VARNA

Varna is the largest city in Northeastern Bulgaria, located on the shores of the Black Sea and Lake Varna and is the administrative center of the municipality and district of the same name. It is the largest city in Northern Bulgaria and on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The Admiralty of the Bulgarian Army is located on its territory. Varna is often called the "sea capital" or "summer capital of Bulgaria" and is an important tourist and educational center, a starting point for resorts on the North Black Sea coast.
The city keeps a golden treasure from the Chalcolithic, which was considered to be the oldest golden treasure in the world, named after the so-called Culture Varna. But what makes Varna unique, apart from one of the oldest golden treasures in the world, is the Varna International Ballet Competition, held every two years at the Varna Summer Theater during the summer season.
In ancient times the city was named Odessos. It is called Odesopolis by Theophanes, and in other authors it is also found as Ulysopolis. After the VI century in historical documents the name Odessos disappears. It is assumed that its current name comes from the old Bulgarian varna - "black, crow". Another theory connects the name with the word "lime", meaning water and mineral spring. The first mention of the name Varna is in the chronicles of the offensive of the ruler Asparuh and his troops, who "... came to the so-called Varna, near Odessos ... ”and the settlement of the proto-Bulgarians in these places. Between December 20, 1949 and October 20, 1956, Varna was named Stalin, after Joseph Stalin.