UNESCO heritage tour of Bulgaria

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

6

20

4

18

1

15

29

13

27

10

24

7

21

5

19

Day-1

Arrival at Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel.

Nesebar, Old Town

Overnight in Sofia.

Day-2

Driving duration: 4,5 hours, 350 km

Ivanovo Rock Monastery

We start our tour after breakfast with transfer to and tour of Veliko Tarnovo. We continue in the afternoon with visiting of Ivanovo Monastery which is part of UNESCO treasures. The night we spent on the Danube riverbank.

Overnight in Ruse.

Veliko Tarnovo is one of the oldest towns in the country, as its history dates back to more than five thousand years ago, which is proven by archaeological excavations.

The upsurge of Veliko Tarnovo is related to the period of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185 – 1393). In 1185 the town was declared a capital of the restored Bulgarian State by the brothers Asen and Petar, who declared the end of the Byzantine dominion, which continued for 167 years.

After its selection to be a capital, the town developed fast, as within the period 12th – 14th century it was the most unconquerable Bulgarian fortress, as well as a cultural and intellectual center of Bulgaria.

The Ivanovo Rock Monastery monastery was founded in the 1220s by the monk Yoakim, who later became a Bulgarian patriarch. The monastery joins a number of complexes of rock premises. Wall-paintings which show the specifics of Bulgarian church art in the 13th – 14th century are preserved in six of the temples. During the Second Bulgarian Empire (12th – 14th century) the monastery was established as a great spiritual and educational center. Wall inscriptions in the cells provide information about important historical events.

Day-3

Driving duration: 5 hours, 350 km

Sveshtari Thraci Tomb

Today we will visit 2 UNESCO heritage sites – the Thracian tomb in Sveshtari and Madara Rider and in the late afternoon will make a panoramic tour of Varna center.

Overnight in Nesebar area.

Discovered in 1982 near the village of Sveshtari, this 3rd-century BC Thracianan tomb reflects the fundamental structural principles of Thracianan cult buildings. The tomb has a unique architectural decor, with polychrome half-human, half-plant caryatids and painted murals. The 10 female figures carved in high relief on the walls of the central chamber and the decoration of the lunette in its vault are the only examples of this type found so far in the Thracianan lands. It is a remarkable reminder of the culture of the Getes, a Thracianan people who were in contact with the Hellenistic and Hyperborean worlds, according to ancient geographers.

The Madara Rider, representing the figure of a knight triumphing over a lion, is carved into a 100-m-high cliff near the village of Madara in north-east Bulgaria. Madara was the principal sacred place of the First Bulgarian Empire before Bulgaria’s conversion to Christianity in the 9th century. The inscriptions beside the sculpture tell of events that occurred between AD 705 and 801.

Day-4

Driving duration: 4 hours, 350 km

Kazanlak Tomb

In the morning we will make a tour of Nesebar (UNESCO heritage) – including the Old town with the incredible excavations from the Roman times. In the afternoon we will visit Thracian tomb in Kazanlak (UNESCO heritage site) and will visit the valley of the Thracian Kings where in the last few years have been founded the tombs of the most famous Thracian Kings.

Overnight in Plovdiv.

Situated on a rocky peninsula on the Black Sea, the more than 3,000-year-old site of Nessebar was originally a Thracian settlement (Menebria). At the beginning of the 6th century BC, the city became a Greek colony. The city’s remains, which date mostly from the Hellenistic period, include the acropolis, a temple of Apollo, an agora and a wall from the Thracian fortifications. Among other monuments, the Stara Mitropolia Basilica and the fortress date from the Middle Ages, when this was one of the most important Byzantine towns on the west coast of the Black Sea. Wooden houses built in the 19th century are typical of the Black Sea architecture of the period.

Kazanlak Tomb and the Valley of Thracian Kings – Discovered in 1944, this tomb dates from the Hellenistic period, around the end of the 4th century BC. It is located near Seutopolis, the capital city of the Thracian king Seutes III, and is part of a large Thracian necropolis. The tholos has a narrow corridor and a round burial chamber, both decorated with murals representing Thracian burial rituals and culture. These paintings are Bulgaria’s best-preserved artistic masterpieces from the Hellenistic period.

Day-5

Driving duration: 2 hours, 150 km

Roman Amphitheatre, Plovdiv

The whole day is dedicated to the most beautiful Bulgarian town Plovdiv.

Plovidv is considered as one of the oldest cities in Europe. Here you will see remains for the Thraci fortress (5^th century BC) and well preserved remains from Roman times to our days.

The Old Town is a marvelous site, with picturesque churches, the mosque and many houses with architecture, specific atmosphere and the spirit of Bulgarian Revival period.

Your guide will show you the fabulous remains from Ancient Roman Empire – Roman Stadium, Roman Forum, Amphitheater.

Day-6

Boyana church, Sofia

We have full day dedicated to the Bulgarian capital – 2 walking Urban Adventures (sofiaurbanadventures.com) tours in the program – in the morning and in the afternoon. We will see all major sights of Sofia and during the tours we have 4 stops for tasting typical Bulgarian food (banitsa, baklava, shopska salad, meze) and beverages (ayran, boza, wine).

Overnight in Sofia.

Day-7

Driving duration: 4 hours, 240 km

Rila Monastery

Today we will visit 2 UNESCO heritage sites – Boyana church and Rila Monastery.

Overnight in Sofia.

Day-8

Transfer to the airport. Departure.