Bulgaria Tour History and Traditions

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

In the morning visit the Boyana Church (UNESCO). Admire its beautiful freascoes dating to 1259. In the National Museum of History you will get acqueinted with the rich history of Bulgaria. Here is the Gold Thracian Treasure dating to the 4th c. BC. Return to the central part. Continue with a walking 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. Finish the tour at around 2 pm at your hotel. Afternoon at leaisure – time to enjoy the central part of Sofia.

Day 3 – June 20 – Sofia – the Rila monastery – Melnik – the village of Rozhen

Departure to the Rila Monastery – 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 the village of Melnik. Overnight.

B Accommodation in the village of Rozhena in Winery Estate “Zlaten Rozhen”

Day 4 – June 21 – Melnik – Dolen – Trigrad gorge – Gela village

In the morning visit the Rozhen monastery situated 6 km from Melnik. Visit the Kordopulova house – the oldest Revival house in Bulgaria built in 1754. Continue to the Trigrad gorge. On the way pass through the village of Dolen – one of the villages where the old Bulgarian houses still exist in its original conditions, the time here has stopped long ago. Have lunch in a local restaurant. Continue to the Trigrad gorge.

The gorge itself is 6-7 kilometres long. At its bottom flows Trigrad River, which high waters created the vertical walls of the gorge, between 100-300 meters high, millions of years ago. At the foot of the highest cliffs of the gorge is the artificial entrance of Devil’s Throat Cave – the most popular tourist destination in the area. Devil’s Throat is famous with the 42 meters high underground waterfall inside it. An artificial tunnel leads to the so called Noisy Hall, where the waters of Trigrad River drop down through the natural entrance of the cave. The hall itself is impressive with its size. Waters of the river disappear through some small cracks inside the hall and flow as a karst spring on the surface again 500 metres away, at the bottom of the gorge. Pass by the vilalge of Shiroka laka and continue to the village of Gela. Accommodation. Overnight.

B L Accommodation in Shiroka Laka village or in Gela village

Day 5 – June 22 – Gela – Pamporovo – Ardino – the village of Glavatartsi

Today you will admire the beauty of the Rhodopi mountain. After breakfast departure to the East Rhodоpi through the town of Smolyan and Ardino – the heart of the Rhodopi mountain. Pass by Pamporovo – the most beautiful ski resort of Bulgaria. Continue to the town of Ardino and have a 40 minutes hike to the Devil’s bridge. Next stop is at the Eagle’s rocks – a Thracian shrine dating to the 6th – 4th c. BC used for rituals and funerals. It is a big rock with around 90 niches cut in it. Presumably the Thracians kept here clay vessels and plaques related to the cult to the dead people. Under the rocks there are traces from other ancient facilities. In the late afternoon get to the village of Glavatartsi. Overnight.

B Accommodation in Villa Rocca in the village of Glavatartsi

Glavatartsi – Perperikon – Zvezdelina – Plovdiv

This morning after breakfast visit the archaeological complex of Perperikon, the largest megalith complex on the Balkans. Archaeologists have uncovered a giant multi-story palace and an imposing fortress built around the hill, with walls as thick as 2.8 m. Temples and quarters of residential buildings were also constructed in the fortress. Have lunch in a Turkish family’s house in the village of Zvezdelina and taste some of the local delights. Continue to Plovdiv. Accommodation. Overnight.

Plovdiv – Hissarya – Koprivshtitsa – Starosel – Plovdiv

In the morning departure to Hissarya where you will see absolutely well preserved fortress wall dating to the Roman period – 4th century. Visit the Roman tomb dating to the same period. Hissarya is also one of the most popular balneology resorts renowned for its more than 20 springs of curative mineral water. Continue to Koprivshtitsa. The village of Koprivshtitsa boasts a large number of architectural monuments from the Revival period, 383 in all, most of which have been restored to their original appearance. Collections of ethnographical treasures, old weapons, National Revival works of art, fine fretwork, household weaves and embroidery, national costumes and typical Bulgarian jewelry has also been preserved. Have lunch in a house of a local family and taste some of the local dishes prepared with home made products. Departure to Plovdiv. On the way visit the Thracian tomb of Starosel – an original tomb dating to the 4th BC. Arrive in Plovidv in the late afternoon.

Plovdiv – Buzludzha peak – Maryan winery – Zheravna

In the morning departure to the Buzludzha monument. This is one of the biggest communist monuments in Eastern Europe. Get lecture on the communist past of Bulgaria.

Continue to the village of Maryan where you will visit a local boutique winery. Upon availability here you will also taste a home-made salty pastry prepared by the hostess especially for you.

Continue to the village of 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. Not only you will feel like you are back to the 19th century, but here you will feel the warmness and hospitality of the Bulgarians. Accommodation. Overnight.

B Accommodation in Jeravna in Milenprodanovite Kashti Guest House

Zheravna – Nessebar – Varna

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.

B Accommodation in Varna in hotel Splendid ****

In the morning 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 Roman 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.

Continue to the Sveshtary Thracian tomb (UNESCO) dating to the 4th – 3rd century BC (closed on Monday and Tuesday). 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 the Seven Generations winery in the village of Mechka 22 km from Rousse wit ha beautiful view toards the Danube river.

B Accommodation in the Seven Generations Winery **** – https://sevengenerations.bg/page/homepage

Mechka – Ivanovo (UNESCO) – Veliko Tarnovo

First visit today is nearby complex of the Ivanovo rock church (UNESCO). Admirthe e 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 Cjapel on the Balkans. In theevening enjoy a home hosted dinner in the village of Arbanassi. Accommodation. Overnight.

B Accommodation in Veliko Tarnovo in hotel Gurko *** http://www.hotel-gurko.com/index_en.php

Veliko Tarnovo – Etara – Shipka – Kazanlak – Sofia

In the morning departure to the Balkan Range mountain. Before crossing the Shipka pass visit the Etara open air museum where have been presented 22 crafts that people used in the 18th and 19th century. Start climbing the Shipka pass. On the top of the mountain admire beautiful view towards the valleys of the Northern and Southern Bulgaria.

Take the road to Kazanlak known also as the Valley of Roses or the Valley of the Thracian Kings.

In the region of Kazanlak visit two Thracian tombs dating to the 4th century BC – one of them original – The Golyamata Kosmatka and the second one included in the list of UNESCO – the Kazanlak Tomb. You will visit its copy as the original has been closed for the public. Continue to Sofia.

Arrive in Sofia in the early evening. Accommodation. Overnight.

B Accommodation in hotel Rosslyn Thracia Hotel ****

https://thracia.rosslyn-hotels.com/

Transfer to the Sofia airport. End of service.

B L Accommodation in Plovdiv in family hotel “At the Renaissance Square”