DM Travel - Thracian Culture Tour

DAY 6: SHOUMEN - SVESHTARI - ROUSSE:

After breakfast departure for the Sveshtari Tomb, dating back to the 3rd century BC, situated nearby the town of Isperih. The Tomb is an unique monument of the Thracian culture of the first half of the 3rd century BC. It consists of a corridor and 3 shrines. In the central one there are two stone beds, over which there is a rich sculptural decoration, reproducing the life of a prominent Thracian noble man. The Tomb was included in the UNESCO list as a rare monument of the Thracian culture, which left unique masterpieces to the world's cultural heritage. Lunch in the town of Rousse. In the afternoon a visit to the Rock Monasteries /9-12th century/ nearby the village of Ivanovo. At the time it was a holy place visited by pilgrims from various Slavonic countries. One can see at least 20 mediaeval churches hewn in the rocks. There are still mediaeval wall paintings and murals preserved there. The whole complex was inhabited until 13th century. Since 1979 it is part of the UNESCO world's cultural heritage. Dinner and overnight in Rousse.


		B U L G A R I A - Ancient Land of Thracian Kingdoms 8 days - 7 nights …… Isn't Bulgaria the land of one of the Europe's and the world's oldest civilization? The latest scientific researches of prominent European scientists show that most probably it is here, and not in Mesopotamia, or China, where the human civilization marked its start… Day 1: ARRIVAL AT SOFIA AIRPORT Arrival at Sofia Airport, meeting, greeting and assistance by a tour guide. Transfer to the hotel in Sofia. Then follows a walking tour of the city, featuring the "Alexander Nevski" Cathedral, the "St.Sofia" 6th century basilica, the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, the Russian church, the National Theatre, the fortress' ruins of ancient Serdika and Sredets, the "St.George" 4th century Rotunda. Dinner at a folk style restaurant, tasting traditional cuisine and wine. Overnight.
		Day 2: RILA MONASTERY - PLOVDIV - 'The Pearl of Ancient Thrace' After breakfast departure for the Rila Monastery, a rare monument of the old Bulgarian Revival period architecture under the protection of UNESCO. After a visit to the monastery church, museum, the kitchen, the hermitage, you will have lunch at the local pub there. Then departure for Plovdiv, a settlement founded by the Thracians, called Evmolpius. Later on Philip of Macedonia conquered it and renamed it Philipopolis. A sightseeing tour of "The Old Town" of Plovdiv, known as "The Pearl of Ancient Thrace", features the Ancient Theatre, the Roman Stadium, the Forum, the Ethnographic museum, the House of Hinglians, and "St.Konstantin & Elena" church. Dinner at a local tavern, housed in one of the beautiful Plovdiv's houses with unique architecture, dating from the National Revival Period. Overnight in Plovdiv.
		DAY 3: PLOVDIV - KARDJALI - PERPERIKON - 'Known as the 'Bulgarian Throy' The ancient fortress of Perperikon, was named after the God of the Stone, Per. The residence of the Thracian King is unique of its kind. It has got an unusual front space with approx.200 m. of stone steps, each 3 m. wide. The King then was the High Priest as well, that is why his residence, and later on his tomb had to look like a temple. The building dates back to 5th -4th century BC. Nearby a crypt was found with 15 gravestones and coffins. A visit to the History Museum in Kardjali will enable you to see the oldest written monument found in Bulgaria. That unique sign, 35 years old was written in a language already dead, which belonged to the Crete-Mikena culture. Dinner and overnight in the town of Kardjali. DAY 4: The TOWN of KAZANLUK - the village of STAROSEL: After breakfast departure for the town of Kazanluk, visiting the replica of the Thracian Tomb, dating back to the 4th-3rd century BC. It consists of a richly decorated front room, a corridor leading to the actual grave tomb. Over the door to the front room there is a multi-figure sculpture of a battle scene. All the unique mural paintings inside the tomb reproduce the hero with his wife, surrounded by their servants at a farewell party before hero's funeral. These paintings are an excellent way to learn more about the Thracians, about their life, imagination, even their appearance. This is the best reserved monument of the ancient Thracian culture under the protection of UNESCO. Lunch. Then departure for the village of Starosel, the most characteristic monument of the Thracian political and cultural power of the Odris Kingdom, the strongest state at the time on the Balkan Peninsula, north of the Aegean Sea. That is the most complete ancient Thracian complex, and with its unique architecture is among the outstanding monuments found between the Danube river and the Aegean Sea. Dinner and overnight.
		DAY 5: KAZANLUK - SHOUMEN - 'MADARA HORSEMAN' After breakfast departure for Shoumen. On the way a visit to Veliki Preslav, the second capital of Danubian Bulgaria. Preslav, meaning 'famous, most glorious' was the capital of the Bulgarian Kingdom from 893 till 969, in the epoch of its supreme might and boom of the old Bulgarian culture of the so called Golden Age. The most precious building in Veliki Preslav in the past was the Round (Golden) Church, built in 908. The whole region of the ruins was declared a National Historic & Archeological Reserve. After lunch a visit to the unique Rock Relief "Madara Horseman and Knight", dating back to the epoch of early Middle Ages. The relief was cut 23 m above the basis of the cliff, reproducing a knight of almost natural height, as a symbol of the glory of the Bulgarian King and its state. The Madara Horseman is under the protection of UNESCO as part of the world's heritage. Dinner and overnight.
		DAY 6: SHOUMEN - SVESHTARI - ROUSSE: After breakfast departure for the Sveshtari Tomb, dating back to the 3rd century BC, situated nearby the town of Isperih. The Tomb is an unique monument of the Thracian culture of the first half of the 3rd century BC. It consists of a corridor and 3 shrines. In the central one there are two stone beds, over which there is a rich sculptural decoration, reproducing the life of a prominent Thracian noble man. The Tomb was included in the UNESCO list as a rare monument of the Thracian culture, which left unique masterpieces to the world's cultural heritage. Lunch in the town of Rousse. In the afternoon a visit to the Rock Monasteries /9-12th century/ nearby the village of Ivanovo. At the time it was a holy place visited by pilgrims from various Slavonic countries. One can see at least 20 mediaeval churches hewn in the rocks. There are still mediaeval wall paintings and murals preserved there. The whole complex was inhabited until 13th century. Since 1979 it is part of the UNESCO world's cultural heritage. Dinner and overnight in Rousse.
		DAY 7: ROUSSE - VELIKO TURNOVO - ARBANASIE VILLAGE: After breakfast departure for the town of Veliko Turnovo, the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in 12-14th century. A sightseeing tour of the town, featuring the mediaeval Fortress, the Tzarevets Hill , where the Patriarchal Church, royal palaces, the Baldwin's Tower, and the churches "St.Dimitar", "St. 40 Martyrs". Lunch. After lunch a trip to the village-museum of Arbanassi, with its houses like little fortresses is an unique monument of the Bulgarian architecture of the period between 16th -18th century. A visit to the Konstanzalieva House and the old church "Christ Birth". Dinner and overnight in Veliko Turnovo. Please note, weather permitted, there is an optional tour to the unique performance of "Sounds and Lights", reproducing the glorious and tragic history of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. DAY 8: SOFIA - AIRPORT After breakfast, departure for Sofia. Lunch. Then transfer to Sofia Airport for the group's flight home. End of services. For more information, please contact us here!

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B U L G A R I A - Ancient Land of Thracian Kingdoms

8 days - 7 nights