INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE AUTOMATICS'2020

Archeological research indicates that the city has a cultural tradition that is some 7,000 years old. The first settlement grew up on the Sozopol bay during the Neolithic Era, some 6,000 years BCE. In 610 BCE, the inhabitants of Milet, a city in Asia Minor, made the Sozopol peninsula their city-state and called it Apolloniya. The city-state enjoyed rapid growth during the first centuries of its existence. In the 5th century BCE, massive fortress walls were constructed to protect its monumental public buildings. Ancient writers describe The Temple of Apollo the Healer as colossal, housing a 13-meter high statue of the god. In 72 BCE, Apollonia was conquered by Roman legions commanded by Marcus Lucullus, who razed and plundered the city. The legendary statue of Apollo was removed to Rome as spoils of war.

During the 1st century, the city was rebuilt, and when Thrace became a Roman province Sozopol continued to function as an administrative maritime center. When Christianity was accepted as the official sate religion, Apolloniya was rechristened Sozopolis, in keeping with the new Christian dogma.

In the 5th century, the city was again fortified by new protective walls, remnants of which remain to the present day and can be seen at the southeastern end of the peninsula. The city was first incorporated into Bulgaria when the army of Han Krum occupied it in 812. Sozopol became an important diocese, with more than 20 Orthodox churches and 5 monasteries. Remains of the Saint Ivan (Saint John) monastery complex dating from the X-XII century are still preserved, as are the Medieval basilica in the city center and part of the Holy Apostles Monastery on Skamniy (Rocky) Point in the northeastern part of the Old Town.