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1 day
Arrival in Sofia. Welcome and transfer to hotel, accommodation and short rest. City tour of Sofia (the church of St.Nedelya, the Rotunda of St.George, Russian church, Church of St.Sofia, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral ). Overnight.
2 day
Breakfast. Tour to the famous Rila Monastery ( founded in the 10 th century by the monk hermit John of Rila. Interior visit of monastery museum, the principal Church of the Nativity of the Virgin with richly decorated walls, the big monastery kitchen, the Hrelyu tower and etc.) Afternoon departure to the town of Melnik and visit the Rozhen Monastery (build by the Melnik ruler , despot Slav during the 12th and 13th c.). Overnight in Sandanski spa resort.
3 day
After breakfast departure to Plovdiv -second largest town in Bulgaria. Accommodation at hotel. In the afternoon – city tour of Plovdiv The old Plovdiv preserve and houses, the ancient Theater, the “St.St.Constantine and Elena “church – (build in 337 in honor of Emperor Constantine and his mother Elena ) . Overnight.
4 day
Breakfast.Day-tour to the “Holy places” in the region visit the “St. St. Kozma and Damian” monastery near village of Kuklen (monastery is famous mainly for the literary school here, its cultural influence and the waters of the holy spring, curative for mental disorders). Visit the Bachkovo monastery ( founded in 1083 by the two Georgian brothers Grigorii and Abasii Bakuriani and richly endowed with lands the monastery became a large feudal institution). The “St.Nedelya “Monastery near the village of Zlatovrach (interesting mural paintings and scenes with the Slavonic teachers St.St.Cyril and Methodius). Return to Plovdiv. Overnight.
5 day
Breakfast. Departure to Tryavna. On the way visit the Sopot monastery “St.Spas” ( educational and spiritual center during Bulgarian revival ), the Shipka monastery, Sokolski monastery ( the monastery chapel treasures icons pained by great painter Zahari Zograph ,there is fantastic eight – spout fountain in the middle of the monastery courtyard ), Etura Ethnographic Museum – unique open air museum of Bulgarian crafts. Accommodation in hotel. Overnight.
6 day
Breakfast. Departure to Veliko Turnovo. On the way visit the Dryanovo monastery ( St.Archangel Michael church from 1845, relics of the April uprising /1876/ and valuable icons are preserved in the monastery museum ) Bacho Kiro cave (6 km. long cave, traces of human life dating from Paleolitic times have been discovered in here). Accommodation at hotel. Sightseeing Veliko Turnovo ( Tzarevets Royal Hill, the Samovodska market street ). Overnight.
7 day
Breakfast. Tour to Holy places in the region village of Arbanassi – Monastery of “St. Nikola”, Monastery of “ Holly Virgin “, the Nativity church ( the earliest Arbanassi church, the compositions of “The day of Judgement” and “Nativity” were completed in 1597 ). Preobrazenski Monastery (the church’s remarkable mural paintings are of the Holy Transfiguration – “The Wheel of Life “ and “ The Judgement Day” as well as the wood-carved iconostasis and its icons ). Overnight.
8 day
Breakfast. Departure to Troyan Monastery. On the way visit the Batoshevski monastery (interesting wooden engravings and icons painted by the great Renaissance painter Stanislav Dospevski ). Visit of the Troyan monastery “Virgin Mary” (found in 15th c. as a hermit dwelling, the monastery exists in its present outlines since 19th. During the Revival it has been a spiritual, cultural and crafts center. The murals were made by the prominent Revival’s artist Zahari Zograf, the iconostasis is a real masterpiece of woodcarving. Recently restored, it is a precious Renaissance architectural monument). Overnight in town of Lovech.
9 day
Breakfast. Departure to Sofia. Accommodation in hotel. Tour to monasteries close to Sofia as Dragalevski monastery ( dates back to the mid 14th century in the traditions of the Bulgarian Mediaeval architecture, with the first paintings of secular persons in the religious scenes ) Kremikovski Monastery (founded in 15th century, interesting murals in the monastery church”St.George”). Overnight.
10 day
Breakfast. Transfer to the airport. End of the tour.