Underneath the city centre of Vidin, in the north west of Bulgaria, lie the barely explored remains of the ancient Roman city of Bononia. It was not until this year that archaeologists started to excavate at least a small part of that valuable piece of ancient history. More specifically, the excavations have been focused on studying the so-called Tower No 8, located on the western fortress wall of Bononia.

An underground well temple (also known as sacred pit), which is the only one of its kind found on the Balkans, is located at only 60 kilometres to the west of Sofia, hidden in the folds of the Greben Mountain. Archaeologists rank it among the most ancient cult masonry works in the Bulgarian lands and are unanimous that it is older than the Thracian megaliths of the mountains of Rhodope, Strandja and Sakar.

Huddled in the folds of the Rhodope Mountains, in the valley of the Chepelare river, and yet located only 30 kilometres away from the town of Plovdiv, there stands Bulgaria's second largest monastery - Bachkovo. Built in the 11th century, the cloister is steeped in history and ranks among the most frequently visited sights in Bulgaria. It is believed that since its foundation in 1083, to the present day, it has never stopped functioning - not even for a single day.

One hundred kilometres to the northeast of Sofia, by the village of Zlatna Panega, is situated one of the few sanctuaries dedicated to god Asclepius which are found on Bulgarian lands. It is located right by the Glava Panega river spring and is one the most significant and well-studied Thracian sanctuaries. The water springs from a triangular cavity and forms a small lake. The river itself is named after goddess Panacea, daughter of Asclepius, healer of all illnesses.

On a steep hill above the town of Kyustendil, amidst a dense pine forest there stands a magnificent fortress which the locals call simply Hissarluka (from the Turkish “hisar” - fortress). Built in the times of the Roman Empire, later the fortress was used by Byzantines and Bulgarians and was razed to the ground during the Ottoman invasion of the Balkans at the end of the 14th century.

Located just five kilometres away from the popular winter resort Bansko, the village of Banya (Bulgarian for Bath) is nestled in the valley formed by Mount Pirin, Mount Rila and the Rhodope Mountains. The region boasts 72 hot springs with water temperature of about 55°C (131°F), whose use for balneotherapy and treatment of various conditions has earned the village a reputation as the mineral-water paradise of Bulgaria.

In the Central Rhodope Mountains near the road from Asenovgrad to Smolyan, at an altitude of 1,545 metres above sea level amidst the scenic locality of Krastova Gora, is situated a monastery dedicated to Holy Trinity. The place is believed to be miracle-working, and on the night before 14 September - Holy Cross Day according to the Bulgarian Orthodox liturgical calendar - thousands of believers from all over Bulgaria and the neighbouring countries come in crowds in the hope for miraculous healing.

To the Thracians, life after death was much more important than their earthly existence. A large number of tombs discovered in Bulgaria are a proof to that. They were specially built to guarantee comfortable afterlife to the local nobility. One of the most interesting and remarkable among these structures is located in the mound of Ostrusha, which is situated near the town of Kazanlak, in the Valley of Thracian Kings.

Sozopol, the oldest town on the Bulgarian Black Sea coastline, is located 30 kilometres southeast of Burgas, on a rocky peninsula shooting far out into the sea. The earliest settlement here appeared in the third millennium BC and was inhabited by the local Thracian tribe of the Skirimians. The story goes that Phoenician sailors frequented the bay, as they believed it was the best-sheltered harbour along the western Black Sea coast.

About 70 kilometres to the northeast of Varna, Bulgaria's 'Black Sea capital', is situated a town which undeservedly remains outside the traditional tourist destinations - its name is Kavarna. Moreover, the town boasts 2,500-year long history and a number of natural, cultural and historical sights.