Saint Sofia Basilica - archeological level and crypt

The red brick exterior of Saint Sofia Basilica hides a dense layer of history beneath the pavement. This church sits directly over the necropolis of the ancient Roman city of Serdica. During construction in the nineteen eighties, engineers discovered that the current building rests on the ruins of three earlier churches, each stacked on top of the last. A mosaic floor from the fourth century remains in the crypt, marking the spot where local elites once buried their dead beneath a vaulted chamber.