Tour 4 civilizations in Bulgaria and Greece - Travel To Bulgaria

Dates:

11 days / 10 nights



price: 0

 
Tour 4 civilizations in Bulgaria and Greece
11 days/10 nights

This is a great opportunity to get acquainted with 4 civilizations, which are the foundation of modern European culture, in just one week. To see and touch the millennial monuments (remains) of the Thracian, Ancient Greek, Roman and Bulgarian civilizations.

Day 1 - arrival in the capital of Bulgaria - Sofia
Transfer from airport to your hotel.
Walking tour to the city center (about 3 hours). You will see St.Sophia church dating back to 5th-6th century of our era, a monument of Bulgarian medieval civilization that gave the current name of the town. Visit the largest cathedral Alexander Nevski with its gilded dome, the rotunda St.George 3th-4th century and the city fortress and you will feel the atmosphere of the city, which history dates over 5000 years ago.
Dinner in a folklore restaurant. There you will not only try the typical Bulgarian dishes, but will listen to Bulgarian folk music and hectic rhythms of the dynamic Bulgarian folk dances.

Day 2 Sofia sightseeing tour and departure to Veliko Turnovo
Breakfast. After that visit the Boyana Church, located on the outskirts of Sofia. It is a true masterpiece of the Bulgarian Middle Ages. Its frescoes dates from 1259 year and it was declared by UNESCO a World Cultural Heritage.
You will see real treasures in the National History Museum, located in the government complex of Boyana. Its rich collections are various of ages, ranging from the Paleolithic era through to present days.

Departure to Veliko Tarnovo. Arrival in the former Bulgarian capital. This is a beautiful city built on hills at the foot of which the Yantra River is winding. This is the city chosen by the Second Bulgarian kingdom for its capital (12th - 14th century). Overnight.

Day 3 Veliko Turnovo and Arbanassi
Breakfast. Visit Tsarevets Hill, home to the Royal Palace and Patriarchy.
The hill was fortified (with wall) and occupied between 12th-14th centuries. The inhabitants were aristocrats and merchants. The royal palace was in the castle fortress. Its area is 4872 m2.
Patriarchy was the second fortress of the castle, with an area of approximately 3000 m2.The church of the Patriarchy was built in 13th-14th century, on the highest point of the hill.
Visit the street of the crafts - Samovodska charshija where crafts studios are still active. There is immersive atmosphere of 60th-70th years of the 19th century.
Free time for visiting the city and tasting the local cuisine.

In the afternoon visit to the village Arbanassi, included in the UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage Site. It is located on a hill 4 km from the city.

The city was founded in the 13th century by Bulgarian boyars. There are five churches and the two monasteries in the village. Arbanassi reached its economic expansion in 17th-18th century, when it became active in trade and crafts center.
Until today there are 144 houses - architectural monuments. Famous for Arbanassi’s houses is that they are richly decorated ceilings and doors, carved shutters, decorative grilles and yards, protected by high stone walls, immersed in greenery.
Return to Veliko Turnovo. Overnight.

Day 4 - Breakfast and departure to Dryanovo monastery and Etara.
Dryanovo monastery was built for the first time in the 13th century and for the nine century existence was destroyed three times, but each time it is raised. In the time of the Bulgarian Renesans monastery was an important cultural center. There are over 500 monks’ copied books.
Its vast library is closely related to Bulgarian history.

The outdoor museum Etara is another interesting place in this excursion. Ethnographic Museum Etara situated along the River Yantra, which can be viewed at actual size with its Bulgarian houses from the 18th and 19th century. Can drink coffee made on hot sand and eat white sweet, to see the working craft workshops.
Time for free lunch at the museum in a typical Bulgarian pub (called han).

Again crossing the mountain. At the foot of the mountain was built a beautiful Russian church. The golden dome is visible from miles away.This church in the village of Shipka is a monument dedicated to fallen Russian soldiers during the Russian-Turkish war 1877-1878 year. It was built in the style of Russian churches from the 17th century. Its walls are covered with beautiful frescoes.

A few kilometers from Shipka starts the Valley of the Kings. There is also the Thracian tomb”Goliamata Kosmatka”. Archaeologists reveal it several years ago. It was buried Seuthes III. This monument of the Thracian civilization is 2500 years (5th century BC).
Accommodation in hotel in Kazanlak. Dinner.

Day 5 - Breakfast. Visit Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak (fourth century BC).
Unknown artist of old times used 4 main colors and 2- painting techniques. This tomb is included in UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ethnographic Complex “Tower” welcomes guests with a welcoming jam from roses and rose liqueur and it is not rare. Kazanlak is located in the center of the Rose Valley. Here is produced 80% of the world production of rose oil, which is in the base of the highest quality perfumes. For centuries, roses have been the basis for the livelihood of this region. In the complex can be viewed a roses farmer's house and the house of rose oil dealer. Both are from the late 18th century.

