Bulgaria. the History of This Land Started in About the 6Th Or the 3Rd

Home , Omurtag (town), Pliska, Tsarevets (fortress), Veliki Preslav

Bulgaria. Day 2

The history of this land started in about the 6th or the 3rd century BC. From this time Breakfast. Everything during your morning sightseeing tour is in walk distance and this land was occupied with quite a lot of different cultures which can still be seen you won`t need the car. After having you morning coffee you will be thrown back in nd here, because of some of the good preservation of old monuments, fortresses and time with the visitation of the old amphitheater. Built in the 2 century during the reign of Emperor Trajan. Plovdiv Amphitheater is remarkable not only in identifying others. The place of modern Bulgaria in the past times was quite popular as it`s on a the architectural and historic significance, but his skillful adaptation to the cultural very strategic place with sea side, rivers and quite easy access to Asia. In this trip we life of the city And now comes the time that you will have to leave Plovdiv. will try to send you in those past times and give you at least a small picture of the Departing to Kardzhali(about 95km from Plovdiv). After checking in your hotel beauty and the magnificence of Bulgaria. which is on the Kardzhali dam, you can have a boat trip enjoying the silence of the nature and having dinner of fish specials on the board of the small ship. Day 1

Right after you arrival in Sofia, the car will be expecting you at the airport so you could start your journey immediately. Your first destination is Plovdiv. It`s located 130km from Sofia and the drive will not take more than 90 minutes. After you check in the hotel in Plovdiv you can have a little walk around the old part of the town, which is preserved in the best possible way and it`s still part of the modern city`s life, but you can still find the spirit of the old Bulgarian traditions and lifestyle. We strongly recommend you to have your dinner in one of the many restaurants that are located in the old houses, because they have kept the interior as you are 500 years back in time. After the dinner you can go back to your hotel for a relaxed night in the hug of Plovdiv`s hospitality.

Day 3

After the breakfast we continue our journey through time for the next stop – Perperikon(20km from Kardzali). There are no words that can describe the beauty and magic that surround this place. The legends can only give us a small picture of the mighty fortress and glory that this place brings to the hearts of people. Something that words just can`t describe. One of the legends sais that the famous singer Orpheus lived in this area and he gave his talent to the people that are now living there and maybe there is a small piece of truth in this, because the most famous folklore songs are from this region of Bulgaria. Day 4 Breakfast and time to say goodbye to Sozopol and drive yourself through the picturesque road that goes north following the natural curves of the coast. On the way to your next destination Shumen(160km from Sozopol) you will pass by one more piece of history that the nature decided to preserve for us. The Madara village , famous with the Madara`s horseman. archaeological monument, consisting carved in bas‐relief of the rocks 23 meters height from the base of a cliff. Located in northeastern Bulgaria, near the village of Madara, and 20 km from the town of Shumen. It was declared a monument of world heritage by UNESCO in 1979 On June 29, 2008. The relief is triumphant ruler ‐ a symbol of the strength of the First Bulgarian Empire. In life‐size horseman are depicted in the right way, in fleur‐eagle pose, flying before him, dog that follows him and stabbed with a copy lion felled under the front legs of the horse. Composition, symbolizing victory over the enemy, is reminiscent of scenes and triumphant artistic traditions of ancient (Thracian th horseman). Details define dating (beginning at 8 century) and support the most After the magic of Perperikon you will have to leave it behind and continue the trip recognized hypothesis of the Proto‐Bulgarian origin of relief, linking the image with to Sozopol(this is the longest drive 270km from Kardzali). After arriving in the small Khan Tervel (701‐721). Arrival in Shumen. Dinner and overnight. city of Sozopol a short walk around the old city is strongly recommended. The oldest city on the Black Sea coast. The first settlement here occurred at the end of IV ‐ III century BC. Later Greek settlers from Asia Minor founded the city‐state Apollonia. Apollonia was the largest and richest city on the Black Sea, a busy center of commerce and art. Today Sozopol is one of the tourist centers of the country, combining ancient and modern. Over 200 houses in the middle of the XVIII and early XIX century, with narrow cobblestone streets and short give romance of the Old City. Rich is the legacy of religious buildings ‐ churches, monasteries and chapels. The city that was once a big sea fortress is now a small lonely and picturesque part of the beauty of Bulgaria. After the walk on the cobblestoned streets of Sozopol you can enjoy your dinner in the company of nice live music and some of the best Bulgarian meals. Overnight.

