Duration: 7 Days/ 6 Nights
Day 1
Airport pick-up service at Sofia Airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner.
Day 2
Breakfast. A visit to the National Archaeological Museum. Special attention is given to the Trezore Hall, where three world-famous treasures are exhibited: the golden vessels and disks from Valchitran (Pleven), the silver ammunition of Lukovit (Lovech), the golden jewelry and the silver vessels and coins from Nikolaevo (Pleven). They belong to three different periods from the history of Thrace: late-brass / early-iron, early-Hellenistic and Roman epochs. In this part of the exhibition are exposed for the first time the latest finds from the region of Kazanlak: all the inventory of Svetitsa mound, the unique golden burial mask, and the head of a bronze statue from the Golyama Kosmatka mound in Shipka.
The walk tour continues with visit to the Presidency courtyard and the Rotunda St. George, which is one of the oldest architectural monuments in Sofia and the only one building in the city preserved up to the roof dated back to the Roman Empire..
The newly discovered Ancient complex “Serdika” is going to be visited afterwards. The greatest attraction is the main street of ancient town Serdika – named Dekumanus Maksimus, which authentic pavement is almost entirely preserved. Three underground levels form an outdoor underground museum that shows three separate neighborhoods. Under the glass dome, an art space is created for concerts and productions.
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, considered as the symbol of the Bulgarian capital is going to be visited next. The Cathedral was built in honor of the Russian Emperor Alexander II, whose army in 1878 liberates Bulgaria from the five centuries of Ottoman domination. Its construction began in 1904 and ended eight years later. The temple’s interior is unique and impresses with magnificent marble decoration and frescoes.
A visit to the National Museum of History. Emphasis is given to Hall 2, where the peak achievements of the Thracian culture during the 6th century BC are presented. – 4th century BC. The centerpiece of the shop is the showcase of the famous Panagyurishte gold treasure, a magnificent work of goldsmiths from the early Hellenistic epoch. Special attention is paid to Hall 3, dedicated to the history and culture of Bulgarian lands during the Middle Ages.
The next object to be visited is Boyana Church „St. Nicola and Panteleymon“, which is located at the foothills of Vitosha Mountain in Boyana district. It is one of the few medieval monuments of Christian art that have come to our day. The church is part of the 100 National Tourist Sites and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Overnight.
Day 3
Breakfast. Departure to Koprivshtitsa. A tour across the city’s main attractions. A visit of the house of Nayden Gerov, author of the first Bulgarian poem and many patriotic verses. The first church school was opened in this house. Next is a visit of Oslekova House, one of the most precious monuments of Bulgarian Revival architecture. It was built in 1856 by the rich merchant Nencho Oslekov, a participant in the April Uprising. The construction is done by masters from the Samokov school. The house is famous for its exquisite frescoes and carvings. The furnishings reflect the lifestyle of a wealthy families of Koprivshtitsa. Ethnographic exposition is also featured in the house. The walking tour continues with the view of the Karavelov house, the Lyutov house, the Parva Pushka Bridge (First Rifle), the house of Todor Kableshkov and others
Departure to Karlovo. Visiting the Buhalov han, one of the emblematic revival houses in the beautiful complex „Ancient Karlovo“, which was recently restored and opened under the name „Center for Crafts and Cultural Traditions“. Demonstration of crafts – weaving, embroidery and carving. Coffee tasting on sand. Departure to Kazanlak. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 4
Breakfast. Departure to Architectural and Ethnographic Complex „Etar”. Visiting the complex and exploring the first of its kind museum in Bulgaria. Opened in 1964, there are 50 objects in the museum – technical facilities of water, houses with craft workshops, objects of public importance. The museum exhibition reveals the architecture, household and economic past of Gabrovo and the Gabrovo region during the Revival period – the second half of the 18th and 19th centuries. It is a time when the city has more than 26 crafts, whose products are located in Bucharest, Vienna, Marseille, Anatolia.
Departure to Veliko Tarnovo. Walk on the Samovodska charshia. Attention is paid to the craft workshops and the famous architectural landmarks and monuments. Visit to the Tsarevets Architectural and Museum Reserve. In the 9th century a Old Bulgarian settlement emerged, which is rapidly growing. The construction of the fortress wall, which has been preserved until today, begins in the 12th century. The wall has a length of 1100 m, thick in places up to 3.40 m and high above 10 m. The fortress has three entrances that can be seen today. Visiting the Tsarevgrad Turnov Multimedia Visitor Center, popular as the „Museum of Wax Figures“, located near the Tsarevets hill. In it, in the form of sculptures and frescoes are presented historical personalities and memorial events from the period of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. The life of the different social strata in the medieval Bulgarian society – rulers, clergy, boys and warriors, craftsmen – is visualized. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 5
Breakfast. Departure to Zheravna. Visiting the house of Yordan Yovkov, where he lived until his 13th anniversary when the whole family moved to Dobrudja. In 1957 the house was turned into a museum reflecting the setting in which the writer grew up. It was declared an architectural and construction monument. Examination of the house of Rusi Chorbadji, which presents an interesting exposition, presenting various crafts from the time of the Renaissance, practiced in Zheravna. The enormous handmade fabric, as well as the fine linen fabrics, which the cheering fabrics have woven with craftsmanship, make an impression. The house was declared an architectural and construction monument. The tour ends with a view of Sava Filaretov’s house. Today, there is the exhibition „History of Zheravna“. The architecture of the house is a typical example of a wooden oak house of the „Zheravna Kamchia“ type. The interior decoration of the house is most representative – exquisite Renaissance carving with lime, laid in different plots in the colonnade, the doors and the ceiling of the house. Departure to Plovdiv. Accommodation. Overnight..
Day 6
Breakfast. Visiting the church „St. Nedelya „, known as a monument of construction and art from the time of the Bulgarian Revival. Built at the beginning of the 18th century, at the time of the greatest constraints of the Ottoman authorities towards the religion of Christians. The iconostasis is a perfect work of Renaissance church carving with predominant plant ornaments. Viewing the house of Dimitar Georgiades, where is housed the exhibition „Bulgarian Revival“ at the Regional Museum of History in Plovdiv, built in 1848. in the popular 19th century architectural style of the Plovdiv symmetrical house, the building is a monument of culture of national importance. Examination of the building of the Regional Ethnographic Museum, which is housed in the Kuyumdzhiev house, built in 1847. By master Hadji Georgi. She is a typical representative of the Plovdiv symmetrical Revival house. The specialists define it as the peak of Baroque architecture in Bulgaria. Its owner is Argir Kuyumdjioglu – wealthy Plovdiv trader. The eastern façade of the house has „set foot“ on the old fortress wall and is an integral part of the ensemble of Hisar Kapiya.
The walking tour continues with the Ancient Theater – the symbol of ancient Philippopolis. Apart from being a cultural center, it has played an important role in the social and political life of the city and the Roman province of Thrace. Built during the reign of Emperor Trajan in the beginning of the 2nd century and revealed during archaeological excavations from 1968 to 1979. From the Archaeological Museum of Plovdiv, it is one of the best preserved ancient theaters in the world and the only antique theater building on the Bulgarian lands. Inscriptions and exquisite statues have been discovered, now included in the architecture of the building. Adapted to the contemporary cultural life of Plovdiv, there are various performances of about 5 000 spectators. Departure to Sofia. Accommodation. Oernight.
Day 7
Send off the group. Transfer to Sofia airport. Flight.
