Bulgaria Tour: Land of History

Arrive in the capital city of Sofia this morning and transfer to the five-star Grand Hotel Sofia, our home for two nights. Take some time to rest before enjoying an afternoon walking tour. The city of Sofia covers layers of civilization, and its churches and monuments reveal more than 2,000 years of history, including Greek, Roman, Ottoman, and Soviet influence. Begin with a stop at Alexander Nevski Cathedral, built as a memorial to honor the Russian Emperor Alexander the 2nd, also known as the Tsar-Liberator, whose army freed Bulgaria from the five-century-long Ottoman dominion in 1878. Venture below St. Sofia Basilica to wander among Roman walls. These excavations of the forum include tombs and four churches from the 4th century. Dinner is on our own tonight. (B/L/ )

Our day begins at Boyana Church, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an excellent example of medieval art and architecture. The complex is made up of three buildings with one of them containing marvelous 13th-century wall paintings. Continue to the National Museum of History with rooms displaying objects from prehistory through today, and then the National Archaeology Museum, where the Valchitran Gold is displayed. This astonishing treasure was found by chance while digging up a vineyard in Valchitran village in 1923. Walk into the 16th century Banya Bashi Mosque, designed by the great Ottoman architect, Mimar Sinan, and the only functioning mosque remaining in Sofia. Next to the mosque are the Baths of Sofia, used as the city’s public baths until 1986. The magnificent Sofia Synagogue, the third most important in Europe after Budapest and Amsterdam, is in the same area. It regularly conducts public worship but also contains a museum about Jewish traditions and historical heritage in the country and the rescue of Jews during World War II. Bulgaria was the only nation in Europe to save its entire Jewish population from the Nazi death camps, and King Boris has the wartime distinction of being the only world leader to defy Hitler face-to-face. Gather this evening for our welcome dinner in a traditional Bulgarian restaurant. (B/L/D)

Depart Sofia for Vratsa, and the Vratsa History Museum partially located within the Tower of Meshchii, a fortified 16th-century residential stronghold. Spread through several halls, the exhibitions include the Rogozen Collection, the richest Thracian treasure yet discovered within Bulgaria. It includes gold-plated silver dinnerware that belonged to a Thracian royal dynasty. Drive on to Veliko Turnovo, the medieval capital of Bulgaria, and enter the 13th-century St. Peter and St. Paul Church. This unique structure boasts three layers of exquisite frescos of Christian saints. Overnight for two nights at the 3-star Hotel Meridian in Tarnovo. (B/L/D)

The Roman, and later Byzantine, Nicopolis ad Istrum was founded by Emperor Trajan. On the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, the arresting architecture and Hellenistic sculpture show a similarity with those of similar towns in Asia Minor. After walking through the old city, continue to the charming village of Arbanassi, now an open-air museum. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the village became an affluent crafts and trade hub. During this period, wealthy traders constructed impressive stone houses resembling small fortresses, along with ornately embellished churches and monasteries, many covered in colorful painted frescoes. Konstantsaliev House, a fortress home surrounded by high stone walls, is an example of this unique style of architecture. Our next destination is Transfiguration, or Preobrazhenski, Monastery with both its exterior and interior painted in vibrant scarlet hues. Dinner is on our own. (B/L/ )

Begin the day at Tsarevets Royal Hill, a medieval stronghold that was besieged by the Ottomans for months before finally succumbing in 1393, marking the fall of the Bulgarian Empire. Next, we drive north to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ivanovo, a complex of Christian sanctuaries cut out of the living rock during the 12th century. The cave interiors are decorated with superb medieval wall paintings. Continue to Ruse, located on the right bank of the Danube with the country of Romania on the opposite side of the river. It is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Bulgaria due to its refined Neo-Baroque and Neo-Rococo architecture. The Ruse Regional Museum contains the 5th-century BC Borovo Treasure, a hoard of gold-plated silver dining items, many displaying images of Greek gods. Spend one night in the Hotel Anna Palace in Ruse. (B/L/D)

Today, if reopened after restoration, we head to Sboryanovo Historic and Archaeological Reserve, which encompasses more than 140 sites. The most famous is the Sveshtari Tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior of this Thracian crypt is filled with wonderful art. Along the wall is a procession of ten caryatids that are half human and half plant, and a mural depicting a ruler on horseback gazing toward a god holding a laurel wreath. Next, it’s on to Demir Baba Teke, thought to be the resting place of Demir Baba, a 16th-century Alevi saint. In the afternoon, a short drive takes us to Veliki Preslav, a fortified town established more than 1,100 years ago and declared the capital of the Bulgarian state in 893. Overnight in the Hotel Villa Bulgara Eco located in the pleasant village of Kyulevtcha. (B/L/D)

