Sample Itinerary: Sofia (3 nights) - Veliko Tarnovo (2 nights) – Varna (2 nights) – Kazanlak (1 night) - Plovdiv (2 nights)

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Tour Cost:
€ 350.00 (per person, double/twin room sharing)
€ 197.00 (supplement for single room)

Tour Includes: 10 nights (breakfast & taxes included) in 3-star centrally located hotels, as per itinerary.

Day 1: Arrival in Sofia

Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital, was founded more than 7 000 years ago, and has long been an important crossroads between Asia Minor and Europe. Sofia’s monuments attest to the many cultures and civilizations that flourished here.

Day 2: All day in Sofia

Sample list of recommended sites of interest:

• The National Museum of History where one can see the magnificent Thracian golden treasures, as well as artefacts from the oldest in the world discovered so far golden objects, processed by Europe’s most ancient civilization (4600-4200 BC);

• The 13th century Boyana Church, a remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site. The murals of the famous church in Boyana reflect both Byzantine and local traditions of the preceding two centuries. The portrait of Dessislava is a genuine masterpiece of 13th century painting, created 200 years before the European renaissance, mark a remarkable peak of Christian Art;

• The ancient Serdica Fortifications dating from the 3rd-5th century

• The 4th century St. George’s Rotunda famous for its unique frescoes and original architecture. Its majestic figures illustrate the development of Christian Painting over several centuries, making Rotunda one of the gems of Bulgarian and East European culture;

• The magnificent Alexander Nevski Memorial Church is a masterpiece of late 19th – early 20th century architecture, splendidly decorated. The Orthodox Icon Museum houses impressive collection of icons from 9th to 18th centuries and some of them match the best works of Constantinople studios.

The Portrait of Dessislava, Boyana Church, 1259, UNESCO world Heritage Site This genuine masterpiece of 13th century painting created 200 years before the European Renaissance mark a remarkable peak in Eastern Christian Art.	St. George Rotunda in Sofia, 4th century
Sofia, The National Theater

Day 3:

Option 1: All day in Sofia

Sample list of recommended sites of interest:

• The Sephardic Synagogue is the third largest in Europe (next to the synagogues in Budapest and Amsterdam). Not many people know that during World War II Bulgaria saved its entire Jewish population. The Bulgarian people lead by their Orthodox Church Metropolitans Kiril and Stefan stood in the way of the Nazi machine that was firmly resolved to implement the “final solution” of the Jewish question. The “solution” was never realized in Bulgaria. Ultimately, not a single Bulgarian Jews was deported to Nazi’s death camps. Anti-Semitism never had roots in Bulgaria. Jews were integral part of the Bulgarian society;

• The beautiful Banya Bashi Mosque built in 1566 by the great architect Mimar Sinan. The mosque takes its name from the neighbouring Central baths (in the Turkish language, "banya bashi" means "a lot of baths");

• The National Art Gallery is housed in the former Royal Palace; the gallery treasures the most valuable collection of classical paintings and sculptures, which chronically illustrate Bulgaria's artistic achievements from the beginning of the 19th century to the 1950s;

• The fabulous Archaeology Museum, housed in a former mosque, built in 15th century, treasures breathtaking archaeology finds;

• St. Sophia basilica, 6th century; the National Theatre; the Sofia University; the National Assembly (the Bulgarian Parliament), as well as some other architectural and cultural landmarks in city’s downtown area.

Rila Monastery, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Option 2:

One-day excursion (self drive or by hired/rented car or van to visit Rila Monastery, located 120 km (75 miles) south of Sofia in the Rila Mountains, which is an original national museum with a century-old history. The monastery dates back to the 10th century, but has been plundered and burned down several times. The present building was built in mid-19th century. Located in the gorgeous mountain scenery of the mountains, it is considered the highest achievement of Bulgarian monumental architecture of the National Revival period. It is also a monument of international significance, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Of particular interest are the Museum, and also the 1335 Hrelyo's Tower in the courtyard, which is actually the oldest preserved building, standing alongside the big five-dome church Assumption of the Holy Virgin, which has splendid frescos by some of Bulgaria’s finest artists of the time. Close to the Monastery are the rock-cell and the grave of St John of Rila, the founder of the monastery in the 10th century.

