We take a look at Bulgaria’s
place of pampering
Ever heard of Sandanski? Well, anyone interested in
vacationing in Bulgaria certainly should. This charming little town has been
known for a long time by Bulgarians for its warm, sunny weather and the
therapeutic virtues of its air and mineral waters.
Under communism, sanatoriums offered a wide range of
treatments for asthma and other respiratory diseases. Since the beginning of
the 1990s, Greeks have also discovered Sandanski, which happens to lie just
over the border, and have been visiting it in large numbers. Even though it is
surrounded by mountains, Sandanski has a certain smoothness in the air, a
certain nonchalance in the atmosphere, in short a distinctive Mediterranean
flair. On a summer night, it seems like the whole town is busy leisurely
strolling on the main pedestrian promenade, enjoying cafes and restaurants, and
relaxing by the pervasive, sweet sound of water.
And indeed water seems to be everywhere: from the stream
that happily cascades down the beautiful public garden, to the many fountains,
pools and spas, it offers a sense of harmony and peacefulness.
Still the city takes its name after a revolutionary, a hero
of the fight for Macedonian independence against the Turks on the eve of the 20th
century. Yane Sandanski was assassinated in 1915 and was buried close to the
Rozhen monastery, where he had found shelter. His tomb lays in the stunning
landscape surrounding the monastery – a jewel in itself.
For Sandanski is enshrined in beauty, at the foot of the
Pirin mountain, and offers endless opportunities for nature and hiking lovers.
In the winter, it is one hour away from the ski resort of Bansko. It is also
close to Melnik, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages in Bulgaria,
also famous for its wineries and for the uniqueness of its natural settings
(the ‘pyramids’).
It is no wonder then that former communist dictator Todor
Jivkov had one of his residences built in Sandanski. After the fall of
communism, the residence was converted into a hotel and christened Sveti Vlas. However,
it still hosts a makeshift museum of communism, an unexpected reminder of its
former tenant. The hotel overlooks the city from a distance. Its architecture
is more interesting as a testimony to the style of the 60s, than actually
beautiful. But the vast surrounding park is certainly worth visiting,
especially in the spring.
Todor Jivkov had an improbable neighbor in the person of
Baba Vanga. Baba Vanga lived in a nearby place called Rupite and received
numerous visitors attracted by her reputation as a saint, a healer and a
clairvoyant. A church has been built to honor her memory – she died in the
middle of the 90s - and hot springs
abound freely about. Sandanski, the peaceful little town named after a
revolutionary, was thus lying at the crossroads between a dictator and a saint.
There is a certain magic in Sandanski, probably due to the
combination of natural beauty, soothing waters and mild climate – it is known
to be the sunniest and warmest town in Bulgaria.
It may also be the best spa city in the country. It has, until recently,
been relatively spared by the construction boom - but times change: Emiratis
and Britons seem to be more and more attracted by its spas, and new hotels are
being built. Whether you are interested in vacationing or investing, now is the
time in Sandanski.