Hotels near St. George Rotunda

The St. George Rotunda (Rotondata Sveti Georgi) is a small round red-brick church built in the early 4th century and universally cited as the oldest preserved building in Sofia. It was originally a Roman baptistery, then a mausoleum, then an Orthodox church, then an Ottoman mosque (as evidence, the mihrab niche is still faintly visible in the eastern wall), and again an Orthodox church since 1878. The Rotunda sits at 3 metres below the modern street level, in the exact geographic centre of ancient Roman Serdica.

Three superimposed layers of Christian frescoes are visible on the interior walls: 10th century Byzantine images of prophets in the dome, 12th century figures of angels, and 14th century scenes from the life of Christ. Outside, look for the excavated remains of Roman Serdica - a stretch of the original 2nd century cardo maximus, thermal baths, and a small amphitheatre - all visible from the courtyard walkway. The Rotunda is free to enter and is still an active church, so short services take place daily.

Pro Tip: Enter through the arched passage between the Presidency and the Sheraton at Sveta Nedelya - the Rotunda is entirely enclosed by the buildings and easy to miss. If you time your visit for the Changing of the Presidential Guard at the top of each hour, you can catch both in a single stop.