The wonder-working icon of Virgin Mary Eleusa,  Bachkovo Monastery, 1311.

The  wonder-working icon of Virgin Mary, Rila Monastery. Around the central image are the relics of various Saints

The wonder-working icon  Three Handed  Virgin Mary of  Troyan Monastery, 17c.

Day 4: Transfer Day: Travel from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo

Option 1: There are quite convenient and comfortable public transport connections from Sofia to Veliko Tarnovo by bus (coach).

Option 2: self drive trip or a trip by hired/rented car/van

Option 3: self drive trip or a trip by hired/rented car/van to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the historical Shipka Pass in the Balkan Mountains and to visit some more sites of interest en route:

• The delightful ethnographic town of Koprivshtitsa is famous for its National Revival architecture (18th – 19th century). You can walk along its picturesque streets, stop in the small squares, and feel the plastic treatment of the stone fencing walls, the large gates and the dignity of the houses amidst the yards.

• Troyan, a fascinating town famous with Troyan 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) of the main church built in 1835. It is a fine example of the impact of the popular conception of the world and the influence of housing architecture on religious construction. The iconostasis of the main church made in 1839 is a masterpiece of woodcarving. Amazing in its originality, is the much earlier (1794) carving of the holy altar gates in the St. Nikola Chapel. The icons introduce us once again to the best known National Revival artists. Particularly valuable among the multitude of manuscripts and incunabula are the so-called Troyan Homilies of the 17th century. The monastery's "printery" in which fine graphic works, including many landscapes, were made, was widely known.

Day 5: All day in Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo was the capital city of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185 - 1396). It has been at the centre of many important historical events and was the birthplace of the First Bulgarian Constitution.

Sample list of recommended sites of interest:

• The Fortress at Tsarevets Hill where the Royal Palace and the Patriarch Church once were located;

• The Museum of the National Revival where the first Bulgarian Constitution was adopted in 1879;

• The village-museum of Arbanassi, famous for its traditional architecture

• Take a walk through the narrow cobblestone street of the Old Samovodene Market Place, leading into small, sunny squares.

Veliko Tarnovo

Day 6: Transfer Day: Travel from Veliko Tarnovo to Varna

Option 1: There are convenient and comfortable public transport connections from Veliko Tarnovo to Varna by bus (coach).

Option 2: self drive trip or a trip by hired/rented car/van to see the countryside and to visit some more sites of interest en route:

Madara  Horseman ,  8th century, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Madara is the only rock relief in Europe.  It depicts a triumphant ruler in a symbolic hunting scene. The horseman has spread a lion / a powerful enemy/ with his lance. He is being followed by a dog / his loyal people/, and led by a bird. The figures are almost of life-size and the scene covers some 40 sq meters.

• The historical town of Shumen and the gorgeous Tombul mosque (built in the 18th century);

• The Madara Horseman rock-cut relief (8th century), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Day 7: All day in Varna

Varna, Bulgaria’s third largest city and most important port on the Black sea Coast, is dotted with ancient ruins, fishing villages, resorts and sandy beaches. A busy trading and cultural centre starting with the Greeks in 600 BC, Varna became a major port under the Romans and Slavs, trading with Constantinople, Venice and Dubrovnik.

Sample list of recommended sites of interest:

• The History and Archaeological Museum which treasures the amazing collection of the ‘Oldest Gold’ in the world. These remarkable artefacts (unearthed in 1972 in a local necropolis) date from 4600-4200 BC and have been classified by renowned international archaeologists as ‘the oldest worked (hand-made) golden objects in the world’ discovered so far. The archaeological explorations in the area of present-day Varna give strong evidence for the existence of Europe’s most ancient civilization, older than the Mesopotamian and the Egypt civilizations;

• The 2nd century thermae (baths) is another renowned archaeological site in downtown Varna, the largest preserved Roman public building in Bulgaria.

