Photo: Travel: Bulgaria: Sofia: Churches: St Petka

St Petka Samardjiiska, Sofia

The tiny church St Petka of the Saddlers is right across the street from St Nedelya cathedral, and legend has it Vasil Levski was buried there. The single-nave building was built in the 11th century (although the crypt is much older), and is dug into the ground. There are murals from the 14th through 19th centuries, mostly in terrible shape. The entrance is from the crypt and interior stairs lead to the upper level with the iconostasis. Photography is not permitted.