Boyana Church

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Boyana Church: A Masterpiece of Medieval Art

The Boyana Church, located on the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria, stands as a testament to the rich cultural heritage of the region. This remarkable structure, inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979, comprises three distinct buildings that span over a thousand years of history.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Located on the outskirts of Sofia, Boyana Church consists of three buildings. The eastern church was built in the 10th century, then enlarged at the beginning of the 13th century by Sebastocrator Kaloyan, who ordered a second two storey building to be erected next to it. The frescoes in this second church, painted in 1259, make it one of the most important collections of medieval paintings. The ensemble is completed by a third church, built at the beginning of the 19th century. This site is one of the most complete and perfectly preserved monuments of east European medieval art.

UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site

Criterion (ii): From an architectural point of view, Boyana Church is a pure example of a church with a Greek cross ground-plan with dome, richly decorated facades and decoration of ceramic elements. It is one of the most remarkable medieval monuments with especially fine wall paintings.

Criterion (iii): The Boyana Church is composed of three parts, each built at a different period - 10 century, 13th century and 19th century which constitute a homogenous whole.

Encyclopedia Record: Boyana Church

The Boyana Church is a medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church situated on the outskirts of Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, in the Boyana quarter. In 1979, the building was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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