Renowned archaeologist and traveler Prof. Bettany Hughes embarks on an exciting journey across Bulgaria in the new episode of "Treasures of the World", which was broadcast on the festive day of May 24 on the Viasat History channel. The episode was eagerly awaited by the Bulgarian public.

In the show, filmed last year, Bettany travels around Bulgaria and visits some of the most iconic places associated with the country’s millennial history. The Varna gold treasure amazes her with its masterful craftsmanship, and in the Valley of the Thracian Kings, the British historian enjoys seeing exceptionally vivid wall paintings in a 2,300-year-old tomb. In the Museum of Kazanlak, she presents amazing Thracian finds, and in the Episcopal Basilica in Plovdiv, she marvels at mosaics from the IV-VI century. Special attention in the episode is given to the ancient city of Heraclea Sintica, where Prof. Hughes sees traces of a basilica and an ancient sanctuary of the goddess Nemesis.

In the televised journey, the British historian takes us from the iconic Rila Monastery founded in the 10th century and included in the UNESCO heritage list, to the village of Ribnovo in the Rhodopes, where we witness some unique customs. In the Strandzha mountain, Prof. Hughes presents the ritual of nestinarstvo, which is filled with mysticism and beauty.

The British historian and presenter ends her journey in front of the Buzludzha monument, presenting it as a communist relic and a symbol of the clash between the pain of remembering the past and the danger of forgetting its lessons.

Watch the whole exciting episode dedicated to Bulgaria here:

• 5 facts testifying that Bulgaria has one of the oldest cultures in Europe

Compiled by: Veneta Nikolova

Publication in English: Al. Markov

Photos: x.com/bettanyhughes, Municipality of Sozopol