The ruins of Roman Philippopolis may be breathtaking but to get an in-depth picture of the city's past a visit to the Regional Archaeological Museum is a must. The museum is in a 1880s building that was constructed to house the Regional Assembly of Eastern Rumelia. Its collection ranks amongst the best in Bulgaria. It features statues of Roman emperors and pagan deities, of tombstones and mosaics, of ornaments and pottery. 

Significantly, the museum reveals bits of Plovdiv's history before and after the Romans, two periods that have left little heritage in the modern town. The museum displays prehistoric pottery and idols, gold vessels made by the Thracians, medieval pottery, decorations and coins. 

Visit for:

• Silver helmet with mask of a Roman soldier
• Ancient mosaic from a synagogue depicting a menorah
• Ancient mosaic depicting the mythological hero Narcissus
• Finely carved ancient relief of health-bearing gods

https://www.archaeologicalmuseumplovdiv.org