The Aladzha Monastery lies 14 km of Varna in a beautiful place, into the rocks. In Turkish its name means ”varicolored” because of the gay mural paintings. This unique monument is hewed out in 40m high vertical rocks. The monastery was founded in the XIII century.

It is the most celebrated monastery on the Bulgarian seaside. Its foundation is connected with the diffusion of the Christianity, when hermits and monk fraternities founded such kind of rocky monasteries. It is divided into two opposite parts, featuring places for monastery temple, monk rooms, a kitchen, a tomb, a chapel and a dining room. The years of the Ottoman domination were a period of decline. Its location in a beautiful forest makes it a very attractive place. There are a lot of legends for unknown tunnels and labyrinths into the rocks where great treasures were hidden.

In 1912 the Shkorpil brothers made extensive researches. The monastery was declared a national record, and in 1957 it became a monument of culture.

Today Aladja is a tourist center. There are stairs, leading to it. Near to the the remains of the monastery there is a hall with a collection of archeological finds and greatest samples of the Medieval Bulgarian Art.

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