Pliska was the first capital of the First Bulgarian Kingdom. Here we explore the ruins of palaces, fortifications, and The Great Basilica, one of the largest Christian places of worship of its time. Next, we see the Madara Rider, a gigantic early medieval rock relief incised into a 300-foot-high cliff face. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the carving represents a knight’s victory over a lion. We continue to Marcianopolis. During excavations in 1976, a large 4th-century palace was exposed that covered one-quarter of the Roman town. The exceptional Museum of Mosaics was constructed over the splendid mosaic floors of this building. Drive on to Pobiti Kamani, or Stone Forest, a rock marvel where tall hollow cylinders are clustered together in groups, many reaching 15 feet or more in height. These 50-million-year-old columns were formed in the Cenozoic Era and were once beneath the Black Sea. Spend two nights in Varna at the Hotel Golden Tulip. (B/L/D)

Travel outside Varna to see the ruins of a medieval fortress on the Kaliakra Cape, strategically positioned on a rocky headland jutting out into the Black Sea. Move on to ancient Dionysopolis, where Dr. Tenekedjiev excavated. It was here that the Decree of Dionysopolis was written by the city’s citizens around 48 BC. Only a fragment of the document remains but may have been sent to Pompeii to discuss an alliance against Julius Caesar. Today it is safely located in the National Historical Museum in Sofia. Next, view the artifacts on display at the Balchik History Museum, many found in excavations of the nearby Kibela (Cybele) Temple. Back in Varna, one of the oldest cities in Europe, view the Roman baths complex, the fourth-largest in Europe and the largest in the Balkans. Dinner is on our own. (B/L/ )

Our morning will be spent in the notable Archaeological Museum of Varna which displays over 100,000 artifacts from northeast Bulgaria’s past eras. Its most celebrated exhibit is the Gold of Varna. Six thousand years ago, during the Chalcolithic era, a mysterious civilization buried an important ruler draped with 18 pounds of jewelry and weapons made of processed gold. It was accidentally uncovered in 1973 by a backhoe operator digging on the Varna necropolis. Move on to the Byzantine Monastery on Djanavara Hill to have a private tour of the excavations, sponsored by the Balkan Heritage Foundation. In the afternoon, drive to the Black Sea coastal town of Nessebar. Dating back over 3,000 years, the attractive old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As we stroll through the Byzantine fortification walls and along the cobbled streets, we will see the remains of earlier societies from Hellenistic to the 19th-century wooden houses typical of Black Sea architecture. We will enter the Archaeological Museum as well as view the outstanding frescos of the Church of St. Stephen. Overnight tonight in the small, family-run Hotel St Nicola in Nessebar. (B/L/D)

Near today’s town of Pomorie, a wealthy aristocratic family created a mausoleum in the 3rd century. Designed of brick and stone, the circular interior in this ‘beehive tomb’ is topped by a stately mushroom-shaped dome. We’ll drive to Kazanlak Valley with an exceedingly high concentration and variety of Thracian monuments. In the regional museum of Kazanluk gain an introduction to the history of the Valley of the Thracian Rulers. Among the hundreds of burial mounds found here, the most famous is the Tomb of Kazanlak, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and part of the large royal necropolis in the valley. Richly decorated with intricate murals depicting the Thracian culture, this is Bulgaria’s best-preserved work of art from the Hellenistic period. The original tomb is closed to the public, but we will enter an exact replica. Then it’s on to other burial chambers in the region. Goliama Kosmatka was the grave of the 3rd-century King Seuthes lll. All the necessities of life after death were found inside: bronze vessels, gilded helmets, swords and spears, and even a ceramic urn filled with wine. The tomb in Shushmanets was built to be a temple in the 4th century BC and then turned into a Thracian burial chamber supported by graceful Doric columns with Ionic capital. The roof of Ostrusha Tomb is ornamented with dozens of square and circle-shaped niches, many with still visible vivid polychrome paintings. In the town of Shipka, a Russian Church was officially opened in 1902 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Battles of Shipka Pass. The 17 bells, the biggest of which weighs almost 12 tons, were cast from fired cartridges gathered on the former battlefield of the Russo-Turkish War of 1877. The architecture mirrors 17th-century Russian church architecture with golden domes, lovely multi-colored wall paintings and an iconostasis lavishly enhanced with gilded woodcarvings. Proceed to Stara Zagora and overnight in the 5-star Park Hotel for two nights. (B/L/D)

