Bulgaria - Bishop's Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace

The serial property Bishop's Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace is located on the territory of Plovdiv (Philippopolis in Antiquity). It consists of three immovable cultural monuments: Bishop's Basilica, Small Basilica and Late-Antique Irene Building, which were built and functioned during the 4th-6th centuries. The city is strategically situated at the crossroads of Europe and Asia Minor, in the middle of the Thracian lowlands, around seven unique hills. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, much older than ancient Troy.

Over the years, remains of ancient Philippopolis have been discovered during archaeological excavations. These include: fortified walls, a forum complex with an odeum in its northern end, a theatre, a stadium, an aqueduct, several early-Christian basilicas, etc. These monuments have been completely or partially preserved on site in order to be integrated into the modern city's environment. The floor mosaics from ancient Philippopolis, which have already been excavated and investigated, come from two basic periods: 2nd-3rd centuries and 4th-6th centuries. The first period mosaics belonged to thermae and representative buildings and have an air of western influence. By contrast, the early-Christian basilicas, residences and private homes of the second period bear the influence of eastern early-Christian centers. The mosaics have been preserved, investigated and published to different extents, depending on the possibilities of the time and the circumstances of their discovery.