The Varna Gold /4600- 4200 BC/

The Varna Gold is the oldest gold in the world and Europe’s most ancient civilization. The Varna civilization is even earlier than the Mesopotamian and the Egypt civilization.
Community during the Neolithic period had undergone social stratification, which inevitably leads to a class society. The special features of Varna Gold are the fine work of the gold objects employing hammering, piercing and cutting; suggest high level of technology, well developed social and cultural process and spiritual culture.

Day 8: Transfer Day: Travel from Varna to Kazanlak

Option 1: By public transport connections from Varna to Kazanlak (bus or train).

Option 2: self drive trip or a trip by hired/rented car/van to see the countryside and to visit some more sites of interest en route:

• Nessebar, ancient Messambria, is charming seaside town-museum (100 km south of Varna), and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nessebar is particularly beautiful both in its location on a headland by the sea, and because of its many brightly painted 18th and 19th century traditional timber houses and cobbled streets. It is also famous for the impressive remains of fortifications and for the well-preserved late Byzantine churches, built in the period 11th - 14th centuries at the time of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom.

 Ancient city of Nessebar, UNESCO  World Heritage Site

Day 9: Morning in Kazanlak. Afternoon transfer: travel from Kazanlak to Plovdiv

The town of Kazanlak is situated amidst the Valley of Roses, the home of the exquisite Bulgarian rose oil, also known as “attar of roses”, a world centre for rose oil production. This area has also became famous as the ‘Valley of the Thracian Kings’, due to the numerous archaeological finds of the Thracian period.

Sample list of recommended sites of interest:

• The very good History Museum

• The breathtaking 4th century BC Thracian cupola tomb, another renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, with exceptional paintings

• The unique Museum of Rose.

Travel Option 1: By public transport bus connections from Kazanlak to Plovdiv.

Travel Option 2: self drive trip or a trip by hired/rented car/van

The Thracian Temple at Kazanlak, 4th -3rd c. BC, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Golden Mask of an Odrysian Orphic dynasty, 5th c. BC., “Svetitza”  tumulus, The Valley of Thracian Kings, close to Kazanlak.

Day 10: All day in Plovdiv

Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second biggest city, which treasures a history that goes back thousands of years, traces of which have survived to the present day. The Thracians founded Plovdiv during the Neolithic period in the 2nd millennium BC. The Old Quarter was built in the 18th-19th centuries as the centre of the Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Along steep cobblestone lanes, behind stone walls and iron-studded heavy oak gates, one could glimpse at verdure and flowers, surrounding the typical Plovdiv symmetrical houses with their painted facades, oriels and jetties and grid windows. The St. Constantine and St. Helena Church completed in 1832, contains murals painted in 1836 by Zachary Zograph, the best known Bulgarian National Revival painter.

Sample list of recommended sites of interest:

• The Roman period archaeological finds and sites, dating from the 2nd – 3rd century: the Forum, the Stadium, the Fortress Walls, and, above all, the fabulous Amphitheatre, which was built during the time of Emperor Trajan (98-117). It has 28 rows with tiers of marble seats, which can accommodate over 3 500 spectators and today is still functioning

• The Old Town with spectacular architecture of the National Period (18th – 19th century)

• Bachkovo Monastery, located 30 km south of Plovdiv, in the Rhodope Mountains, is the second most important after the Rila Monastery, with frescoes and murals from the 17th century, considered masterpieces of European Renaissance Art.

The Roman Theatre, 2nd c, Plovdiv	Plovdiv, The Ethnographic Museum, 1847
	Bachkovo Monastery

Day 11: Transfer Day: Travel from Plovdiv to Sofia

Option 1: by public transport connections - bus (coach) or train.

Option 2: self drive trip or a trip by hired/rented car/van.

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