Koprivshtitsa 

We present you the secrets of beautiful town-museum of Koprivshtitsa. Probably, the best way to understand the roots of the Bulgarian Renaissance Period, is to learn more about Koprivshitsa’s 19th houses with their colorful courtyards, surrounded with high stone walls and gates. The disorderly built curved and narrow cobblestone little streets and plots and the numerous stone fountains contribute to the attractiveness of the little town. Many of these houses are turned into museums, but each one has its own identity and history.  Another place of interest is the church “The Assumption of the Virgin” and the “Mausoleum – Ossuary – 20 th April” devoted to those who died during the April Uprising. Another authentic city is Panagyurishte.  Panagyurishte is famous for the “Panagyurishte gold” treasure discovered there in 1949. The town has two big Eastern Orthodox churches, St Georgi and St Bogoroditsa, as well as several chapels. 

Veliko Tarnovo

Veliko Tarnovo  is called  the “City of the Tsars” and it is located on the Yantra River and is famously known as the historical capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, attracting many tourists with its unique architecture. The old part of the town is situated on three hills, Tsarevets, Trapezitsa, and Sveta Gora, rising amidst the meanders of the Yantra. On Tsarevets are the palaces of the Bulgarian emperors and the Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cathedral, and also a number of administrative and residential edifices surrounded by thick walls.

Trapezitsa is known for its many churches and as the former main residence of the nobility.

Etara

In Open Air Ethnographic Museum “Etar” is the only one and unique collection of the old-times water-driven machinery in Bulgaria . It consist 10 objects and its one of the most riches and well kept active technical collection around the European museums on the open air. This is the reason the water wheel to be the emblem to the Etar. The most important specialty to the collection is that all objects are in action as it was it the past. The craftsman trade street offers 16 models to the Balkan architecture, showing the original talent to Revival builders.

Valley of roses  

The Valley of Roses is the cradle of ancient Thracian culture, also known as the Valley of the Thracian kings. The symbol of Bulgaria is the ‘Rose Flower’, famous with its precious oil, ingredient of each parfume over the world. The rose oil is obtained here in the Rose Valley, located in the heart of Bulgaria and the symbol of the ancient Thracian culture. Today the Demascena rose attracts visitors from all over the world and they come here just to feel the magic of roses.

Plovdiv

Plovdiv is one of the most appealing cities in Bulgaria and the Balkans with its first foundations laid here between 6-8000 years ago thus making it older than Rome or even Beijing. Plovdiv is a great combination of real historical and archaeological treasures with the liveliness of a modern city and great cultural and night life. The most visited and admired is the hilly Old Town, built on three hills called “tepeta”. The maze of cobbled streets which meander the area and contain the cuddled up revival houses with their colorful facades and ornate decoration don’t fail to impress and take you back in time. 

Rila monastery

Rila Monastery is definitely a must-see if you are a tourist with a free day in Sofia. Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic complex which played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. Destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century, the complex was rebuilt between 1834 and 1862. A characteristic example of the Bulgarian Renaissance (18th–19th centuries), the monument symbolizes the awareness of a Slavic cultural identity following centuries of occupation. The arcaded balconies, the unique frescoes – a work of one of the most famous Bulgarian Revival Period painters, the gilded iconostasis, the fabulous mountain view  and the unique combination of them all makes the visit to the monastery extraordinary and memorable one. You will have at least two full hours of free time at the Rila Monastery to explore the most visited UNESCO site in Bulgaria, enter the main church and take photos of the narthex’s gallery, admire the exhibits in the History Museum of the Monastery, try the tasty “mekitsi” with delicious buffalo’s yogurt (local specialty) or even have a short walk in the area.

Program

Day 1: Welcome in Bulgaria!

Arrival to Sofia airport. Transfer from the airport and accommodation in 4* hotel in the center of  Sofia . Overnight.

Day 2 – Sofia tour

After breakfast – guided tour and visit of  the most interesting historical sights: the Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the St. Sofia Church, the Rothonda of Saint George, The Russian Church and others historical and cultural treasures of the capital. Free time. Dinner at typical bulgarian restaurant. Overnight.

Day 3 – Koprivshtitsa town

After breakfast visit of the most significant UNESCO cultural object Bojana Church in Sofia. 

Departure to Koprivshtica- small town situated in a valley among the mountains . Koprivshtica is well known as village-museum. Free time and visit of Panagurishte . In the late afternoon departure for Sofia. Dinner at the hotel. 

Day 4: Veliko Tarnovo  

After breakfast- departure to Veliko Tarnovo – Accommodation in 3* or 4* hotel . Free time. Dinner at typical restaurant. 

Day 5 – The open air museum Etara

After breakfast – guided tour of Veliko Tarnovo with visit to the historical hill Tsarevets. There you will see the Fortress, the Patriarchal church and the Emperor Baldwin’s Tower. 

Departure to open air museum Etara. Free time. Departure to Kazanlak. Accommodation in 3* hotel.  Free time and dinner.

Day 6.  Kazanlak and Rose Valley 

After breakfast  guided tour in Kazanlak – the capital of the Rose valley. Visit of the Historical Museum,Thracian Thomb  and others cultural objects. Departure to Skobelevo village. Visit of the Ethnographical Complex “Damascene”. Departure to Stara Zagora. Accommodation, dinner and overnight in hotel  3* in Stara Zagora. 

Day 7: Plovdiv- the town of the seven hills  

After breakfast- short tour in Stara Zagora- Museum “Neolithic houses” and The Forum of the ancient Roman city of Augusta Traiana. Departure to Plovdiv.Visit of the Antique Plovdiv, some of the museum houses, the Antique Theatre and the Roman Stadium. Free time. Departure to Brestovica where the accommodation for overnight and dinner will take place at  the boutique wine-cellar “Todoroff” 4 ****. Wine tasting. 

Day 8 – The spirit of Rila Monastery 

After breakfast – departure to the Rila monastery. Guided tour around the monastery. 

In the afternoon – return to Sofia. Accommodation and overnight in 4* hotel Sofia . Optional: Dinner at a typical Bulgarian folk style restaurant. Excellent cuisine, great selection of wines and folklore show.

Day 9 

After breakfast – free time. Transfer to the airport and flight back home.