The paleo-Christian basilica in Niculitel, Tulcea county, built up in the 4th century, will re-open after two years following an ample revamping process carried out with EU funds.
The Greek-Roman architecture of the basilica, unique in Europe, has been now blended with modern elements of the 21st century. A glass catwalk is crossing the monument, whereof the tourists can admire the basilica while a guide is telling its story.
The basilica is famous across the Christian world for the crypt where the remains of four martyrs have been discovered. According to the manager of the Museum Research Institute in Tulcea, the crypt has been tracked down in 1971 following a torrential rain, which practically brought the tomb to surface.
The foundation of the basilica is the only one to be seen today.
PM Dacian Ciolos paid a visit to the basilica these days. “It’s an example on how such national sites can be valorized and how they can be integrated in a wider tourism concept, speaking about the Dobruja region, which, besides the Danube Delta that lures many tourists, has a lot of things to tell visitors,” the premier stated.
The restoration works at the Niculitel basilica started in 2014 and were financed with European funds. The value of the project got close to RON 11.5 million.