Day 5 Day 6

Breakfast and departure to Pliska(about 30km from Shumen). After a short Breakfast and visitation of the mighty fortress of Tzarevets, the 3rd capitol of drive(only 30km) you will be standing in front of Pliska, the first capital of Bulgaria. Bulgaria. Tsarevets fortress is located near the center of Veliko Tarnovo. It was the The remains of the medieval city which was surrounded by a ditch and earth main Bulgarian fortress during the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185‐1393). During rampart occupy about 23 square kilometers. Area: citadel with powerful defensive the Middle Ages the hill was built entirely with residential and administrative walls, big and small palace basilica, built with stone blocks. Pliska found numerous buildings. The first settlement, built on this historic hill, dates from the Late remains of early slavs and the old culture. Former name of the settlement is Aboba. Chalcolithic (4200 BC). It continued its development during the Bronze Age (IV‐II BC) Next to him by Russian archaeologists Archaeological Institute in Istanbul during and Iron Age (XIII‐I BC), when its inhabitants were Thracians. In V‐VII at the site of a 1899‐1900 revealed the medieval city of Pliska or Plaskov, the capital of Bulgaria Thracian settlement is Zikideva ‐ the largest city of the Byzantine Empire in the (First Bulgarian Empire) by the end of 7 th century to about 893, when the capital province of Lower Moesia. Is was destroyed during the Avars‐Slavic invasions in the was moved to Preslav, that`s where your next stop is, the second capital of Bulgaria. VII century. In the IX century the old settlement occurs, which grew during the First The city of Preslav, 50km away from Pliska lays the second capital of Bulgaria. Bulgarian Empire. In the XII century began building the fortress, preserved until Veliki(great) Preslav(about 50km from Pliska) was the second Bulgarian capital today. The castle has three entrances, the main entrance is located in the (from 893 to 969 or 971). In 971, was seized and pillaged by the Byzantines. In XI‐XII westernmost part of the hill. In the center lies the Palace complex, a collection of century during the Byzantine rule after the uprising of Assen and Peter (1185‐1187) buildings surrounded by an inner stone wall, two towers and two entrances from is again a fortress. The town has arisen in the first half of the IX century during the the north and south. Includes Throne Hall, Royal Palace Church and chambers. reign of Khan Omurtag as a military camp and garrison fortified palace. Tsar Simeon Departure to Sofia(220km from Veliko Tarnovo). I moved the capital of First Bulgarian Kingdom in Veliki Preslav, located 30 km from the old capital Pliska. He became the most beautiful in the north by the mountains and one of the most majestic cities across South East Europe (the era of the "Golden Age"). Here are stored some of the most significant monuments of Pliska‐ Preslav culture. Outer city ( 3.5 sq. km. area) was surrounded by white stone walls, VIS. 10 meters breadth. 3.25 m. The constructions of the gates, towers and walls are similar to those of Pliska. In the inner city, is also surrounded by wall is a complex royal residence: monumental stone palaces such as Grand Palace and throne room with columns, and richly decorated with mosaics, marble and ceramic icons Round Church (10 century) and others. The town is notable for this time of sewage and watering system which was one of the most modern for it`s time. Departure Veliki Preslav to Veliko Tarnovo(about 120km from Veliki Preslav). Checking in the hotel. dinner and overnight.

On the way you can turn from the road and visit one of the cities that have biggest Day 7 part of the fight with the Ottoman’s empire and the fights for liberation of Bulgaira – Koprivshtitsa. It`s located quite near Sofia only about 70km and 190 km from Breakfast. Before leaving Bulgaria there are some more pieces of the Bulgarian history puzzle that should be visited. St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral was built in Veliko Tarnovo, but it`s really worth seeing. Koprivshtitsa is still singing songs of the period between 1904 and 1912. The decision to start its construction was taken past times. Around its cobblestone streets you can still hear the sound of running back in 1879. Prince Battenberg targeted paying for its construction with donations horses, under the roof rests the song of the girls embroidered rebel flags, the air is from the Bulgarian people. The first stone was laid in 1882 with an exclusive red soaked with the scent of resin, thyme and wild strawberries, the whisper of the carpet. According to the old custom in the foundations of the temple was built in a wind brings the stories of this magic city. Arrival in Sofia. Final dinner and overnight. metal box where the names of the members of the government were recorded. The main cluster is 45 meters high. The temple occupies an area of 3170 square meters and can accommodate up to 5000 people ‐ as the largest hall in the National Palace of Culture. The bell tower in the temple is 50.52 meters high and has 12 bells, cast and brought from Moscow. The largest bell weighs 12 tons and the smallest 10 kg. And the total weight of all bells is 23 tons. The temple was declared a cultural monument in 1924 and its crypt exposes the most beautiful Bulgarian icons.

The last, but not the least interesting, if you can say that there is something that is not interesting the puzzle of more than 3000 years of history around this small Price with rented car: place, called Bulgaria – St. Sofia Temple ‐ a reddish‐brown early Christian basilica St. 4‐star hotels: 505 Euro per person in a group of 2; 440 Euro per person in a Sofia is one of the symbols of Bulgaria`s capital city. It is depicted on the emblem of group of 4 the city and the XIV century was his godmother. It was built in the late V century Single supplement: 120 Euro during the reign of Byzantine Emperor Justinian. It is considered the oldest Eastern 3‐star hotels: 400 Euro per person in a group of 2; 350 Euro per person in a Orthodox church in Sofia, survived through the vicissitudes of history. group of 4 . Regrettably, but inevitably comes the time for your departure. After dropping of Single supplement: 115 Euro the car and going back again into the present we hope that you will now have a piece of Bulgaria in your heart, a piece that will be returning you in times forgotten long ago, times that will bring harmony in you and the world around you.