| Port History On the shores of the Black Sea, the Port of Varna is Bulgaria's largest seaport and its third largest city. Thracians settled there by 1200 BC, but archeological evidence points to prehistoric settlement, and it's home to the world's largest cache of gold artifacts dated back to the 5th millennium BC. Greeks founded Odessus there in the 6th Century BC. In 335 BC, the city surrendered to Alexander the Great. The Romans annexed Odessus in 15 AD. The 4th-century Aladzha Monastery, its cells and chapel carved out of the rock, overlooks the city from the north. The city was named Varna and became part of the first Bulgarian empire in 681 AD. By the 13th Century, it was an important trade center for Genoa, Venice, and Dubrovnik, each of which had consulates in the city. In the 14th Century, the Port of Varna may have been the most important port between Constantinople and the Danube. The Port of Varna fell to the Ottomans in 1391. In November 1444, one of the last battles of the Crusades was fought outside the city when 60 thousand Turks defeated 20 thousand European Crusaders, clearing the way for the fall of Constantinople in 1453. The Ottomans dominated the area for the next four centuries. In 1854, the port was a base for Anglo-French troops during the Crimean War. Liberated from the Turks in 1878, the Port of Varna was ceded to Bulgaria. The 1866 Ruse-Varna railway and a 1899 railway to Sofia further supported growth. For a few years, the Port of Varna was on the route of the famous Orient Express. During the First Balkan War and World War I, Russian troops occupied the city. In World War II, Russia's Red Army occupied the city and solidified communist rule in Bulgaria. Port Commerce The Port of Varna constructed a modern harbor in 1906. Today, the Port of Varna can accommodate vessels of 20 thousand tons. Major exports include livestock, processed foodstuffs, and grain. Since the late 1950s, the Port of Varna is a favorite tourist destination, academic center, seaport, and headquarters to Bulgaria's Navy and merchant Marine. The state-owned Port Varna EAD manages the port, handling over 8 million tons of cargo each year. The Port of Varna has modern facilities that operate year-round. It offers 3.5 miles of wharf, 32 berths, almost 60 acres of open storage, and 19 miles of warehouse storage. The Port of Varna is Bulgaria's biggest container gateway. Container traffic in 2007 was just over 99 thousand TEUs. Varna East is just over a half-mile from the city center. It's the main gateway for grain exports and a busy container port. Its multi-purpose cargo quays handle sugar, molasses, metals, scrap, and general cargo. Varna West is about 18 miles west of the city center. Near chemical factories, it can handle soda, cement, coal, ores, fertilizers, phosphates, silica, and liquid chemicals. All port berths are directly linked to the national railway. Cruising and Travel The Port of Varna's Passenger Terminal, the Sea Station, is located in the city center at the entrance of Varna East, and it's the only passenger terminal between Istanbul and Odessa. In addition to two berths for cruise vessels, it also offers a small marina and supporting services. The Port of Varna is considered by many to be the most picturesque city in Bulgaria. It offers wide beaches, and it's home to a widely diverse population. It's an increasingly popular tourist destination, with beautiful museums and a lively nightlife. |
