Authentic Bulgaria Tour

<p>Arrive in Sofia. Transfer to your hotel. The reminder of the day – time at leisure. Overnight.</p>

<p>Sofia – Sightseeing tour of Sofia – Boyana church (UNESCO) – Rila monastery (UNESCO) – Bansko</p><p>In the morning taka a sightseeing tour of Sofia. Visit the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral – the biggest and the most beautiful on the Balkan Peninsula, the Monument of Alexander II – Tzar Liberator, the Parliament, The Statue of St Sofia – the symbol of the city, the Presidency, the National Theater, the Ruins of Serdica and the Rotonda St George 4th c. AC, the Synagogue, the Russian Church, the St. Sophia early Christian basilica, which has given the city its name. Drive to the Boyana Church (UNESCO). Admire its beautiful paintings from 1259. </p><p>Departure to the Rila Monastery (UNESCO) – the richest historical and architectural monument of the Orthodox enclave, founded in 10th century and transformed to the most important spiritual and cultural center of Bulgaria. The Monastery’s unrivalled architecture and murals will captivate you. In the monastery visit the Ethnographic museum – very rich with its carpets and rugs exhibition, jewelry, customs, buckles. Also you will visit four rooms decorated according to the typical styles of decoration of four regions of Bulgaria. Departure to Bansko. Have diner in the village of Gorno Draglishte. The hostess will demonstrate preparation of yogurt and a local salty pastry called “banitsa”. Have a home hosted diner prepared for you by the hostess. Overnight.</p><p>B Accommodation in Bansko</p>

<p>Gorno Draglishte – The Narrow Gauge train – Yundola – Sarnitsa</p><p>In the morning visit the Velyanova house, built in the beginning of the 19th century, one of the first Renaissence houses in the area, beautiful and well preserved until now-a-days. At 10 :49 take the narrow gauge train from Razlog to Avramovo – the highest train station in Bulgaria – 1400 meters above sea level. The train passes through the picturesque pass of Yundola. The guide will pick you up from the train station at Avramovo at 12:42 pm and you will continue to village of Gela. On the way – pass by the Dospat dam. Admire beautiful views and have lunch on its shore. Continue to the village of Gela. Pass by the Devil`s throat cave, one of the most mystical caves in Bulgaria. Upon request: take an off road to the Eagle`s eyes spot and see a breathtaking view over the surrounding high mountain peaks. </p><p>Accommodation in a guest house in the village of Gela or Shiroka Laka.</p>

<p></p><p>Departure to Pамporovo. get up to the Snezhanka tower 1926 meters. From here you will admire 360 degrees view towards the majestic Rhodopes mountain. Continue to the village of Vievo. have lunch in a local family`s house. They will be happy to take you around the village and to interact with you. Head to Plovdiv. Stop at the second largest monastery in Bulgaria – the Bachkovo monastery. It was founded in 1083 and until today is one of the biggest nests of the Christianity in Bulgaria. Before arriving in Plovdiv visit the Assens fortress. </p><p>B Accommodation in Plovdiv in family hotel “At the Renaissance Square” or Villa Antica (two nights)</p><p></p><p></p><p></p>

<p>Plovdiv</p><p></p><p>In the morning take a sightseeing tour of Plovdiv. Visit the most impressive building of Roman time that has come to us rising above the city is the Antique Amphitheatre by Emperor Mark Avrelii during the 2nd c. A.D. Its magnificent arcade adorned with marble statues is simply breath-taking. Visit the Ethographic museum housed in the biggest and the most beautiful house of the Old town – the Kuyumdzhioglu’s House. The Roman Stadium is also constructed during the II century and reproduces the layout in Delphi, Greece. Within the centre of the ancient major town of the Roman province of Thrace remains of stone paved streets, foundations of buildings and columns and ancient fortress walls and gates reside. After lunch visit the Roman house « Eirene » where you will admire extremely well preserved mozaics “in situ”, originals from the 4th century. Last visit for today is the Small Bishop’s Basilica dated to the late 5th century and today is one of the Plovdiv’s landmarks with its mozaic floor with geometrical motifs and a small chapel and a baptistery. Relinder of the day – time to explore the art quarter « Kapana » and have coffee in one of its little cafés. Overnight.</p>

