Among the most impressive testimonies to the rich past of Philippopolis is The Episcopal Basilica – one of the most significant early Christian monuments in Bulgaria.
With Transfer from Sofia Airport to the Episcopal Basilica you can reach the centre of Plovdiv comfortably and begin your visit to one of the most interesting places in the city without wasting time looking for transport or parking.
The Episcopal Basilica – one of the symbols of ancient Philippopolis
The Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis is among the largest early Christian churches found in Bulgaria. The archaeological site was discovered during rescue excavations in 1982–1986, when the remains of a monumental building decorated with rich multicoloured mosaics were uncovered during the reconstruction of the central part of the city.
The basilica was in use from the middle of the 4th century to the end of the 6th century. During this period Philippopolis was an important city of the Roman Empire, and Christianity was gradually taking a central place in public and spiritual life.
With its imposing size and rich decoration, the church was a prestigious building that reflected the importance and wealth of the ancient city.
Architecture and imposing size
The Episcopal Basilica is a three-aisled, single-apse building with a central nave and two side aisles, a narthex and an atrium. According to Plovdiv Municipality, it is 82.80 metres long and 36 metres wide. This makes it the largest basilica building of the 4th–6th century on Bulgarian territory and one of the largest in the Balkans.
The scale of the building is impressive even by modern standards. A marble presbytery stood in the central nave, and the spaces were richly decorated.
After the basilica was abandoned, a Christian necropolis arose on its remains in the Middle Ages, which shows the continuing importance of the place for the local Christian community.
The mosaics – the true treasure of the basilica
The greatest treasure of the Episcopal Basilica is its unique floor mosaics.
The mosaic floors are in two main layers and cover an area of more than 2,000 sq. m. They impress with a variety of geometric ornaments, rosettes, crosses, meanders and images of birds. More than 150 birds form part of the decorative programme of the mosaics.
The images are especially interesting for the way they combine Christian symbolism, ancient artistic traditions and local features. It is the mosaics that make the basilica one of the most valuable archaeological sites in Plovdiv.
Today visitors can view the different mosaic compositions from specially arranged spaces, which make it possible to see both individual details and the full scale of the ancient decoration.
How was the Episcopal Basilica discovered?
The history of the site is particularly interesting, because for centuries the remains of the ancient building lay hidden beneath the modern city.
The Episcopal Basilica was discovered during rescue archaeological excavations in the 1980s. At first only part of the building was explored, while a significant part of it remained inaccessible beneath the existing infrastructure. In 2016–2017 archaeological work allowed the basilica to be uncovered on a much larger scale.
In this way it is gradually becoming possible to restore the full picture of one of the most significant early Christian complexes of Philippopolis.
The Episcopal Basilica and modern Plovdiv
Today the basilica stands in the very centre of Plovdiv, on Knyaginya Maria Luiza Boulevard. Its location makes it easy to include in a tourist route devoted to the ancient and early Christian history of the city.
The visit can be combined with other emblematic places in Plovdiv – the Old Town, the Ancient Theatre, the Roman Stadium, the Small Basilica and the other archaeological sites in the central part.
This way, in a single day you can trace the development of the city from ancient Philippopolis to modern Plovdiv.
What to see during your visit
When visiting the Episcopal Basilica, you can set aside time for:
- the two layers of ancient polychrome mosaics;
- the images of birds and the varied decorative motifs;
- the architectural structure of the three-aisled basilica;
- the remains of the early Christian church;
- the exhibition spaces and the display of archaeological finds;
- the history of Philippopolis and the spread of Christianity in the city;
- the nearby ancient and cultural landmarks of Plovdiv.
The combination of archaeology, architecture and mosaic art makes the site suitable both for history lovers and for tourists who want to see one of the most impressive sights of Plovdiv.
For tourists arriving in Bulgaria by air, Transfer from Sofia Airport to the Episcopal Basilica is a convenient way to travel directly to Plovdiv.
Instead of organising your journey by public transport or worrying about luggage and parking, you can book a private transfer from the airport to the city in advance.
The journey suits individual travellers and families as well as business guests or international visitors who have included Plovdiv in their travel programme.
A comfortable journey with Tsenov Group
With Tsenov Group you can arrange a transfer from Sofia Airport to Plovdiv and the Episcopal Basilica, tailored to your arrival time and your individual route.
This is a practical option for visitors who want transport arranged in advance from the moment they arrive in Bulgaria, and to continue calmly to one of the most interesting cultural and historical sights of Plovdiv.
If needed, the visit to the Episcopal Basilica can be combined with other sights in the city and the region.
Visit the Episcopal Basilica in comfort
The Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis is a place that shows the scale and wealth of ancient Plovdiv. Its monumental architecture and thousands of square metres of coloured mosaics make it one of the most impressive places for cultural and historical tourism in Bulgaria.
