International Dialing Code: 359
(0)44-622-494: Information at Historical Museum- Sliven

Sliven is one of the oldest cities in Europe with 10,000 residents.The beautiful nature sites,mineral bath, and many cultural and historical monuments are important possibilities of Sliven in terms of international tourism.

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Fortress "Twidda" is an original archaeological monument that dates back to the epoch of the late antiquity.

It is situated on "Hisarlaka" hill to the north-east of Sliven where one can enjoy a great view of the magnificent Blue Stones and the town.

The cult complex, discovered in the eastern part of the fortress, has an exceptional scientific value. It consists of an imposing basilica with a nave, three aisles, and a unique six-walled baptistery with a baptizing pool which was lavishly decorated with mural paintings and mosaic. The stratigraphy of the monument and the rich findings give us a good reason to date the fortress back to the middle of 4th C. and its history went on until the 13th C. The written records that was discovered during excavation revealed the name of the fortress had been Twidda or Swidda. Those names gave us the opportunity to locate the early Byzantine fortress Tsoida around Sliven, mentioned in different written records.

In 1982 the systematic archaeological excavation of the fortress began; it was carried out by the Historical Museum of Sliven and the AIM at the Bulgarian Academy of Science.

Unique architectural monuments were discovered during the excavation, such as the fortress walls, turrets, North and South gates, foundations of dwellings, outhouses, military premises, and remnants of Slavonic dwellings.