Church of St George Rotunda

The Church of St George Rotunda is the oldest preserved building in Sofia, Bulgaria, and it sits in a courtyard surrounded by the buildings of the Sheraton Sofia Hotel Balkan and government offices at pl. Sveta Nedelya 5. The red-brick rotunda dates from the 4th century, when the Roman city of Serdica was a major provincial centre, and it may have been built as a Roman bath or reception hall before it became a church. Over the centuries it served as a Christian church, was used as a mosque under Ottoman rule, and was restored in the 20th century. Visitors enter the quiet courtyard through an archway from the Largo complex, where the contrast between the Soviet-era buildings, the Roman ruins and the old brickwork is striking. Inside, the dome carries layered medieval murals from the 10th to 14th centuries, including a ring of figures and the apocalyptic elders, with later paintings visible on the lower levels. The interior is small, so visits are short and quiet; most people spend 20-30 minutes looking at the frescoes and the surrounding ruins. Outside, fragments of Roman streets, columns and walls from Serdica are visible around the courtyard, which adds context to the church. The best photo angle is from the courtyard's centre, where the full brickwork and dome can be captured, and morning light gives the warmest tones to the bricks. The site is active as a church, so services take priority, and visitors are asked to dress modestly and keep voices low. Crowds are light compared with the major Sofia attractions, making it a good stop when the nearby Sveta Nedelya Church and Banya Bashi Mosque are busy. It is only a few minutes on foot from Serdika metro station and the Serdica archaeological complex.