Nicopolis ad Istrum

Nicopolis ad Istrum is one of the most thoroughly explored Roman towns on Bulgarian territory. The City of Victory was founded by Emperor Trayan in honour of his victory over the Dacians in 102-106 A.D. It lasted till the end of the 6th and the beginning of the 17th century – in that period the town was devastated by the invasions of the Avars and the Slavs. Nicopolis was built on a flat area near the river of Rositza, where the lands were fertile and important roads crossed. This was an important prerequisite for the town’s future prosperity in the end of II – the beginning of III century. Nicopolis ad Istrum was given the honour to cut coins. More than 900 types of coins bearing its name are known to the world. Images of gods, buildings, gates, are depicted on them. However, the town was ruined in the end of the VI century. The first excavations on its territory were organized in 1900. Since 1975, Sofia’s Archeological Museum and Veliko Tarnovo’s Museum of History are researching the ruins of the town, helped by students from the university of Veliko Tarnovo. In 1985, joint archeological projects with the British Academy and Nottingham University were held. The archeological reserve Nicopolis ad Istrum is located 20 km north from Veliko Tarnovo and 3 km south from the village of Nicupe.