The analysis of the main activities regarding conservation of the property sets up the following positive assessment:
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Considerable activity regarding identification and documentation of the heritage in “The Ancient City of Nessebar” has been carried out. What has been already done is as follows: analysis of the processes in the property (General Plan-Concept, 1986); preliminary evaluation and registration of heritage sites; scientific research and observations; photogrammetric documentation; development of unified data-base of the existing documentation, etc.
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Systematic and rescue archaeological research has been executed; new archaeological sites have been excavated (especially by the research of the north coast of the peninsula and large-scale research of the Necropolis of Messambria-Messemvria-Nessebar on the mainland in 2007); though incidentally, underwater archaeological research has been executed (until 1990);
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Until 1990 conservation and restoration activity on the archaeological sites has been correctly held in a rhythmic and methodological way (the fortification wall, the west gate, etc.), on churches (conservation, partial and complete restoration) and on a number of sites of vernacular architecture. After 1990 the design and execution activities concentrated on some of the most valuable churches – the wall-paintings in the church of St. Stephen were restored (1993); projects for conservation, restoration, exhibit ad socialisation of three significant churches were commissioned by the Municipality and developed by project teams which are pilot products № 3 и 4 of the MP.
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Promotion of the property is carried out: among the local population (by municipal initiatives, like “I live in Nessebar”), among the tourists and guests of the town from the country and foreign countries; among the scientific community;
The monitoring held sets up the following negative assessment of the conservation activities:
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There are considerable gaps in the actual information concerning the heritage sites; the archive fund is not systematised and digitalised;
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Because of lack of financing the systematic archaeological research works after 1990 are practically stopped and substituted by fragmentary rescue excavations; the archaeological survey is not co-ordinated and provided with conservation activity. Because of the lack of basic underwater archaeological survey, it is impossible to outline the exact boundaries of the protected aquatory in order to programme future research works and determine the protection regimes of underwater archaeology;
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After 1990 the activities on conservation, restoration, adaptation, exhibit and maintenance of all types individual heritage sites are considerably reduced that explains the above-mentioned problems regarding their state. The numerous amateur interventions of the owners, by lack of competent specialists-conservators on spot brought to damages on the authenticity of sites of vernacular architecture;
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There is lack of systematic and using contemporary forms of communication activity for promotion of the outstanding universal value of the property on a large national, European and world scale. The dialogue between the public authorities with the local population on the problems of the property is limited; the prescriptions for its conservation are to a great extent incomprehensible for the greater part of the owners and proprietors.