The story of Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak

Hidden inside this small tomb are Bulgaria's best-preserved paintings from the Hellenistic period. Built in the fourth century BC, it is a vaulted brick beehive tomb: a narrow corridor opens into a round, domed chamber just large enough for a burial. Both are covered with frescoes of a Thracian couple at a funeral feast.

On the dome the pair sit on separate ornate chairs, holding each other's wrists, while a procession approaches with trays and gifts and horn players walk along. Look for the horses: some are led saddled but riderless, a team waits with a chariot, and at the very top a chariot race is under way. One Bulgarian art historian sees tenderness and equality in the couple's gesture, though not every specialist agrees.

The tomb has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. To protect the delicate paintings the original is closed, but an exact full-size replica stands nearby, and the seated woman even appears on the Bulgarian 50 stotinki coin issued in 2005.