1. DAY: Arrival in Sofia
Arrival at airport Sofia. Transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight.
2. DAY: Sofia sightseeing
After breakfast sightseeing tour of the city. The Sofia highlights:
The Alexander Nevsky Golden-Domed Cathedral. The crypt of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky displays painting and applied arts from the Bulgarian Middle Ages and Revival. Visit the St.Sofia church, one of the oldest churches in Europe, that is still operating. Visit the 4th century Church of St. George –the earliest and best reserved building in inner old Serdica. Next to the church is situated the Archaeological Museum – the oldest museum in Bulgaria. Its collection is very rich: the head of Apolon from bronze, the Thracian gold treasure of Valchitran, a Thracian funeral mask from gold and many others. Visit the Banya-Baschi mosque – a valuable monument of Islamic architecture. The other museums are situated in the beautiful quarter Boyana. The Boyana Church consists of three parts from three different periods. It is in the UNESCO List of World and Cultural Heritage. Visit the National historical Museum that includes subjects from different cultures, lived on the territory of the country.
Dinner in a cosy restaurant and overnight in the hotel.
3. DAY: Sofia – Rila monastery – Plovdiv
After breakfast excursion to the Rila Monastery – the largest monastery in Bulgaria. Sightseeing of the monastery, featuring the unsurpassed frescoes of the main church, the monastery museum and its exquisite architecture.
Deaprture to to Plovdiv - sight seeing of the city, including the old quarter, the Ethnographic museum and the Roman Amphi-Theatre .
Dinner in the Old town.
4. DAY: Plovdiv - Kazanlak - Nessebar
Departure toKasanlak -visit the famous Thracian tomb - one of the most remarkable creations of the Thracian culture, included in the World Register of Historical Sites in 1979. Continiue to the Ancient city of Nessebar. Accommodation in Nessebar or Sunny Beach resort. Dinner in the hotel.
5. DAY: Nessebar
Sightseeing of the old fisher town Nessebar. The ancient town of Nessebar, wich has been declared a reserve, is located on a smalrocky peninsula. It has preserved a lot of ancient monuments including the Thracian, Greek, Roman and Byzantine period. Its two parts (old and new) are full of life with music and entertainment. Sightseeing of Old Nessebar by foot, including the Archaeological museum and some of the medieval churches. Free time.
Dinner in a Fish restaurant.
6. DAY: Nessebar – Varna - Shumen
After breakfast departure to the main Bulgarian port town – Varan - sightseeing tour of the city, including the Archaeological museum - holds one of the country’s richest collections: 55000 exhibits from the Old Stone Ages to the Late Middle Ages, including the Oldest Gold of the World. Continiue to Madara - sight seeing of the famous Madara bareliefe – The Horse Rider. This is a rare monument, dating from the 8th – 9th century A.D. It is a unique symbol of young Bulgaria.
Dinner in the hotel.
7. DAY: Shumen – Sveshtari - Rousse
Deaprture to the famous Thracian Temple in Sveshtari. This 3rd century B.C. Thracian tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracian cult buildings. The decoration of the burial chamber is exceptionally interesting, a unique blend of art and architecture. Continue to the largest town on the Danube River bank.
Dinner in a fine restaurant on the river bank with panorama view.
8. DAY: Rouse – Ivanovo – Veliko Tarnovo
Sight seeing of the city an interesting cultural center with a lot of buildings form the Classic, Baroque and Reaniassance styles.
Departure to the Rock Monasteries of Ivanovo, they are in the UNSECO’s World Heritage list with their unique frescoes.
This is an area where a number of medieval churches, monastic cells and chapels were carved on both sides of the river Lom. A colony of hermits lived here from the 3rd century to the 17th century. The natural vesicles in the Karst rocks were widened and moulded to meet the needs of the colony. The chambers are at a height of 6-10m. and are connected by series of stairs, passages and galleries.
Continiue to Arbanassi. Visit the museum village Arbanassi – a famous Bulgarian museum town. Austere houses that resemble minor fortresses on the outside, with high walls and heavy gates,iron grids and secret hiding places. The oldest of the Arbanassi’s five churches is The Birth Christ (1637-1649) is a genuine art gallery with over 3500 stunningly realistic figures and Biblical scenes, painted by unknown artists throughout the ages.
Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Veliko Tarnovo.
9. DAY: Veliko Tarnovo – Troyan monastery - Sofia
Sightseeing of the old Bulgarian capital city, featuring its numerous museums and archaeological sites and a breathtaking view over this picturesque town from the Holy hill. Visit some of the 40 monasteries erected in the picturesque gorges of the Yantra river. Continiue to the Troyan Monastery – it must have been in existence long before the l5th century, as legends suggest. It flourished again in about the year 1600. From the oldest church it is only the throne stone that has been preserved. Towards the beginning of the l9th century the monastic brotherhood re-erected the monastery. The Troyan Monastery, is known above all for the creative work of Zahari Zograph who painted both the exterior and the interior (a rare practice for the time)
Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Sofia.
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