Duration: 7 days / 6 nights
Day 1
Arrived at Sofia Airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner.
Day 2
Departure to Plovdiv. 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 Most icons in the temple were painted by Zachary Zograf, Dimitar Hristov Zograf and his son Zafir, better known as Stanislav Dospevski. The iconostasis is a perfect work of Renaissance church carving with predominant plant ornaments. Viewing the house of Dimitar Georgiades, where is housed the „Bulgarian Renaissance“ Exposition at the Plovdiv Regional History Museum, 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. Visiting theAncient 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 2 nd century. Discovered during archaeological excavations from 1968 to 1979 by 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. There are inscriptions and exquisite statues included in the architecture of the building. Adapted to the contemporary cultural life of Plovdiv there are various performances of about 5 000 spectators. Visit to the Regional Archaeological Museum of Plovdiv. Its collections are housed in the center of the city, and the renovated and fully refurbished building was opened in October 2010. His seven halls show findings from the Plovdiv region from prehistory to the Middle Ages. From the period 5th – 4th century BC. Is a rich collection of works of ancient Greek art – silverware, golden female body ornaments and clothes. Among the interesting exhibits of the museum are numerous antique sculptures, votive plates and more. Visit to the Metropolitan Church of St. Marina, built probably in the 5th century. Today it is the main temple of the Plovdiv diocese and its church management – the Plovdiv bishopric. It was rebuilt as a metropolitan temple in 1853. On the remnants of a 16th-century medieval church. Here is one of the most valuable carved wooden iconostasis of 21 meters long. Above the northern entrance there is a multi-storey wooden bell tower, built in 1870, with a unique architecture for Bulgarian traditions. The walking tour ends with a visit to the Trakart Cultural Center, where ancient floor mosaics from 3 – 4 century BC are exhibited. There are three permanent expositions – „The Glass in the Ancient Art“, the Prototrachian portrait from 5 – 3 thousand BC. And Miniature Roman portrait from 1st century BC – 1st century BC The Trakart Cultural Center has a chamber hall and is a good example of reconciling its museum character with various cultural events – exhibitions, chamber concerts, theater productions, seminars, conferences. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 3
Breakfast. Departure to Smolyan. Visiting the temple „St. Vissarion Smolenski“– one of the symbols of the city. Built in 2006, it is the second largest and most majestic monument after the monument „St. Alexander Nevski „in Sofia. It bears the name of a local bishop and martyr of the 17th century. The church has 11 unique bells, with images of saints depicted thereon. The largest of them has a mass of 2 tons. The construction of the church began in 2002 and was funded with private donations. Excursion to the old-architectural complex in the Cheshitska neighborhood, the oldest neighborhood in the Smolyan district of Raikovo. It houses the most representative houses built after 1835. The ground floor of the typical house is an inner courtyard built with stone walls and serves to harvest the livestock and the wood. A ladder for the floors begins from the courtyard. Almost always closed with lid. The upper floor is always bordered above the first because of small and steep plots. Viewing houses with the typical architecture of the area – Pangalova House, Alibey Konak, Cheshite House and others, as well as Sheremety’s House, Takova, Hadzichinova, Kelyavska, Hadjiivanov and others. Visit to the monastery complex „St. Panteleimon“, located on the road between Pamporovo and Smolyan. It was founded by a Bulgarian Muslim who, after a mystical experience, accepted Christianity in 1988 and renamed Christina. The Church of St. Panteleimon was built with donations for three years and in 1998 was consecrated by Metropolitan Arsenius. The great popularity of the monastery is due to sister Christina, who according to the pilgrims is endowed with healing skills and prophetic gifts. Sick people from different parts of Bulgaria go there with the hope of getting treatment and guidance. Ascension by lift to Snejanka peak. The Rhodope peak rises at an altitude of 1926 m. The majority of the ski slopes of the resort start from the summit and their altitude varies from 1926 to 1400 m. A tower of Snezhanka stands out, revealing a splendid panorama to The whole neighborhood. The beautiful nature in the area attracts tourists all year round. Accomodation. Overnight.
Day 4
Breakfast. Departure to Shiroka Laka. Visit to the Ethnographic Museum, set up in the building of Zgurovsky Konak. The house was built in 1853 and is called „Konak“ because it was owned by an administrative officer. It has a preserved Renaissance architecture typical for this region – two-storey, with bay windows, a high stone chimney, thick walls, forged doors, small windows, internal wooden stairs. The museum exposition shows the customs and customs of the people from this region and the arrangement of the old Rhodope house. Visiting the church of the Virgin Mary. It is part of a complex with other adjoining buildings and facilities connected with church cult and enlightenment, united by a high stone fence. The northern part of the wall rests on the waters of the Broadway River Ljudja. In 1835, a low one-storey building was built for the old church school. In the same building the Chitalishte was housed for some time until it acquired its own home, built in 1934. The church was registered as an immovable cultural value of local significance and artistic value in 1973.
Departure for the Trigrad Gorge. Visit to Devil’s Throat Cave. This is one of the few caves that does not shine with exquisite formations. What attracts and enchants people is the ability to touch a real element, a piece of the mysterious and terrifying underground world. The cave is craggy and unbroken. The waters of the Trigrad river flow into the „throat“ from a height of 42 meters, forming the highest underground waterfall on the Balkan Peninsula. Because of the deafening thunder that is being created, the waterfall hall is called the Punching Hall. It is huge – the second largest cave in Bulgaria. Visit of the Bear Museum. The interactive exhibition allows visitors to learn more about the behavior of large predators, their habitats, lifecycle, hazards related to their population, and tips on how to deal with them. The museum has visualized and recreated interesting facts related to the life of the brown bear. Accommodation in Devin. Overnight.
Day 5
Breakfast. Walktour in the center of Devin. A visit to the Museum Collection, with numerous archaeological finds and historical monuments discovered during excavations and excavations carried out within the city and area. The samples found, incl. A statue of god Hermes, dancing vakhchanka, military Thracian armor, labor tools, pottery, chrome and jewelry are located in four halls: Archeology (Antique period), History of the Middle Ages, Ethnography, Life and Culture and Photos and Documents. The museum collection preserves over 2000 exhibits of local and national significance. Free time for SPA treatments. Overnight.
Day 6
Breakfast. Departure to Sofia. A 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 tour passes along the Cathedral “St. Nedelya” – one of the spiritual beauties of the capital and a bearer of a centuries-old tradition.
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.
Visiting the National Ethnographic Museum. The museum is housed in the former Princely Palace, one of the oldest and most interesting buildings in Sofia. It contains elements of Renaissance, Viennese Baroque and resembles French palaces from the 18th century. In 1954, it houses the National Art Gallery and the National Ethnographic Museum, and since 1978. The building is declared a cultural monument of national importance.
Next is a visit of the Church „St. Nikolay“, built in 1907 – 1914, designed by the Russian architect M. Preobrazhenski. In the crypt of the temple is the tomb of St. Seraphim Sobolev, who was officially canonized on 25 and 26 February 2016 by the Russian and the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.
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. Accommodation. Overnight.
Day 7
Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia airport. Departure.
