National Archaeological Museum

The National Institute of Archaeology with Museum is located in one of the old buildings of Sofia – a Muslim mosque. It was built in 1496 during the reign of the Ottoman Empire.

At the end of the XIX century until 1893 the mosque was a Bulgarian library, in 1905 the museum was organized. In the same year, all artifacts stored in different parts of the city were transferred to the archaeological museum. Later, several more halls and administrative rooms were added to the mosque.

The Archaeological Museum consists of 5 halls: central, ancient, medieval and special for temporary exhibitions. The museum holds a huge collection of values, both cultural and archaeological.

On the first floor of the museum you can see Roman tombstones, ancient weapons and jewelry. Of great interest to visitors is the bronze bust of Emperor Gordian, a stone slab from an ancient amphitheater with depicted gladiatorial battles.

On the second floor are exhibited items found during excavations near Shipka: the burial mask of the king, the bronze head of King Sevtus and many other equally valuable things. The walls of the mosque-museum are decorated with frescoes, icons.