Serdica Ancient Complex in Sofia is a unique combination of various areas that serves different purposes, divided into two zones. The first zone of the Serdica Ancient Complex, called the Largo zone, is situated underneath Nezavisimost Square, and it integrates the unearthed archaeological remains into a site for cultural events. There, you can see the remains of one of the two main streets of the old Roman town, the Decumanus Maximus, which connected the city’s eastern and western gates. A large residential building covering an entire insula can be seen south of it, which also had small shops where travelers and the town’s inhabitants could purchase food and various goods. A lapidarium (a collection of architectural fragments, sculptures, and other decorative elements, such as inscriptions, gathered from archaeological sites or demolished or remodeled buildings) is also located close to the building, which displays different monuments from the collection of the National Archaeological Institute. Some of them were excavated from Nezavisimost Square and the surrounding area. The Largo zone has three halls with different functions and is used for cultural and social events such as exhibitions, modern and classical concerts, film productions, performances, etc. The area of the Serdica Ancient Complex is freely accessible every day from 7:00 to 22:00.
The second zone of the Serdica Ancient Complex encompasses the archaeological exhibition underneath Knyaginya Maria Luiza Boulevard. The excavations were carried out during the reconstruction of the central parts of Sofia and the second Metro line construction a few years back. The complex consists of several insulae along the Roman city’s main streets, where the city elite’s houses were located. You will be able to can see parts of six streets, along with two early Christian basilicas, thermae, and five buildings with residential, production, and trade functions. The complex also features the Felix mosaic, one of the earliest Christian temples in the region – the Episcopal Basilica of Protogenes, and the residence of Archbishop Leontius from the end of the VI century, which are all of the great significance for the history of the city. The complex also has sections of earlier buildings from the second and third centuries. Representative artifacts uncovered during the archaeological excavations and exciting remnants from everyday life in ancient Serdica are exhibited in different complex parts.
