Cultural tourist route ‘Road of Spirit’
The main objective of the project is contemporary and integral expression of the unique characteristics of Nessebar as a system through the development of a specialised scheme for development of cultural tourist routes in relation to the sustainable development of the cultural tourism. Three levels of project development are covered: (1) a system of cultural tourist routes in ‘Ancient City of Nessebar’, which fully express the diversity of values and the unique stratification of the city –result of centuries of historical evolution; (2) cultural tourist route ‘Road of Spirit’ (an integral part of the routes system), which reintegrates the emblematic churches of Nessebar in contemporary urban life; (3) a pilot implementation of a fragment of the ‘Road of Spirit’ – from the St. John the Baptist church to the churches of St. Paraskeva and St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel.
The development of the cultural tourist route ‘Road of Spirit’ seeks reconsideration of the cultural significance of the Christian churches on the peninsula in the contemporary life and their manifestation as a system. It proposes an adequate modern function that reveals the unique characteristics of each church together with its adjacent environment and that takes into account the abilities of the place for engagement in the cultural life. An integral signage system of the key sites along the cultural tourist route provides methods and elements applicable to the specific site depending on its values.
Within the fragment, designed as the first stage, numerous specific proposals are implemented. The existing asphalt, extrinsic to the historic city, is replaced with new pavement of granite slabs – interpretation of the cobbles from the National Renaissance period. The path of the route is marked in the pavement with specially made signs of red stone. Signing elements are also integrated – white limestone signs, highlighting locations for specific cultural activities. The liturgical space of St. Spas (Saviour) is enhanced. To the South of the church the revealed during the archaeological excavations Hellenistic building is marked – a ladder with two arms, according to the hypotheses leading from the courtyard of the ancient building to the basement.