x-default

©Takashi Images/Shutterstock

Aleksander Nevski Cathedral

Top choice in Sofia


One of the symbols not just of Sofia but of Bulgaria itself, this massive, awe-inspiring church was built between 1882 and 1912 in memory of the 200,000 Russian soldiers who died fighting for Bulgaria’s independence during the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78). It is named in honour of a 13th-century Russian warrior-prince.

Designed by Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev, the church was built in the neo-Byzantine style favoured in Russia at the time and is adorned with mosaics and gold-laden domes. The cavernous, incense-scented interior is decorated with naturalistic (though now rather faded) murals, pendulous chandeliers and elaborate onyx and alabaster thrones.

Visitors are welcome and there are daily services where you can hear evocative Orthodox chants and prayers.

Transportation

  • metro: Sofiyski Universitet

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Sofia attractions

1. Aleksander Nevski Crypt

0.01 MILES

Originally built as a final resting place for Bulgarian kings, this crypt now houses Bulgaria's biggest and best collection of icons, stretching back to…

2. National Gallery Quadrat 500

0.07 MILES

This massive visual-arts gallery combines the holdings of the National Gallery and the former Museum of Foreign Art. The result is several hundred…

3. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

0.08 MILES

This monument is located on the southern side of Sveta Sofia Church, facing the Aleksander Nevski Church. It's marked by an eternal flame meant to…

4. Sveta Sofia Church

0.09 MILES

Sveta Sofia is one of the capital's oldest churches, and gave the city its name. A subterranean museum houses an ancient necropolis, with 56 tombs and the…

5. National Assembly

0.1 MILES

This imposing neoclassical palace houses the Bulgarian parliament and dates from the 1880s. It's normally closed to the public. Its likeness is traced on…

6. Sofia University Botanical Garden

0.11 MILES

Sofia's small botanical garden includes a glasshouse filled with palms and cacti, a rose garden, and various trees and flowers (labelled in Bulgarian and…

7. Vasil Levski Memorial

0.14 MILES

A sombre monument, in the middle of a busy road, dates from 1895 and marks the spot where Bulgarian national hero Vasil Levski was hanged in 1873.

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "bulgaria/sofia/attractions/aleksander-nevski-cathedral/a/poi-sig/1114785/358779",
      "destination": "Sofia",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Bulgaria",
      "city": "Sofia",
      "position": "superzone"
    }