VISIT THE JEWELS AMONG BULGARIAN MONASTERIES!

Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Visit to the medieval Boyana Church, included in UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Drive to the town of Zemen. Visit to Zemen Monastery, established in the 11th century. The monastery church is an outstanding monument of the Bulgarian architecture, single temple of such form in the country. The wall paintings are among the few well-preserved ensembles from the Second Bulgarian kingdom (14th century). Drive back to Sofia. Optional dinner at traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Drive to Rila Monastery. It is the largest and the most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, built in the 10th century. Visit to the monastery church Nativity of the Virgin. One of its greatest treasures is the wooden iconostasis, along with some 14th and 15th century icons and wall paintings, made by the famous artist Zahari Zograf. Walk around the monastery - Hrelyo’s Tower, the old kitchen, and the history museum. Free time. Drive to the town of Plovdiv. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Plovdiv.

Breakfast. Drive to Bachkovo Monastery. Tour of the monastery, which dates back to 11th century and is one of the most important and well preserved Bulgarian monasteries. Visit to the monastery church Virgin Mary (dating from 1604), which treasures the wonder-working icon of Virgin Mary Eleusa from 1310. Drive back to Plovdiv.

Walking tour in the old town, including the Roman Ancient Theatre, which was built in the 1st century AD and is nowadays considered to be the largest intact Roman construction in Bulgaria, Roman Stadium, St. Constantine and Helena Church, etc. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum.Optional dinner at the hotel.

 Overnight in Plovdiv.

Breakfast. Drive to the town of Shipka. Visit to Shipka Memorial Church, designed in a 17th century Moscow style. Drive to Sokolski Monastery (built in 1833) near Gabrovo and tour of the monastery. Its chapel treasures icons painted by the famous Bulgarian artist Zahari Zograf. Drive to Dryanovo Monastery of St. Archangel Michael, located amidst beautiful mountain landscape. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Breakfast. Visit to Kilifarevo Monastery situated to the south of the town of Kilifarevo. Nikola Fichev reconstructed the monastery church in 1840, while the icon screen is a masterpiece of woodcarving of the representatives of the Tryavna Artistic School. Return to Veliko Tarnovo, sightseeing tour and free time in the old town. In the evening optional service upon request – audio-visual show “Tsarevets in sounds and lights”. Optional dinner at the hotel. Overnight in Veliko Tarnovo.

Breakfast. Drive to Troyan Monastery in the village of Oreshak. The monastery is remarkable for the miraculous icon Three-handed Virgin, kept in its church. Drive to Glozhene Monastery and sightseeing of the complex perched on top of a cliff with magnificent panoramic view. Drive to Sofia. Accommodation. Optional dinner at the hotel. Оvernight in Sofia.

Breakfast. Free time for shopping in the city centre. Transfer to the airport and departure.