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Nessebar is one of the oldest settlements along the Bulgarian Black Sea. It is situated on a peninsula, 27 km north of Burgas, just before Sunny Beach and almost midway between Varna and Burgas. The town has a 3200-year old history, as evidenced by the many artifacts found during the excavations and exhibited at the Archaeological Museum. Nessebar was originally a Thracian settlement, but in the 6th century BC it was occupied by Greek colonists and they called it Messemvria. The fort walls of the Old Town date to this time, too. A part of them has been preserved until today. Ancient Messemvria reached its peak in the 4-3 century BC, but in the first century, when the Romans conquered the whole Balkan Peninsula, the town lost its commercial and economic importance. It regained its glory in the 4th century, after the fall of the Roman Empire and the establishment of Byzantium as a hegemon in the region. From the 9th century, during the reign of Khan Krum the town entered the limits of the First Bulgarian Kingdom and since then it has been called Nessebar. During the Second Golden Age of the Bulgarian Culture (13-14 centuries) the town went through a third boom and the fourth one was during the Revival. The ancient history of Nessebar has left a legacy of unique cultural and historical monuments and that is why the old town of Nesebar is declared an architectural and historical reserve of national importance and it is included in the Monument List of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. Except for the fort walls, the town guests may explore the many ancient churches of the Old Town, such as the Old Bishopric of 5-6 century, the New Bishopric of St. Stephen (11-12 century), Church of Christ Pantocrator (13-14 century), St. John the Baptist Church (11th century), Saint Spas (1609), Archangel Michael Church (13-14 century). Perhaps the most beautiful one is the unfinished church of St. John Aliturgetos from the 13-14 century. Another big part of the priceless treasure of the Revival Old Town is the 18-19 century houses. The most famous ones are the Diamandi House, the House of Panayot Muskoyani which houses the Ethnographic Museum, the house of Captain Paul and so on. Old Nessebar is very picturesque and pleasant for walks. It has an open-air theatre where there are a lot of performances, concerts other cultural events. Nessebar is an attractive location for summer and beach tourism. It has two beaches and the north one merges the one of the Sunny Beach resort. There are many attractions for bathers, including helicopter trips. The accommodation base in the town is well developed. The hotels in the Old Town are mostly small family hotels and guest houses, some of which have excellent fish restaurants. There are a lot of guest houses, lodgings in the form of apartments and rooms to rent on a hotel base in the new part of the town. The hotels in Nessebar's bew town are very diverse. Thery vary from family to luxury hotels which will surely satisfy every taste and budget.