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Bulgarian history will take you back in the centuries to Pliska, Preslav and Veliko Tarnovo - the seats of the first Bulgarian khans, czars and kings; to the stone carving of the Madara Horseman; to the Thracian Gold Treasures; to the breathtaking murals of the Kazanlak Tomb and the church in Boyana; to the quiet wisdom of the Rila Monastery and to the towns of Koprivshtitsa and Tryavna - legends of wood, stone and colour. |
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| Day 1 | Arrival at Sofia |
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We meet you at the Sofia airport. Transfer to the hotel. You will enjoy a delicious dinner in a traditional restaurant with a folklore program. |
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| Day 2 | Sofia – Plovdiv |
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You will travel to Plovdiv.
A contemporary of Troy, older than Athens and Constantinopol, Plovdiv is a city upon layers of cities and an epoch upon layers of epochs.
Plovdiv is all in one: a Thracian and classical Greek polis, the pride of Philip of Macedon, the capital of Thrace under the Roman Empire, a centre of Byzantinism, a stronghold of the Bulgarians, a dream of the crusaders.
Visit of Ethnographic museum, Hildian’s house /with impressive woodcarvings and painted walls/, the church “St. Constantin and Elena” the oldest in the town, Lamarthin’s house, the Roman theatre and stadium.
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| Day 3 | Plovdiv – Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak – Shipka - Etar - Tryavna |
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Traveling to Kazanlak.
Visit the ancient Thracian tomb, dating back to the IV - III c. B.C. and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Visit of the Russian church in Shipka village.
You will travel to the Ethnographic museum Etar. The old-times water-driven machinery is an essential part of the ethnographical open-air museum . It's the only one of its kind, contains ten equipments and it is one of the richest and well-organized technical collections among the European museums in open-air. You will have the chance to see and experience the magic of Bulgarian craftsmanship on the "craftsmen's street".
Continuing to Tryavna - a centre of the Bulgarian Revival spirit. The old part of the town is an architectural reserve with its 140 monuments of the Revival architecture. Wood-carving and icon-painting brought the unfading glory of Tryavna. The town is famous for its Art School in Woodcarving and Icon drawing. Visit of the Museum of woodcarving and icon-painting in Daskalov's House, St. Archangel Michael Church (1819), the Revival ensemble with the Clock Tower (1814), the old stone fountains and the Arch bridge (1845). |
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| Day 4 | Tryavna – Arbanassi – Veliko Tarnovo |
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Traveling to the national architectural reserve Arbanassi, distinguished for its impressive houses and churches with rich interior decoration, wood-carving, and mural paintings created in XVI - XVII century.
Proceeding to the old capital of Bulgaria - Veliko Turnovo, a residence of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1187-1393). The city in which 22 kings in succession bore the scepter of authority is situated on four hills: Tzarevetz, Trapezitza, Momina Krepost and Sveta Gora.
Visit of the audiovisual performance "Sound and Light" of Tzarevetz. |
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| Day 5 | Veliko Tarnovo – Shoumen - Veliki Preslav - Shoumen |
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Traveling to Shoumen. Visit of the Monument “ 1300 years Bulgaria” and the “Tombul” mosque - the biggest mosque in the western part of the Ottoman Empire in 18 c.
After lunch, proceeding to Veliki Preslav (The Great Preslav ) the second Capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Visit of the museum, where can be seen the Golden Church of King Simeon.
Returning to Shoumen. |
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| Day 6 | Shoumen – Madara Horseman– Pliska – Varna |
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Traveling to Madara Horseman - a rock statue, symbolizing the power of the creators of the First Bulgarian State, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Proceeding to Pliska the first Capital (681-893) of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.
Traveling to Varna. Visit of the Historical museum, where is exposed the Gold Treasure of Varna. Dating back six thousand years ago it is the oldest gold treasure in the world. |
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| Day 7 | Varna – Nesebar - Bourgas |
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Traveling to Nesebar – one of the oldest towns in Bulgaria and included in UNESCO World Heritage List due to its rich history and well preserved remains of churches of various historical periods.
Proceeding to Bourgas. |
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| Day 8 | Bourgas – Koprivshtiza |
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Proceeding to Koprivshtiza. The road pass through the beautiful Valley of Roses, where the world famous rose oil is produced.
Arrival in Koprivshtiza where you will see the beautiful architectural, ethnographical and natural ensemble with the coloured, richly decorated facades of the old Renaissance houses. |
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| Day 9 | Koprivshtiza – Velingrad – Bansko - Melnik |
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Travelling to Velingrad, one of the largest SPA resorts in Bulgaria. It is situated in the wonderful natural surrounding of Rhodopes mountain.
Proceeding to Melnik - the smallest Bulgarian town (population 800). It is surrounded by strangely shaped pyramids of sand and limestone and also famous with the production of wine. |
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| Day 10 | Melnik – Rila Monastery - Sofia |
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Traveling to Rila mountain to visit the Rila Monastery, listed as UNESCO World Monument of Culture and still acting as a monk monastery. It reflects the entire turbulent history of Bulgaria and its people.
Travelling to Sofia. |
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| Day 11 | Sofia |
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City tour of Sofia.
You will see the National Museum of History with its famous gold Thracian treasure, the historical center of the city with its oldest church ”St. Sofia” and the “Alexander Nevski” Cathedral, known as one of the symbols of Bulgaria. You will visit the Archaeological Museum and the famous “Boyana” church, which is included in UNESCO World Heritage List. You will have the opportunity to buy some genuine hand-made Bulgarian souvenirs.
Transfer to the airport. |
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