Sofia – Rila Monastery and Koprivshtitsa village |
6 days / 5 nights
Day 1: arrival in the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia
Transfer from airport to downtown hotel .
Walking tour to the city center (about 3 hours). You will see St.Sophia church dating back to 5th-6th century of our era, a monument of Bulgarian medieval civilization that gave the current name of the town. Visit the largest cathedral Alexander Nevski with its gilded dome, the rotunda St.George 3th-4th century and the city fortress and you will feel the atmosphere of the city, which history dates over 5000 years ago.
Dinner in a folklore restaurant. There you will not only try the typical Bulgarian dishes, but will listen to Bulgarian folk music and hectic rhythms of the dynamic Bulgarian folk dances.
Overnight.
Day 2 - breakfast. Visit of Boyana Church and National history Museum
Visit the Boyana Church, located on the outskirts of Sofia. It is a true masterpiece of the Bulgarian Middle Ages. Its frescoes dates from 1259 year and it was declared by UNESCO a World Cultural Heritage.
You will see real treasures in the National History Museum, located in the government complex of Boyana. Its rich collections are various of ages, ranging from the Paleolithic era through to present days. You can view items of the historical, numismatic and jewelry collections and the typical Bulgarian clothing of past eras.
Dinner. Overnight.
Day 3 - breakfast. Visit of Rila Monastery
Rila monastery is the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It is situated in the southwestern part of Bulgarian in Rila Mountain, 117 km (73 mi) south of the capital Sofia.
The whole complex of church, residential part and museum occupies an area of 8,800 m². The monastery complex was declared a national historical monument in 1976 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.
Dinner in Sofia.
Overnight.
Day 4 – Breakfast. Day for optional tour
One of the optional tours is to Veliko Turnovo and Arbanasi.
Departure to Veliko Tarnovo. Lunch surcharge on the way to the shore of a lake in the area of golf resort Pravets, nestled in the folds of Balkan mountain, the mountain which gave the name of the Balkan Peninsula. Balkan or Stara Planina more than 190 km long and passes through the central part of the country. Beautiful green hills and tranquil landscape.
Arrival in Veliko Tarnovo - the former Bulgarian capital. This is a beautiful city built on hills at the foot of which the Yantra River is winding. This is the city chosen by the Second Bulgarian kingdom for its capital (12th - 14th century). Visit of the city and the main museums.
The second optional tour that you can select for this day is to Plovdiv.
Departure to Plovdiv - the second largest city in Bulgaria.
Walking tour of the city. Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded before Athens, Rome and Constantinople in the time at which was based and the ancient city of Troy. There are artifacts of Thracian civilization. The Thracians were famous in the ancient world for its wines, which were declared as the best. The period during which Plovdiv has been within the Roman Empire was marked by the construction of many large public buildings like an amphitheater (late first and early second century of our era). And nowadays it is used for performances and outdoor concerts. Other major monuments of Roman civilization are the Roman Forum (2nd century BC) and Roman stadium in length of 180 meters and with 30,000 seats (second century of our era). At that time the name of the city was Trimontium, which means "town on three hills."
Bulgarian history is presented in the old town of Plovdiv with the big beautiful houses of 18 -19 centuries. They are evidence of the economic power of the city during this era. At that time Plovdiv compete with Thessaloniki and Istanbul. The walk along the narrow cobbled streets between high walls and overhanging second floors take us back in time. In many of these houses are now occupied exhibition halls, shops and restaurants. Dinner at one of these restaurants.
In this tour you will visit the old town, the amphitheatre and 4 ols houses from 18-19 centuries.
Dinner in Sofia.
Overnight.
Day 5 - Breakfast. Visit of Koprivshtitsa village.
Departure to Koprivshtitsa.
Koprivshtitsa - a small town situated in Sushtinska Sredna Gora mountain in the valley of Topolnitza River and it’s a remarkable, unparalleled historic reserve.
Koprivshtitsa is unique with its cobblestone alleys, houses painted in bright colors with expansive verandahs and picturesque eaves. The town reserved old houses typical for the region and Bulgaria.
Dinner in Sofia.
Overnight.
Day 6 - Breakfast. Free time for last tour (according to time of flight). Departure to Sofia airport.
The offer includes:
- 6 days/5 nights on half board in double room
- English speaking guide
- Transfers from and to Sofia airport
- Guided tour of Sofia city
- Visit of the Boyana church and the National history museum
- excursion to Rila Monastery
- excursion to Koprivshtitza village
The offer doesn't include:
- Drinks and meals that are not mentioned in the package
- Personal expenses and tips
- Insurance
