Bulgaria has made plenty of headlines for its dubious distinction as a destination for "alcohol tourism", but the Government hopes that the country’s wealth of archaeological discoveries – of which there has been a further spate of late – will encourage higher-minded visitors.
Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov said as much when he joined Sofia mayor Yordanka Fandukova in showing off the latest findings in the centre of the capital city, uncovered as work proceeds on the underground railway metro line.
Work, which began in 2010 and is continuing this year, is still at an exploratory stage, but there is considerable excitement among archaeologists working on sites in the centre about the finding of a 30 sq m area of mosaics in virtually intact condition. The mosaic, said to date from the fourth century CE, has various geometric patterns, showing elements radiating out around a stylised crown.
Click here to read this article from the Sofia Echo