_______________________________________________________________________________________ DER RING DES NIBELUNGEN Sofia Opera and Ballet July 2015 1.Day/04.07.15: Arrival Arrival in Sofia meet your guide at airport and transfer to the hotel Arena di Serdica. Strategically located in the heart of the city, right next to the opera house, business centers and banks, as well as to the cultural and historical places of interest in Sofia. An ancient Roman amphitheater is appropriately exposed in the grounds of the hotel. Dating back to the 3rd century A. D. it was discovered during the construction works in 2004 and makes the hotel second to none in the world. It combines the spirit of ancient Serdica with all modern facilities for business and relaxation. Welcome dinner. Performance in the National Oper – "Rheingold" starting at 18.00 2.Day/05.07.15: Sofia After breakfast half day sightseeing tour of the city. The Sofia highlights: The Alexander Nevsky Golden-Domed Cathedral. The crypt of the Church of St. Alexander Nevsky displays painting and applied arts from the Bulgarian Middle Ages and Revival. Visit the St. Sofia church, one of the oldest churches in Europe, that is still operating. Visit the 4th century Church of St. George – the earliest and best reserved building in inner old Serdica, the Banya-Baschi mosque – a valuable monument of Islamic architecture, national theater house. Free time. Early dinner. Performance in the National Oper – "Die Walküre" starting at 18.00 3. Day/06.07.15: Sofia – Plovdiv - Sofia Breakfast and departure departure to Plovdiv. Plovdiv – more ancient than Bulgaria itself. Its indelible marks are still to be seen today: the marble – tiled Forum, the Roman Stadium, the Ancient Theatre, rising above the Old Plovdiv is an original heritage park that lives on, an architectural phenomenon combining the splendour of stately homes with the modesty of cobblestone lanes. Every single house here has its own allure and fascination. The Ethnographic Museum, the art galleries, churches and street of folk arts and crafts are major landmarks of Old Plovdiv. Free time in Plovdiv. Wine tasting in wine cellar near von Plovdiv. Dinner. 4.Day/07.07.15: Sofia Free day. Dinner. Performance in the National Oper – "SIEGFRIED " starting at 18.00 _______________________________________________________________________________________ 5. Day/08.06.15: Sofia – Rila monastery - Sofia After breakfast departure for the Rila monastery. Guided tour in the most famous and fascinating Bulgarian monastery, founded in 10th century from the hermit monk John of Rila and taken to the UNESCO World heritage site in 1983. The active, man monastery will attract you with the main church ”The birth of Virgin Mary” with its golden iconostasis(altar wall) , the old Bulgarian architecture of the buildings and the wall paintings in national revival style. Visit the main church and the museum, where valuable old icons, church vessels and a marvelous altar cross, the cross of monk Rafail are kept. In the afternoon travel back to Sofia. Dinner. 6.Day/09.07.15: Sofia Breakfast. The other museums are situated in the beautiful quarter Boyana. The Boyana Church consists of three parts from three different periods. It is in the UNESCO List of World and Cultural Heritage. Visit the National historical Museum that includes subjects from different cultures, lived on the territory of the country. Visit the museum house of the famouse Bulgarian Bass Boris Hristov. Free afternoon. Early dinner. Performance in the National Oper – "Götterdämmerung" starting at 18.00 7.Day/10.07.15: Sofia Breakfast and transfer to the airport. .