Varna Archaeological Museum is housed by the building of the former Girl’s school which, on its part, was built over old Turkish barracks. The museum exhibitions were initially placed in different parts of the school – in the basement or in the attic – until in 1993 they expanded over the whole place. Now the museum spans over an area of 2000 square metres and has 32 halls with four permanent exhibitions – Prehistory, Antiquity, Middle Ages and Iconography from the Revival Period. It houses some of the most remarkable and precious monuments of culture in the world.

 

Its most precious exhibit is undoubtedly the Varna Golden Treasure discovered by sheer accident in 1972 during construction work. It is thought to be the oldest in the world, dated at around 4000 B.C. The treasure includes about 2000 objects of almost pure 23.5-carate gold and weighs 5.5 kilos in total. Part of it are a golden staff – symbol of monarchic power and golden adornments – necklaces, bracelets, various containers. The visitor’s interest is drawn by the grave containing the skeleton of a man of 40-50 which is moved away from the necropolis and displayed here. It is covered with more than 100 golden adornments.

 

Two other sights are also part of the museum – the Aladzha Monastery and the Roman Thermae in the so called “sea capital”. They are also among the most visited sites in the whole region.