One of the largest archaeological and historical museums in Bulgaria is located in the city of Varna. It is located at 41 Maria Luisa Boulevard. The Archaeological Museum covers an area of more than two thousand square metres with exhibition halls, a scientific library, an archive, teaching rooms, a storage room and a cosy patio.
The exposition of the museum includes more than 50 thousand exhibits that illustrate the history of the Black Sea region and the Balkans from the Palaeolithic period to the late Middle Ages. Thematically, the museum's exhibits are divided into four groups: Prehistory - from the Palaeolithic to the culture of early Thrace; Antiquity - the foundation of Varna, Varna of the Hellenistic period, Varna of the Roman conquest period and early Christian Varna; Middle Ages - the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdoms; Church Art - church utensils, icons and vestments.
The initiator of the museum was the Varna Archaeological Society in 1866. Initially the museum occupied a part of the Varna Library, but in 1898 it moved to a new building in neo-Renaissance style, built by architect Petko Mamchilov. On 11 June 1906, the museum opened its doors to its first visitors.
The pride of the Archaeological Museum is a magnificent collection of gold items from the 6th millennium BC, found in a necropolis near Varna. There are also sculptures, ceramics, jewellery, tools and cult objects from the Roman, Thracian and Greek periods of history. A fine collection of icons from the 19th century is also noteworthy.
