BULGARIAN
MONASTERIES
SOFIA – TROYAN MONASTERY – ARBANASSI – PREOBRAJENSKI MONASTERY – BOJENTSI – ETARA – SOKOLSKI MONASTERY – KAZANLAK – BACHKOVO MONASTERY – PLOVDIV – RILA MONASTERY – BOYANA CHURCH – SOFIA

1st day

Arrival at Sofia – meeting and transfer to the hotel – City tour of Sofia / It grows but does not age – this is the motto of Sofia, capital of Bulgaria. The history of Sofia dates back to 7000 years ago. Today Sofia is a cosmopolitan and vivid city – as pertains to a true European capital. During our tour you will get a first impression of the most remarkable landmarks of Sofia. We will show you: St Alexander Nevski Cathedral; the Church of St Sofia gave the capital its name in the 14th century.; Sofia University, National Library, and the National Assembly; the Russian Church of St. Nikolay , the building of the Bulgarian Kings Palace of the third Bulgarian Kingdom - At present it hosts the National Gallery; the Presidency.; the St George Rotunda – dating back from IV AD; the St Nedelya Church – built in the period 1856 n- 1863 onto relis from the ancient Roman town of Serdica.; National Palace of Culture – the largest multi – functional complex for cultural and congress in South-Eastern Europe. Sofia city tour is with duration about 3 hours.
– Welcome dinner – overnight.

2nd day

Breakfast – departure to Troyan monastery (Troyan monastery must have been in existence long before the l5th century, as legends suggest.)– lunch close to the monastery – arrival at Veliko Tarnovo – City tour of Veliko Tarnovo(Veliko Tarnovo is situated in Central Bulgaria it the skirts of Balkan Mountain. It is situated on the historical hills Tsarevets, Trapezica and Sveta Gora – over Yantra river. During this City tour we will show you: Tsarevets Hill -it was the main fortress of the medieval Bulgarian capital Veliko Tarnovo.; "The Renaissance and the Constituent Assembly" Museum; Samovodene Marketplace; Gurko Street; The monument of the Assens; Stambolov Bridge - it was built in 1892. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

3rd day

Breakfast – Sightseeing tour of Arbanassi – visit of Preobrajenski monastery – visit of the Kilifarevo monastery -It is believed that intially, the Kilifarevo monastery was built between 1348 and 1350. Continue to the village of Bojenzi – The village of Bozhentsi boasts a 600 year history. It is a wonderfully preserved Revival-type village. There are over 120 monuments of culture dating from the ХVІІІ and ХІХ centuries – houses, economic buildings, gates, draw-wells, and cobblestone pavements. In 1964, it was registered as an architectural and historical reserve/. Dinner and overnight in “Fenerite”.

4th day

Breakfast. Departure to Etara - the unique in South-eastern Europe open-air ethnographic museum. The setting up of this unique museum began in 1963 and continued 13 years, till 1976. Etara gives an idea of the authentic life of a typical Bulgarian craftsmanship settlement 150 years back.) – visit of the Sokolski monastery. Sokolski monastery was constructed on a high vertical rock in the Valley of Yantra River. It was founded in 1833 by Archbishop Yosif Sokolski. The Church has been built in 1834. Continue to Kazanlak – visit of the Thracian tomb /UNESCO SITE, INCLUDED IN THE World Monument List, a real masterpiece of Thracian architecture and mural painting/. Departure to Plovdiv. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

5th day

Breakfast – Departure to Bachkovo monastery - the second largest Bulgarian monastery. The monastery was founded in 1983 by the Byzantine military commander of Georgian origin, Grigorii Bakuriani and his brother Abazii. Lunch. Accommodation in a hotel in Plovdiv. 
City tour of Plovdiv - Plovdiv is a second largest city of Bulgaria. Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s first capital after the Liberation and its indelible marks are still to be seen today. During this city tour we will show you the Old town of Plovdiv, who combines some periods of the history of the city all in one, starting with the early years of the Roman rule and reaching the culmination of the architecture during the Renaissance, when most of the houses in this architectural preserve were built. Some of the most famous old houses is the House of Balaban, memorial house “Lamartine”;. The house of the noted American landowner Stepan Hindilyan; The house of Nikola Nedkovich /1862 – 1863 /. In the Old town of Plovdiv we will show you too the Ancient Theatre – one of the greatest and most famous sights here; the fortified walls of Filipopol, and the St. Konstantin and Elena’s Church, built in 1832 by master Petko Boz. During Plovdiv city tour we will show you also the city center and most remarkable Djumaia Mosque /14 – 15 century/ - today an art and architectural monument. Dinner and overnight.

6th day

Breakfast – departure to Rila monastery - the monastery is believed to have been founded by a hermit, John of Rila, in the 10th century, during the reign of the Bulgarian Tzar Peter (927-968). The monastery was declared a national historical monument in 1976, while in 1983 it was inscribed in UNESCO’s list of world heritage. Lunch. Departure to Sofia. Accommodation at the hotel. Dinner and overnight.

7th day

Breakfast – visit of the National Historical Museum. Lunch. Visit of the Boyana Church – the church of Boyana is situated in Boyana – a suburb of Sofia. The Boyana Church was included in the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. Dinner and overnight.

8th day

Breakfast. Shopping time. Transfer to the airport. Departure.