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ITINERARY: SOFIA — BLAGOEVGRAD — SANDANSKI — MELNIK — BANSKO — DOBRINISHTE — SOFIA
1 DAY
Arrival in Sofia. Transfer to the hotel and accommodation. Guided sightseeing tour of the city centre, including visit to Alexander Nevski Cathedral — one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in Europe, as well as one of Sofia’s symbols and a primary tourist attraction; St. George Rotunda, St. Sophia Church, built by the Roman Emperor Justinian in the 6th century, National Theatre, former Royal Palace, housing the National Revival Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Museum, Presidency, etc. Free time in the city centre and the main shopping area around Vitosha Boulevard. Overnight in Sofia.
2 DAY
Breakfast. Visit to Boyana Church (in the List of UNESCO), located at the foot of Vitosha Mountain in the suburb of Boyana. Visit to the National History Museum. The most interesting from the collections are the Thracian and old Bulgarian gold and silver treasures, rich collection of icons, church plates and cloths, numismatics, manuscript and early printed looks, ethnographic exhibits. Upon request, evening panoramic tour “Sofia by night” and dinner at a traditional restaurant with folklore music and dances. Overnight in Sofia.
3 DAY
Breakfast. Drive to Blagoevgrad. On the way visit to the world famous Rila Monastery under the protection of UNESCO. Guided sightseeing of the monastery — the largest and the most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, built in 10th century. Visit to the monastery church Nativity of the Virgin. One of its greatest treasures is the wooden iconostasis, some 14th and 15th century icons, wall paintings, made by the famous artist Zahari Zograph. Walk around the monastery — Hrelyo`s Tower, the old kitchen, history museum. Sightseeing of the old Varosha Quarter and the History Museum in Blagoevgrad. Overnight in Blagoevgrad.
4 DAY
After breakfast, drive to the spa town of Sandanski. City sightseeing tour, including the museum of archeology, St. George Church from the National Revival Period. Free time. Overnight in Sandanski.
5 DAY
Breakfast. Drive to Melnik. Walking tour in the smallest town in Bulgaria, including Kordopulova Museum-House, the church and other sights from the period of the National Revival. Upon request — wine tasting in Melnik. Drive to Rozhen Monastery — one of the biggest monasteries in the Pirin Mountain, well preserved until today. The monastery reached its peak in the 19th century, when it became a regional centre of Orthodox Christianity and owned a lot of land in the area. Drive back to Sandanski. Overnight in Sandanski.
6 DAY
Breakfast. Drive to Bansko. Sightseeing tour of Bansko. The most famous winter resort in Bulgaria, recently
discovered by foreign tourists, provides an interesting combination between the virgin nature of Pirin Mountain
and the atmosphere of that ancient Bulgarian small town. Bansko is a town of secrets — the houses are barely
seen from the street, hidden behind the stone walls that exceed human height, with huge iron studded gates of fir
wood. Bansko House is a peculiar type of house whose structure resembles the medieval boyar’s mansions.
Visit to Holy Trinity Church — the largest, most interesting and rich in Pirin area. Overnight in Bansko.
7 DAYBreakfast. Drive to the village of Dobrinishte. Walking tour in Pirin around the Vihren Mountain Hut. Pirin
National Park is the largest one in Bulgaria with an area of 40 thousand hectares of which almost 3000 are a
Reserve. The black fir, which grows in the Balkans and nowhere else, is the most interesting tree species. The
long life span of these trees is impressive. The famous Baikoushev Fir is more than 1300 years old, as old as the
Bulgarian State and a witness of its history. Drive back to Bansko. Overnight in Bansko.
8 DAY
Breakfast. Transfer to Sofia and departure.
