Popina: Hotels and Accommodation

Popina lies on the banks of the Danube and is described as a place with rich vegetation. Those wishing to book a hotel in Popina can then continue their accommodation search.

Nature

The Garvanski Blata protected area lies in the territories of Popina and Garvan and covers 280 hectares. Sport fishing is permitted there from 1 August to 15 February. Garvanski Blata preserves habitats for rare waterfowl as well as rare aquatic and wetland plants.

The Pojarevo–Garvan Natura 2000 site includes Popina and protects riparian forests, rivers with muddy banks, natural eutrophic lakes, and several bird species.

Geographical setting

Popina extends northward from approximately 120 metres from the Danube to the foothills of hills that form its southern boundary. In the broader context, Popina’s proximity to the Srebarna Reserve and the Danube is associated with opportunities for ecotourism, rural tourism, fishing tourism, and educational tourism.

Culture and history

The Nikola Vaptsarov–1940 community centre is described as Popina’s oldest cultural institution. It supports dance, women’s choir, gaida, and theatre groups; it also houses a museum exhibition.

Visible remains of a Roman road run through the Kaleto locality. Kaleto lies between the Danube fortresses of Durostorum and Transmarisca and contains archaeological finds from the Roman period, including material from the 4th to the 6th century. Early Slavic settlements were studied in the Popina area at Dzhedzhovi Loza, Drenchoto, and Momchila. Excavations at the Drenchoto locality uncovered pottery from the Thracian period.

Festivals and local traditions

Popina holds an annual Danube festival on the riverbank. The fish soup festival serves to preserve the traditions of fish soup and present the folklore heritage of the Danube region. At the festival, fish soup prepared according to an original recipe from Popina using at least ten species of Danube fish was presented. The festival also included a craft street where artisans and makers of handmade items presented their work.

Popina is associated with extensive apricot orchards. The “Popina Celebrates and Plays Sports” event was intended to include sports games for children and young people as well as an exhibition of ritual breads.

Other destinations in this selection include Lyuben, Dobrotitsa.

For the higher-level travel overview: Sitovo.