St. Anastasia Island

Overview

The small island near the beautiful seaside city of Bourgas has become a top attraction since it opened for visitors in 2014. The island has emerged since the eruption of a volcano. It is 12 meters high, at some places up to 17 meters high, and its area is almost 9 decаres. Between 1959 and 1990 it was known as Bolshevik Island. It is surrounded by mystery and there are hundreds of legends and stories about it.

One of the most famous legends is about the pirates who attacked the island at the time when it was housing a monastery. The monks hid in the church and prayed to Saint Anastasia to help them and save them from the invaders. She heard their prayers and sent a fearsome storm that broke the pirate ship in two. Even today, the remains of the ship are fossilised in a rock, which every island visitor can see. It is believed that the reason for the pirate raids was a golden treasure, buried on the island and protected by the ghost of a dead pirate.

According to another story, Vikings used to reach the Island. Although, there is no written evidence.

There are three rock phenomena on St. Anastasia Island, known as The Mushrooms, The Dragon, and The Fossilised Pirate Ship. Some believe that there are two underground caves on the Island, whose entrance is very well hidden and no one can unveil their secrets. However, underground caves have not been discovered so far.