |
10.2 (50.4) |
19.5 (67.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) |
4.8 (40.6) |
8.5 (47.3) |
13.5 (56.3) |
19.2 (66.6) |
23.1 (73.6) |
26.3 (79.3) |
25.8 (78.4) |
21.7 (71.1) |
17.2 (63.0) |
11.1 (52.0) |
6.5 (43.7) |
15.5 (59.9) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 1.2 (34.2) |
2.3 (36.1) |
5.7 (42.3) |
9.2 (48.6) |
14.2 (57.6) |
18.1 (64.6) |
21.5 (70.7) |
21.5 (70.7) |
17.1 (62.8) |
13.6 (56.5) |
7.3 (45.1) |
2.8 (37.0) |
12.1 (53.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 48 (1.9) |
43 (1.7) |
39 (1.5) |
47 (1.9) |
47 (1.9) |
45 (1.8) |
36 (1.4) |
28 (1.1) |
45 (1.8) |
52 (2.0) |
73 (2.9) |
62 (2.4) |
565 (22.2) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1 mm) | 11.5 | 8.3 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 4.5 | 7.2 | 5.0 | 10.2 | 70.2 |
| Mean monthly | 95 | 118 | 171 | 226 | 261 | 302 | 324 | 295 | 245 | 181 | 107 | 76 | 2,401 |
Name
Sozopol is one of the oldest towns on Bulgarian Thrace's Black Sea coast. The first settlement on the site dates back to the Bronze Age. Undersea explorations in the region of the port reveal relics of dwellings, ceramic pottery, stone and bone tools from that era. Many anchors from the second and first millennium BC have been discovered in the town's bay, a proof of active shipping since ancient times. The town was founded in the 7th century BC by Greek colonists from Miletus as Antheia (Ancient Greek: Ἄνθεια). The town established itself as a trade and naval centre in the following centuries and became one of the largest and richest Greek colonies in the Black Sea region. Its trade influence in the Thracian territories was based on a treaty dating from the fifth century BC with the Odrysian kingdom, the most powerful Thracian state. Apollonia became a legendary trading rival of another Greek colony, Mesembria, today’s Nessebar. The name was changed to Apollonia,[3] on account of a temple dedicated to Apollo in the town. There were two temples of Apollo Iatros (Ancient Greek: Ἀπόλλων Ἰατρός), meaning healer in Greek. One from the Late Archaic period and the other from the Early Classical period.[4] It kept strong political and trade relations with the cities of Ancient Greece – Miletus, Athens, Corinth, Heraclea Pontica and the islands Rhodes, Chios, Lesbos, etc. Terracotta plaque of ancient Greek hoplites (Louvre) The city managed to keep its independence during the wars of Phillip II of Macedon (342-339 BC) and Alexander the Great (335 BC). In 72 BC it was conquered and sacked by the Roman legions of Marcus Lucullus, who transported the statue of Apollo to Rome and placed it in the Capitol.