Saint Petka of the Saddlemakers Church, Medieval Orthodox church in central Sofia, Bulgaria.
Saint Petka of the Saddlemakers Church is a small single-nave structure with thick brick and stone walls and a rounded apse at one end. Inside, layers of wall paintings from different periods are visible, creating a visual record of the centuries.
The church was built in the 11th century above the remains of a Roman temple, with the earlier foundations still buried beneath. Over the centuries, people repeatedly repainted the interior walls, each generation leaving its own artistic mark on the space.
The name comes from the saddlemakers who once worked in this neighborhood and honored Saint Petka as their protector. Walking through the space today, you can sense the connection between craft tradition and faith that shaped this community.
The church sits in central Sofia and is easy to reach through the TZUM underpass beneath the city streets. Plan to descend stairs, as the building lies below ground level and requires going down several steps to enter.
After World War II, archaeologists digging beneath the church uncovered an underground chamber that might be linked to Bulgarian freedom fighter Vasil Levski. This discovery sparked debate among historians about connections to this heroic figure.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
