4 days / 3 nights
3 breakfasts / 1 lunch, 2 nights + 1 folklore evening
DAY 1: SOFIA
Route: Sofia Airport - Hotel
Arrival at Sofia Airport and welcome by a licensed English language guide. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in a 4-star hotel in the centre of Sofia. Free time for a break or a walk. Dinner and overnight.
DAY 2: SOFIA
Route: Walking tour in the centre of the city – National History Museum - Sofia
Breakfast (8am - 9am)
At 9:15 am is the meeting point in the hotel lobby and the walking tour of the central city part of Sofia begins (2.5-3 hours). Sofia is a modern capital with 7,000 years of history and a stable ancient rule. During the Roman Empire, Sofia was ruled by Emperor Constantine the Great, who was so captivated by the riches of the Bulgarian capital that the cult phrase "Serdica is my Rome" emerges from his mouth. Today Sofia is an important economic and administrative centre of the country and one of the most ancient cities in Europe.
Till noon - a visit to the most emblematic landmarks of the capital: Temple-monument "St. Alexander Nevsky ”(1912), National Assembly (Parliament, 1928), Monument to Tsar Liberator (Alexander II), BAS (1869), National Art Gallery for Contemporary and Foreign Art (“ Square 500 ”), The old Basilica of St. Sofia "(VI c.), Russian Church" St. Nicholas "(1912) with the Crypt, the Royal Palace of Alexander Battenberg (now National Ethnographic Museum and part of the National Art Gallery), Ivan Vazov National Theater, National Archaeological Museum (15th c.), where the Thracian gold is stored. Valchitran Treasure (2nd millennium BC), Presidency, Rotonda "St. Georgi "(IV c.), Ancient Roman complex" Serdica ", separately Ancient mosaics from the Roman era, the coat of arms of Sofia, Church" St. Nedelya, the Court of Auditors, St. Andrew's Orthodox Church Petka Samardzhiyska (XIV c.), Central City Bath (now Sofia Museum of History), Mosque "Banya Bashi" (XVI c.), Central Closed Market "Halite", Synagogue (1909), Catholic Cathedral " St. Joseph. "
Lunchtime
Free time for a walk and shopping
At 3:00 p.m. (1 h 30 min) Visit the National History Museum with a transfer, where you can see the original Thracian gold treasure from Panagyurishte (IV century BC). Return to the hotel. Free time.
Folklore evening with traditional Bulgarian dishes in a domestic atmosphere with Bulgarian folk music and Bulgarian folk dances in the vicinity of Sofia (8 pm, 3 hours). Transfer to the hotel. Overnight.
DAY 3: SOFIA - RILA MONASTERY - SOFIA
Route: Sofia - Boyana Church - Rila Monastery - Medi Valley Winery - Sofia
Breakfast (7:30 am - 8:30 am)
At 8:45 am is the meeting point in the hotel lobby. Transfer to the Boyana Church "St. Panteleimon. "
At 09:15 (10 min) Visit the Boyana Church (XI century). It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Boyana Church is located in Vitosha Mountain. The origin of the murals dates from 1279 and they are traced back to scenes from the society of the time and depict 240 human figures. The most prominent are the portraits of Tsar Konstantin Tych and his wife Irina and Tsar Kaloyan. In addition to the murals of the 13th century, the church was later decorated with other murals of the 14th, 16th and 17th centuries.
At 09:40 departure to Rila Monastery "St. Ivan Rilski ”(10th century). It is included in the list of sites designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The monastery is located in Rila Mountain. History tells that a Bulgarian ascetic from the 10th century named Ivan Rilski retired as a hermit in the Rila Mountains to live in a narrow cave. The complex has three hundred monastic cells covering an area of 32,000 square meters. The Rila Monastery is the largest on the Balkan Peninsula. The monastery includes the Church of the Nativity, the History Museum with the most important exhibit of the Raphael Cross, which recreates 36 religious scenes with more than 600 miniature figures, the Krell Tower (15th c.) - operates only in the summer and the Museum of the Monastery Farm. Optional visit to one of them. Free time for a walk in the courtyard and the surroundings of the monastery and eating mekitsa (traditional Bulgarian fried dough breakfast).
Departure to Sofia at 1:30 pm. At 1:45 pm lunch in the surroundings of the monastery in a picturesque area near the shore of the Rila River in a restaurant with a wonderful view of the river and the Rila Mountain, which offers traditional Bulgarian cuisine and fresh trout (1h15min).
On the road near the village of Smochevo, a visit to the Wine Valley Wine Tasting (at 15:45) follows. Walkthrough the winery and observe the technical process of winemaking. It consists of a modern winery and 370 acres of vineyards planted with Chardonnay, Traminer, Sauvignon Blanc, two Merlot branches and two Cabernet Sauvignon branches. The production part consists of a reception unit for the processing of grapes, a reception unit for the primary production and storage of wine, and a bottling workshop. In the cellar, there is a cellar for wine ageing in a barrel and a compartment for the ageing of bottled wines under optimal conditions before their realization. After the walk, a half-hour wine tasting is made for groups of 40 people.
At 16:40 departure to Sofia. Arrival in the capital and transfer to the hotel.
Free time for rest.
Dinner at 8:00 pm. Overnight in Sofia.
DAY 4: SOFIA
Route: Hotel - Sofia Airport
Breakfast (08:00 - 09:00). Free time. Checking out of the hotel. Transfer to Sofia Airport.
THE PRICE INCLUDES:
- Welcome and dispatch from and to Sofia Airport by a licensed English language guide
- Transfer from and to Sofia Airport
- Transfers by route in an air-conditioned vehicle
- Comfortable tourist transportation throughout the trip
- Licensed driver throughout the program
- Fuel taxes
- A guide with the English language throughout the trip
- Accommodation in a 4-star hotel in the centre of Sofia
- Tourist city tax
- Meals: 3 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 nights + 1 folklore evening in Sofia
- Walking tour of the city centre of Sofia with a guide in English
-Visit the sights of Sofia:
-Orthodox Cathedral of St Alexander Nevsky
-The old Basilica of St Sofia
-The Russian Church St Nicholas
-Rotunda St George
-Ancient Roman Complex Serdica
-The church St Nedelya
-The Orthodox Church St. Petka Samardzhiyska
-Halite - Central Indoor Market
-Catholic Cathedral St. Joseph
-Rila Monastery
-Church of the Nativity in the Rila Monastery
THE PRICE EXCLUDES:
- Flight tickets
- Airport taxes
- Medical and travel insurance
- Supplement for a single room
- Hotel services and use of minibar with soft and alcoholic beverages
- Parking
- 1 Lunch in Sofia (second day)
- Gratuities
- Personal expenses
- Entrance fees for sightseeing in Sofia:
- Shooting at Orthodox Cathedral St. Alexander Nevski
- The crypt of "St. Alexander Nevski " (Museum of Christian Art)
- National Contemporary and Foreign Art Gallery ("Square 500")
- The Catacombs under the Basilica of St. Sofia
- National Ethnographic Museum
- National Archaeological Museum
- Ancient mosaics from the Roman era
- Museum of the History of Sofia
- The Synagogue
- National History Museum
- Boyana church
- The Museum of History in the Rila Monastery
- The tower of hills in the Rila Monastery
- Museum of the monastery farm in the Rila Monastery
- Wine Valley Wine Tasting
City Tour Sofia - since 2002, Stara planina 6, Sofia, Bulgaria
