St. Toma Island

The St. Toma island is situated in the Black Sea gulf of Alepu, very close to the shore. It is named after St. Toma, because there was a small chapel bearing the name of the saint built on the territory of the island. Its area is 10 decares and is known to be the only place in Bulgaria, where wild cactuses grow. They were planted here some 60 years ago and have amazingly adapted to local conditions. The cactuses themselves are home to many birds. The island is also known for its many snakes, that’s why many call it the Snake Island. A part of the island is the Oil Cape, which is the farthest eastern part of the Strandja mountain and the third biggest cape in the Bulgarian Black Sea coastal area. Its steep slopes make it extremely hard to access. In the past, it had a bad fame of being a place, where many ships crushed. Since most of them were loaded with olive oil, the place was called the Oil Cape, and during the Turkish Yoke – Zeytun Borun (the same meaning in Turkish). Legends say that at that time, secret tunnels connected the Oil Cape and the fortress of Valchan Voyvoda. According to these legends, many pirate treasures were buried on the island.