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Early Byzantine Basilica at Gela
An early Byzantine three-aisled basilica has been excavated at Manastira near Gela.
No verified photograph for this site yet
The story of this place
The basilica near Gela was investigated in 1967–1971 and again in 2010. Excavations revealed a three-aisled building with a transept and annexes. Its foundations help trace the plan and alterations of this early Christian monument in the Central Rhodopes.
What the evidence shows
- A three-aisled basilica with a transept was excavated.
- Annexes to the principal building are documented.
Hypotheses and open questions
Some architectural reconstructions, including the outer apse plan, are explicitly tentative in the report.
Myths and local traditions
The sources consulted do not document a reliable local tradition. We do not invent legends to fill the gap.
Sources and verification
These accounts are editorial summaries. The sources below let you check dates, discoveries and interpretations.
- НАИМ: ранновизантийска базилика в Гела ↗naim.bg
- Община Смолян: Гела ↗www.smolyan.bg