Boyana Church, Sofia (must see)

The Boyana Church is an ancient Bulgarian Orthodox church located on the outskirts of Sofia. Its history spans several centuries, with different sections being built at different times. The eastern wing, a two-story structure, was originally constructed in the late 10th or early 11th century. Later, in the 13th century during the Second Bulgarian Empire, the central wing was added. The church's expansion continued in the 19th century when the western part was completed.

One of the main reasons for the church's global renown is its remarkable frescoes dating back to 1259. These frescoes, which are a second layer over earlier paintings, are among the most extensive and well-preserved examples of medieval Eastern European art. They depict 89 scenes with a total of 240 human images. Recently, during restoration work, the name of the painter was discovered. The inscription reveals that the artist was "zograph Vassilii from the village Subonosha, Sersko, and his apprentice Dimitar."

The original layer of frescoes, which once covered the entire eastern part of the church, dates back to the 11th and 12th centuries. Fragments of these early frescoes can still be seen in various parts of the church. Additional frescoes from different time periods include a 14th-century scene depicting the Presentation of the Virgin, a 16th–17th-century portrait of Saint Nicholas, and representations of the church's patron saints, Saint Nicholas and Saint Panteleimon, from 1882.

Recognizing its cultural significance, the Boyana Church was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Over the years, the frescoes underwent restoration and cleaning in 1912-1915 by Austrian and Bulgarian specialists, as well as in 1934 and 1944. To preserve these valuable artworks, measures such as air-conditioning to maintain a constant temperature of 17–18 degrees Celsius (62–64 Fahrenheit) and low-heat lighting were implemented. Visitors are allowed to enter the church in groups of up to 8 people for a maximum of 10 minutes.

In 1977, the church was temporarily closed to the public for conservation and restoration efforts. It was fully reopened to the public on October 2, 2008, by Culture Minister Stefan Danailov.