The fascinating Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Sofia Bulgaria is one of the symbols of Sofia. The stunning Cathedral is one of the most outstanding sites in the capital of Bulgaria, and the second most significant Orthodox cathedral in the Balkans after Saint Sava in Belgrade. The exterior of Alexander Nevsky cathedral is made of pale Bulgarian limestone, topped with gold-plated domes.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bulgaria, built with voluntary donations in memory of the soldiers who lost their lives in the Russian-Turkish War of Liberation (1877-78).
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral Sofia Bulgaria
The decision to erect the memorial church was made at the Constituent Assembly in Tarnovo in 1879. Inside, you will find hundreds of flickering candles illuminating a decadent interior.
Its foundation stone was laid in 1882, but wars delayed its consecration, which did not take place until 1924. The design of the church – a five-nave, cruciform-domed basilica in Neo-Byzantine style, was created by Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev. Russian and Bulgarian painter worked on the layout of its frescoes, amid a lavishly decorated interior.
The cathedral is one of its kind in the Balkans and the most prominent operating church in Bulgaria. In the Crypt there is a permanent exhibition of magnificent pieces of iconography from the Middle Ages and the Revival Period, collected from all over Bulgaria. The exhibitions boast the most impressive and outstanding collection of religious art in Bulgaria.
Visitors to Sofia can easily see the golden domes of the church from a great distance, and they happen to be the gift from Russia in 1960.
Practical Tips – Opening Hours
Alexander Nevksy Cathedral Sofia Bulgaria is open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
From November to February and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. between March and October.
Admission is free.
Photography is prohibited unless you pay.
The Crypt
The crypt is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from Tuesdays through Sundays
Admission fee is 6 lev for adults.
Location
Close to the Sveti Kliment Ohridski Metro station.
Bus #9, 280 or 306
Trolleys #1, 2, 4, 9 and 11.