That time we went to Hisarya...

Remember that time that we went to that place last year, and then I never wrote a post about it? (except for this)  Well, here it is!

The main point of interest in Hissar, or Hisarya, is the Roman wall that was built around the 4th century A.D.  The location was chosen by the Romans because of the abundance of mineral springs, which still makes it a popular vacation spot today for Bulgarians and foreigners alike.

The ruins in the center of town make up a park called Momina Sulza, or Maiden's Tears.  They are somewhat well preserved, all things considered.  The buildings include what was once a thermal spring bath and residences.

My favorite part is the amphitheater- you can see the layout of what was once an arena for gladiator fights and other spectator events.  It's actually slightly bizarre to me that you can just wander around these ancient ruins without paying any fees or being told to "keep off".  It's pretty incredible that people just coexist with so much history right outside their doorstep. It also seems like such a missed opportunity for funding and preservation.  People go to Greece and to Italy, dealing with throngs of tourists and paying admission to walk among Roman ruins, so it's almost like a well-kept secret that you can see them in Bulgaria too, often for free.  Sure they're not as grand, but still.

We did visit the archaeological museum, which cost a few levs.  It's tiny, but worth it.  They have a diorama showing what the layout of the town looked like when the entire fortress was in tact, as well as Roman artifacts and statues that have been found in the area.



A Roman tomb is situated just a short walk from the park.  For a small fee, you can step inside and look around, but unfortunately we arrived too late and it was already closed up.  Clearly, I did not find it to be  photo worthy, as I ended up taking pictures of this shepherd and his herd in a nearby field.



We went to Hissar by car, but ended up leaving it parked at our hotel the whole time and just wandering around town on foot.  There are quite a few restaurants and cafes in the center of town and we found one in particular that we liked.  Restaurant Balkan has delicious traditional Bulgarian food, bottles of wine for cheap, and a perfectly charming atmosphere.  We're going back to Hissar in February and we definitely plan on eating there again.

Overall, we had a great time exploring this fascinating town.  It's an easy drive from Sofia and there are plenty of hotels to choose from, as well as homes that offer rooms to rent for as little as 20 levs a night.  It's perfect for history lovers and those who are just looking to get away and unwind.