Departure to Plovdiv - the second largest city in Bulgaria.
Walking tour of the city. Plovdiv is one of the oldest cities in Europe. It was founded before Athens, Rome and Constantinople in the time at which was based and the ancient city of Troy. There are artifacts of Thracian civilization. The Thracians were famous in the ancient world for its wines, which were declared as the best. The period during which Plovdiv has been within the Roman Empire was marked by the construction of many large public buildings like an amphitheater (late first and early second century of our era). And nowadays it is used for performances and outdoor concerts. Other major monuments of Roman civilization are the Roman Forum (2nd century BC) and Roman stadium in length of 180 meters and with 30,000 seats (second century of our era). At that time the name of the city was Trimontium, which means "town on three hills."
Bulgarian history is presented in the old town of Plovdiv with the big beautiful houses of 18 -19 centuries. At that time Plovdiv compete with Thessaloniki and Istanbul. In many of these houses are now occupied exhibition halls, shops and restaurants.
Departure to Sofia. Overnight.

Day 6 - Breakfast. Departure to Rila Monastery and Thessaloniki /Greece/.
Rila Monastery is the largest orthodox monastery in Bulgaria. It’s located in 1147 meters altitude in the middle of the forests of Rila Mountain. The Rila Monastery has an unique architecture and outside looks like a fortress. The Rila Monastery was founded in the 30-th years of X century on the place of the Old Anchoress in Rila Mountain. While the monastery has been existing, it was many times rebuilt, destroyed and reconstructed.
Crossing the border between Bulgaria and Greece and in an hour arrival in Thessaloniki.
Overnight in Thessaloniki.

Day 7 City tour of Thessaloniki
Breakfast at the hotel. City tour passing through the main sites of interest: the picturesque old town, the Byzantine church of Agios Dimitrios,the Arch of Galerio, the Rotonda and the lively city center. Departure to the ancient Pella, birthplace of Alexander the Great and visit of the archeological site and the museum with the precious mosaics. Further on to Vergina and visit of the impressing museum containing the Royal Macedonian Tombs and other treasure of spectacular beauty. Return to Thessaloniki. Dinner in a traditional restaurant with live music.
Overnight.

Day 8 Visit of Meteora
Breakfast at the hotel. Departure to Kalambaka and visit of the impressive “Meteora” and the Byzantine monastries “hanging” on the top.

The monasteries are on the top of the rock towers. The Meteora is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It’s one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece.
Further on to Delfi. Arrival, accomodation at the hotel and overnight .

Day 9 Visit of Delfi
Breakfast at the hotel. Visit of the archeological site of Delphi. In the Greek mythology, Delphi was the site of the Delphic oracle. This was the most important oracle in the classical Greek world, and a major site for the worship of the god Apollo after he slew the Python, a dragon who lived there and protected the navel of the Earth. Apollo's sacred precinct in Delphi was a panhellenic sanctuary, where every four years, starting in 776 BC athletes from all over the Greek world competed in the Pythian Games, one of the four panhellenic (or stephanitic) games, precursors of the Modern Olympics. Further on to Athens – the capital of Greece. Accomodation at the hotel. Overnight.

Day 10 Athens city tour
Breakfast at the hotel. Athens city tour passing through the main places of interest and visit of the Acropoli. The Acropolis of Athens is an ancient citadel located on a high rocky outcrop above the city of Athens. It’s containing the remains of several ancient buildings of great architectural and historic significance, the most famous being the Parthenon. The Acropolis was formally proclaimed as the preeminent monument on the European Cultural Heritage list of monuments on 26 March 2007. Afternoon free for a walk in the pitcuresque area of Plaka.

Overnight.

Day 11
Breakfast at the hotel.Transfer to Athens airport. Departure.


The offer includes:
  • 10 overnights in 4* hotel with breakfast, except in Kazanlak - 3* hotel
  • 3 dinners in traditional restaurants 2 in Bulgaria and 1 in Greece
  • Transportation in comfortable air-conditioned car/minibus/coach
  • Spanish speaking guide
  • Spanish or English speaking assistant for the dinner in traditional restaurant in Greece for a minimum of 10 persons.

The offer does not include:
  • Not listed feedings
  • Drinks
  • Personal expenses and tips
  • Insurance
  • Tickets to museums, monuments and guided tours (except tickets for pictures with cameras and camcorders)
  • Anything that it is not specified in the paragraph “the rate includes”

REMARKS:
The offer is valid considering that on the 6th day the group will leave from Athens in the morning by 12.00 hours. In case that the departure will be later we should review the rate.
Rates are not valid during the International Trade Fair in Thessaloniki (08/09 /12 – 16/09/12, dates to be defined for 2013) and other important exhibitions/events in Thessaloniki or Athens ( program to be defined for 2013)
In case of increase in the rates of fuel or taxes we reserve the right to revise the above rates.
Single room accommodation supplement apply.