Boyana Church — Attraction in Sofia City

English review ( Italian review just below)

When I decided to visit this ancient church, I was longing to enter e place of mystery, delight and spiritual bliss. My expectations have been satisfied: the church displays its wonderful artistic value, plus I got really amazed by its atmosphere. We ( me and my loved partner Valentina) took some buses to reach the outskirts of Sofia ( the total length of the travel took 45 minutes or little more) : we had to change some buses because Boyana church is located at Boyana district, over a hill, at an higher level. You have to pay attention to the timetable because the bus taking to the church is not so frequent. So , if you take the bus from Sofia, check the connections before starting your trip. It's feasible during a morning or afternoon but don't go without planning your trip in advance. The bus leaves you " at the feet" of the church, meaning that you have to walk for about ten minutes to get to the church itself. The path to the church follows quite a steep road ( if you start from the bus stop) so take with you a backpack just with the necessary, without too much weight. The price of the ticket is quite cheap ( if I remember well it's about 5/7 Euros per ticket; obviously you have to pay in the local currency, the Bulgarian Lev. They accept credit cards). When you enter the beautiful garden, a little park surrounding the church, you notice flowers and trees , green areas that are constantly cleaned and arranged. Everything evokes peace and spiritual delight. I visited the church in October 2023 so there wasn't any queue and you could really enjoy the place: it's a gem. Boyana church is included in the UNESCO World Heritage list so the place has been considered of essential cultural value. When you visit the place, you have to consider this: you are experiencing a sort of magic, because you are visiting three places at once. The church contains three different buildings: one dating back to 10th century, another one belonging to 13th century and the last one built in the 19th century. There are frescoes painted in 1259 ; you can witness some artistic " jewels" of medieval art. When we entered this little church- a monk guided us inside- I felt a very particular " aura", I cannot explain the details. I can tell you that my breath was literally taken away for a while...my eyes got shocked by the beautiful walls, I felt like being thrown in another dimension. The smell, the colours, the tiny space "embracing " my senses made me experience something unique. There are toilets. If you visit the place in summer, there are some trekking routes just near the church: you be totally immersed in the nature. If you have to return to to Sofia city centre, the bus stop is where you arrived before, where you get out the first bus at your arrival. Don't remember to look around you in the little park of the church , you will find some ancient graves and , above all, a very important tombstone: Queen Eleonor Reuss- Köstritz was buried there.

Recensione italiana:

La chiesa di Boyana si trova nei dintorni di Sofia, nel distretto di Boyana. Consiglio vivamente questa visita; il posto è tenuto molto bene, giardino compreso. La chiesa è patrimonio dell' UNESCO e racchiude 3 edifici in una sola struttura: vedrete la testimonianza storica di tre epoche, rispettivamente Decimo, Tredicesimo e Diciannovesimo Secolo, ovvero 900 D.C, 1200, 1800. Vi sono affreschi del 1259 Il viaggio in autobus da Sofia centro impiega circa 45 minuti o poco più. Da Sofia bisogna prendere prima un autobus di linea , poi, di seguito, un altro bus per salire sulla collina di Boyana. Il secondo autobus passa raramente ( circa una volta all' ora), per cui pianificate in anticipo il viaggio con cura. In una mattinata o pomeriggio si può fare questa gita con comodo. Il secondo autobus vi lascerà ai piedi della chiesa circa, dovrete fare una salita ripida a piedi e girare poi a sinistra, dove troverete l' entrata. Accettano carta di credito o Lev contanti e comunque il biglietto costa molto...

I strongly discourage visiting this place—not because of the church itself, but due to the rude and disrespectful behavior of some people around it. The issue isn’t solely the church management but the external tour groups operating here, like the “City Tour” group led by someone named “Tuni,” who was extremely rude.

We had to wait about 60 minutes because this tour leader blatantly cut in front of the line and only allowed people from his group to enter first. Those tourists even act like because they had paid more for the tour, they should be let in first. When we questioned this, one of the tourists rudely pointed at us and said if we had any issues, we should question the authorities, not the tour. But the church itself is the authority here—not the tour group. So when the tour messed up the management system, why shouldn’t we question it? Plus if you think you joint the tour n skip the line you are totally wrong as there are more tour groups in front of you - at least u still need to wait for an hour. Just asking u to pay more while we can actually read all the histories before coming here n learnt about things beforehand - we r living in a generation with BOOKS AND INTERNET!!! Don’t rely too much on tour guide….

What’s worse, church staff were fully aware but ignored the situation, allowing the tour to keep going first. I don’t know how much the tour paid them, but it’s definitely unfair taking all the rudeness from them to those of us who bought tickets at the entrance.

Adding to the frustration, we were left waiting under extremely hot weather with no shade or assistance. It felt like neither the tour leader nor anyone managing the area cared about visitor comfort or fairness.

If you want a hassle-free visit, I recommend avoiding this place or at least being prepared for poor crowd control by outside...

Nestled in a serene park on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church stands as a stunning testament to medieval Bulgarian art, recognized rightfully as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This historic gem, with its modest entrance fee, offers invaluable insights into the spiritual and artistic traditions of Bulgaria. 🌳🏰

Constructed in phases from the 10th to the 19th century, the church’s architectural evolution is fascinating. The most notable section, added in the mid-13th century, features extraordinary frescoes that vividly depict biblical scenes and daily medieval life, blending Byzantine influences with local artistic nuances. The vibrant colors and expressive figures in these frescoes make each depiction a masterpiece, capturing the essence of their era.

The experience of visiting Boyana Church is unique due to the careful preservation efforts that restrict visitor numbers and limit time inside, ensuring the protection of its delicate art. While this means your visit may be brief, the quality of engagement and the richness of the history presented make every moment inside truly captivating. ⏳🎨

The staff at Boyana Church are as remarkable as the frescoes. Knowledgeable and eager to assist, they provide insightful context to what you’re seeing, enhancing the visit significantly. Their expertise helps in understanding the significance of each fresco and the historical figures portrayed, from saints to local nobility. 📜🔍

Standing before the awe-inspiring murals, you are not just looking at art; you are glimpsing centuries of history preserved on the walls. Each scene tells a story, a breath-taking chronicle of time that continues to resonate with all who walk through this sacred space. The blend of artistry, history, and nature makes Boyana Church not just a visit, but an experience worth...