Legends of Emperors and Crusaders , Wines, Traditional Cuisine. Museum Towns and Villages

Morning tour of Sofia - the capital city of Bulgaria is one of the most ancient cities in Europe, which Constantine the Great once called ‘My Rome’. Founded 7 000 years ago, it has been given several names in the course of the history and the remnants of the old cities can still be seen today, combined with modern landmarks. Afternoon to Veliko Turnovo - the Medieval capital city of Bulgaria, picturesquely located on 4 hills above Yantra river. Check in at the hotel. Visit Tsarevets - an architecture and museum reserve the ‘Citadel’ and ‘Royal hill’ of Veliko Turnovo, once with solid stone walls, gates and turrets. Baldwin’s Tower in the south-eastern part commemorates the victory of the Bulgarian tsar Kaloyan over the knights of the 4th Crusade in 1205. Baldwin – the leader of the knights was captured and imprisoned there. 

Morning walking tour in the Old part of Veliko Turnovo with its steep cobblestone streets, keeping the charm of the National revival period. Taste local wines at Samovodska Charshia - the old marketplace. 

Departure to the Black sea and Varna - commonly referred to as the marine capital of Bulgaria and the pearl of the Bulgarian Black sea coast, Varna is among Europe's oldest cities. Miletians founded the trading colony of Odessos in 570 BC, at the site of an earlier Thracian settlement. Long before the Thracians populated the area by 1200 BCE, several prehistoric settlements existed, leaving the World's oldest large find of gold artifacts ( mid 5th millennium BC ), which can be seen in Varna museum now. City landmarks include the Roman baths, the Sea Garden, the Cathedral, etc. Overnight at the hotel.

After breakfast we will depart along the Black Sea coast to Nessebur UNESCO town.  According to Strabo, the town was named Messambria ( later altered to the Slavonic Nessebur ), after the legendary founder – a Thracian by the name of Melsa and the Thracian name for city “bria”. It exists since the 2nd millennium BC, the Hellenic colony on this site was founded in 510 BC by Dorian settlers. Having captured Messambria in 72 – 71 BC, the Romans preserved the city intact, leaving there a permanent garrison. During the Roman epoch, new temples dedicated to Demeter, Asclepiad, Hecate, Isis, etc. were erected. On the northern shore of the peninsula rose the Temple of Zeus. At the big local theatre, drama, music performances and poetry readings were arranged. Since the 4th c AD, Messambria maintained close links with Constantinople, during the 7th c it became one of the “special” locations where out of favour politicians and courtiers were exiled from Constantinople. Time for independent lunch at a restaurant in the Old Nessebur and proceed to Pomorie spa town for wine tasting. Pomorie was founded in the 4th – 5th c BC by Greek colonists and was a salt and wine producing region since then. Overnight at the hotel in Pomorie or Nesebur / depends on the season and availabilities/.

p.s. based on days of the week and the season, the wine tasting will be in Varna or Pomorie

From the Black Sea, we will return to central Bulgaria, this time to the region below the Balkan mountains range. Our first stop will be Stara Zagora - we will visit the Neolotic dwellings museum of Stara Zagora ( the best preserved in Europe ) and the central part of the town with the Roman forum.  Late afternoon departure to the nearby town of Kazanluk. It is regarded as the centre of the Valley of Roses, known as well as the Valley of the Thracian kings.  Some say that to visit Bulgaria and not to go to the Valley of Roses is to go to Egypt and not see the pyramids. For a period of more than 330 years, Bulgaria won recognition as the country of roses and the rose flower has rightfully become one of its symbols. Statistics show that once about 75% of the world rose oil was produced in Bulgaria. Today a kilo costs almost two kilos of gold on the world markets…  Visit of Kazanluk Thracian tomb ( UNESCO site, copy ). Overnight at the hotel.

Morning  visit the church of Shipka in the suburbs of Kazanluk. Departure to Skobelevo village and visit Damascena Ethnographic complex with its rose distillery, exposition, and park. Taste rose liquor and rose, honey. Proceed to Plovdiv - the 2nd largest city in Bulgaria, once the capital city of Philip the 2nd of Macedonia, the father of Alexander the Great. The city is contemporary of Troy, and is much older than Athens and Rome. Daily Telegraph in its research “the World`s Oldest 20 continually-inhabited cities” declared Plovdiv the oldest continually-inhabited city in Europe and the 6th oldest in the world. Plovdiv is No 6 in the Lonely Planet`s TOP 10 cities to visit in 2015 and has been selected European Capital of Culture for 2019. Best Cultural Destination in Europe for 2022. We will have a walking tour of the Old Plovdiv architectural reserve, awarded Golden medal for architecture by UNESCO. Check in at your hotel in Plovdiv. Time for dinner and overnight.

Morning tour to Bachkovo Monastery – the 2nd largest monastery in Bulgaria, built in the 11th c and connected with the history of the 3rd Crusade. En route you will see the remains of Assenova Fortress – the gateway to the Rhodope mountains, the homeland of Orpheus – the first singer from the Greek mythology, as well as a divine hero. Visit Brestovisa village for tasting of some wines. Return to Plovdiv for second overnight.

Departure to Bansko museum town, located at the foothills of Pirin Mountain National Park ( UNESCO site ). Possible lunch at a traditional Bansko mehana.  Afternoon departure along Struma river valley to Melnik – the smallest Bulgarian town, declared museum and located at the foothills of sandstone pyramids, where wine cellars were dug in the past.  In bygone days, the caravans departed from here to Venice, Vienna and Egypt as far as Madrid along the wine routes. Visit Villa Melnik in the nearby village of Hursovo and tasting of some local wines - the wine from the varietal Broad Leave Melnik Vine was reportedly a favourite of Winston Churchill's. Arrival in Melnik, check in at a traditional hotel.

Morning visit of Kordopulov House ( the largest residential building on the Balkans from the 19th c ) and its wine cellar. Departure to Rila Monastery UNESCO site, located 1100 m above sea level in Rila Mountain National Park. Afternoon to visit the monastery complex - admire wooden balconies, azure fretwork, collonades, facades and colourful frescoes, silhouetted against a fantastic panorama of mountain peaks. Before visiting the monastery, Afternoon departure to Sofia.  Check in at the hotel and some free time for own discoveries and shopping. Farewell dinner with folklore music and Nestinari show ( UNESCO protected dance with bare feet on burning coal ) at the foothills of Vitosha mountain, suburbs of Sofia. *possible in case it is not rainy ( May-October ). Transfer to your hotel and overnight.

Breakfast, free time and departure.