<p>Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Zheravna</p><p>After breakfast departure to Kazanlak. Visit the Golyamata Kosmatka Thracian tomb – an original Thracian tomb dating to the 4th century BC. Next visit is the Kazanlak Thracian tomb dating to the 4th century BC (UNESCO). You will visit the copy as the original has been closed for visitors.</p><p></p><p>Continue to one of the most picturesque villages in Bulgaria – Zheravna. Here you will admire 200 years old houses, cobble stone streets, stone walls surrounding yards with beautiful flowers and fruit trees. Today the village is an architectural reserve. It has been used as a natural decor for many Bulgarian and foreign movies. </p><p>Visit the building of the school, constructed in 1867, houses a picture gallery that comprises more than 450 paintings of Bulgarian and foreign artists. Every year it hosts travelling exhibitions of artists and ethnographical exhibitions from museums around the country. Visitors of the House of Rusi Chorbadzhi (House of Master Rusi) can see an interesting exhibition where the different crafts practiced in Zheravna during the Bulgarian Revival Period are demonstrated. The enormous hand loom and the skillfully-weaved delicate linen fabrics produced by the women of Zheravna are particularly impressive. In Zheravna was born and raised one of the most renown Bulgarian writers – Yordan Yovkov. His books have been translated in more than 20 languages.</p><p>Accommodation. Overnight.</p><p></p><p>B Accommodation in Zheravna in a Guest House</p>

<p>Zheravna – Nessebar – Varna</p><p>After breakfast departure to Nessebar (UNESCO) – an undoubted jewel of Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, historical and archaeological reserve with ancient archaeological remains of various periods, original churches from the 5th – 17th centuries and more than hundred authentic Revival houses. Proceed to Varna. In the Archaeological museum admire the Oldest Manworked Gold in the world discover in Varna in 1972 dated between 4600 – 4200 BC. In the afternoon walk along the main pedestrian street that will take you down to the sea side where you can have some local fish for diner. </p><p>B Accommodation in Varna in hotel Boutique HI</p>

<p>Varna – Madara (UNESCO) – Sveshtary (UNESCO) – Ruse – Mechka village</p><p>After breakfast departure to the Madara Horseman (UNESCO) – a bas-relief cut in a rock some 23 meters above the ground dating to the beginning of the 8th century. The relief depicts a horseman in a natural pose with a sword in his hand. At the feet of the horse is a lion, and behind the rider is depicted his hunting dog. One legend has it that a Byzantine emperor was hunting on the plateau when he fell off the cliff and died. His relatives memorialized him by engaging a master to carve his image on the cliff. </p><p> Continue to the Sveshtary Thracian tomb (UNESCO) dating to the 4th – 3rd century BC (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracian people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers. Continue to Rousse – the biggest border town of Bulgaria situated on the Danube river. Have a walk in the central part and admire the beautiful buildings from the 19th century. Rousse in also called “the Little Vienna” for its Vienniese architecture. Head to the Seven Generations winery in the village of Mechka 22 km from Rousse with a beautiful view towards the Danube river.</p><p>B Accommodation in the Seven Generations Winery **** – https://sevengenerations.bg/page/homepage</p>

<p>Mechka – Ivanovo (UNESCO) – Veliko Tarnovo</p><p></p><p>First visit today is the nearby complex of the Ivanovo rock church (UNESCO). Admire beautiful paintings from the 14th century. Arriving in Veliko Tarnovo you will be captured by the beauty of the setting of the town. Old houses perched on the rocks and two Mediaeval fortress preserve the glorious past of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1186 – 1396). Visit the Tsarevets and the Trapezitsa fortresses. In the village of Arbanassi is situated the richestly decorated church in Bulgaria of « The Nativity of Christ » called the Sistine Chapel on the Balkans. Accommodation. Overnight.</p><p></p><p>B Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo in hotel Gurko ***</p>

<p>Veliko Tarnovo – Sofia</p><p>In the morning departure to Sofia. Drop off at the Sofia airport for your departure flight. End of service.</p>