Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Neo-Byzantine cathedral at the heart of Sofia — one of the world's largest Orthodox churches, with a crypt icon museum below.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia is one of the largest Orthodox cathedrals in the world and the most recognizable landmark of the Bulgarian capital. Built between 1882 and 1912 by Russian architect Alexander Pomerantsev in the Neo-Byzantine style, it seats up to 5,000 worshippers and serves as the seat of the Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarchate. The gilded and green domes have defined Sofia's skyline for over a century. In the crypt below, one of Bulgaria's most important icon collections is on permanent display — works drawn from medieval monasteries across the country, spanning centuries of religious painting. Today the cathedral is the first stop for most visitors to Sofia. The surrounding square hosts a weekly flea market where coins, icons, and books from across the region change hands.