Sozopol Archaeological Museum, Archaeological museum in Sozopol, Bulgaria

The Sozopol Archaeological Museum occupies the former church of Saints Cyril and Methodius on ulitsa Han Krum 2, in the old town, on the main street Apolonia. Its collection runs from the 5th millennium BC to the 17th century AD, with a separate section of Christian art from the 17th to 19th centuries: icons, carved iconostases and liturgical vessels.

This institution was founded in 1961 to preserve findings from ancient Apollonia, a Greek settlement established around 610 BC that grew into a major Black Sea trading center. The city's influence shaped the region for centuries afterward.

The museum is stop No. 8 on Bulgaria's 100 National Tourist Sites list and houses a Centre for Underwater Archaeology. Its Christian art section covers the 17th to 19th centuries with icons, carved iconostases and liturgical vessels, while the archaeology collection runs from the 5th millennium BC to the 17th century AD.

The museum is easily accessible in the old town of Sozopol, housed directly in a former temple building that is itself worth seeing. Visitors should check ahead since opening hours vary by season and the building can have limited access during bad weather.

The museum holds Bulgaria's largest collection of painted ancient Greek ceramics from the 6th to 2nd century BC, including rare pottery pieces from the Ionic tradition. These painted vessels are among the most valuable objects visitors encounter here.