Nessebur is one of the most ancient and loveliest settlements on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and was mentioned by Herodotus. The city was named Messambria after the legendary founder, a Thracian by the name of Melsa.
Since those distant times, erosion by the sea has eaten much of the peninsula, on the remainder of which stands contemporary Nessebur.
The original Thracian settlement occupied the north-western and northern parts of the peninsula. The port was located to the north of the peninsula.
It is 3km north-east of the Cape Akrotirria. It is connected to the mainland by a man-made isthmus where the new town beaches are. It is 38 km north-east of Burgas. There are comfortable high-way connections to Burgas, Varna, Pomoria and the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. On the west of the ancient town is the new main resort part of Nessebur where on the south and north are the beaches, with the finest sand on the Black Sea coast.
2.5km from the ancient town on the peninsula to the north Bay is situated the famous resort complex " Sunny Beach". To the north of " Sunny Beach" is located the sand desert area Kymluk.
Nessebur is at 15m above the sea. The climate is transcontinental with average annual temperature 12.4 C and 10 snow days, but in the summer it is very hot, making it a desirable holiday location and a magnate for investors wishing to buy a house, villa or apartment in Bulgaria.
Nessebur has on several occasions found itself on the frontier of a threatened empire, and as such it is a town with a rich history.
Monuments from the Middle Ages included the 9th century Stara Mitropolia, a basilica without a transept; the 10th century Church of the Virgin, 11th century Nova Mitropolia.
There are remarkable pieces of Byzantine style medieval church architecture to be seen in Nessebur, like the Church of St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel, as well as the churches of the Christ Pantocrator, and of the St. John Aliturgetos.
The church buildings erected in later periods were much more modest in size and designed like the church of St. Spas which dates from the 17th century.
The architecture of the old timber residential houses dating from the National Revival Period, with fine wood carved decorations, their second storeys protruding picturesquely over narrow streets, is no less remarkable.
The wood-carved pulpit and bishop`s throne of the St. Stefan Church date from that period.
Nessebur`s unique treasure of precious architectural monuments gives it a protected status and is featured in UNESCO`s List of Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
