Aladzha Rock Monastery, Varna
While staying in Varna for a few days we visited the ruins of Aladzha Monastery and Catacombs, half way between Varna and Golden Sands. These caves, set high into a cliff are thought to first have been occupied in the Stone Ages by ‘pygmies’ and then possibly gave shelter to others during the Dark Ages. The monastery that now occupies the site was probably built in the thirteenth century.
The entrance fee is 6 levs for an adult and 2 levs for a child and includes entry to the Monastery ruins, the catacombs and the small museum. The museum houses a few artefacts found around Varna and some mosaics and has a couple of displays as to how the monastery used to look like when it was in use. While the guide books state that the monastery is not open on Mondays and closes at 5pm, in fact it is open daily and as long as you arrive before 5pm, you are free to wander around until the site closes at 9pm, although the museum shuts at 5pm.
You access the caves by climbing scaffold steps. There are two levels with various chambers and galleries and at the end of each gallery there are small chapels where you can just make out faded murals. 
Once down on the ground again, you can return to the entrance but take the track through the forest to the catacombs. Make sure you are covered in insect repellent though, the forest is full of particularly vicious mosquitoes. It’s a good 10 minute walk until you eventually reach the rock face. There is nothing by way of explanation but if you enter the cave and find the narrow, low tunnel at the far right end, you find yourself in a smaller cave with three graves dug into the rock floor.
Outside the entrance to the rock monastery there is a small ‘tack’ shop and a couple of rather dodgy guys touting for fares to Varna or Golden Sands. And unfortunately a family of stray dogs around the overflowing bin, scavenging for food and taking their chances with the cars.