Start the day at the village of Karanovo. During excavations in 2009, there was an amazing discovery made, now known as The Karanovo Thracian Chariot Tomb. Along with an abundance of gold and silver objects, a preserved 2,500-year-old Thracian chariot with elaborate bronze decorations was found along with the still visible skeletons of two horses that would have pulled it. A dog was chained to the cart, and nearby was the burial of what was most likely the owner along with his armor and swords. The interred individual was obviously affluent – two silver chalices were found, both inscribed with the image of the god Eros, along with unique glass plates, warrior’s trappings, coins, silver anklets, and gold rings. Return to Stara Zagora and visit the Neolithic Dwellings Museum, the local Archaeology Museum, and the remains of the Roman Forum and Thermae as well as some well-preserved mosaics located inside the city’s post office. (B/L/D)

We depart for Hlyabovo Thracian Dolmen, a megalithic monument of upright stones supporting a horizontal stone slab. Remarkably, human remains were found in one of the chambers. Continue to the Eastern Rhodope Mountains to Madzharovo to view the imposing rock of Kovankaya, exhibiting hundreds of manmade niches. Next, climb Perperikon, the largest megalithic archeological site in the Balkans. Although excavations show there was a settlement here in 5000 BC, the 1500 BC level is of great interest as it is the only known city of the Thracians. Buildings, streets, and a water supply system are visible, as is a huge altar cleaved out of the rock where fire rituals would most likely have been performed. Overnight for one night at the 3-star Hotel Perperikoni in Kardzhali. (B/L/D)

Near Tatul Village is one of the most imposing megalithic monuments ever discovered in Bulgaria. This 4th-century BC Thracian sanctuary contains two sarcophagi, a rectangular bed for the main altar, and a 10-foot-deep well. Move on to the intriguing Harmankaya Rock Sanctuary built around a cave. Two deep basins dominate the site which some researchers believe date to 2000 BC and may have been used for astronomical observations. Whether this is accurate or not, the area was certainly important as we can observe trapezoid niches, altars, and structural foundations cut into the rock. Continue to Plovdiv, designated by the European Union (EU) as the European Capital of Culture for 2019. Dinner is on our own. Overnight for two nights at the Ramada Plovdiv. (B/L/ )

Plovdiv is a city with layers of epochs. We will visit the Old Plovdiv architectural reserve, awarded a medal for architecture by UNESCO, with an amphitheater, a Roman forum, and a stadium, and St. Constantine and Helena Church. Visit the extensive Ethnographic Museum, housed in the grand 19th-century home of the Ottoman merchant Argir Kuyumdzhioglu. Move on to Bachkovo Monastery, the second-largest monastery in Bulgaria. Founded in 1083, the resplendent building is an unusual combination of Byzantine, Georgian, and Bulgarian cultures. Lastly, see Asenova Fortress, situated high on a rocky ridge overlooking the Asenitsa River. Inside the fortifications lies the Church of the Holy Mother of God. The sanctuary’s interior displays fragments of 14th-century superb frescos of saints. Return to Plovdiv with dinner on our own. (B/L/ )

Today we head to Yunatsite Tell for a private tour with a local archaeologist working there. Excavations have shown that the mound dates to the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods. At the nearby Pazardzhik Museum glimpse artifacts found onsite. After our visit, we return to Sofia. The city covers ancient Serdica, founded 4,000 years ago by the Thracians. Walk through the center of the city to see the Roman remains including the amphitheater, accidentally discovered in 2004 during the early construction of a hotel and now incorporated into the building’s ground floor. Visit the early Christian Church of St George, a red brick rotunda originally built in the 4th century as Roman baths. Dinner is on our own. Overnight in the five-star Grand Hotel Sofia for two nights. (B/L/ )

Journey outside Sofia to Rila Monastery, the largest Eastern Orthodox monastery in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This architectural jewel was founded in the 10th century by the students of the hermit St. Ivan of Rila, whose name it bears, and there have been many additions and renovations since that time. The interior is adorned with gorgeous medieval paintings and wooden carvings, and a brilliant gold-plated iconostasis dominates the sanctuary. Return to Sofia for some free time in the city before a farewell dinner at an elegant local restaurant. (B/L/D)

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