Jewish heritage in Bulgaria

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Itinerary - Jewish heritage in Bulgaria 

 
Day 1: Sofia 
Arrival in Sofia. Sightseeing tour of Sofia - the capital of Bulgaria. Places of interest - the biggest orthodox cathedral on the Balkan peninsula "Alexander Nevski", Roman Ruins of Serdica 3 C., the Saint George Rotunda Church 4 C., the Saint Sofia Basilica Church 5 C., the small so called Russian church, the National theatre "Ivan Vazov", national gallery of fine arts (former royal palace), the Parliament, Sofia University. After the visit of the Saint George Rotunda church, the program continues with the visit of the Sofia Synagogue - the largest in Bulgaria and the third largest in Europe after those in Budapest and Amsterdam. It was built in 1909 at the old synagogue and Ahab hased. The style of the building is Spanish-Moorish and resembles a synagogue destroyed by the Nazis in Vienna. The church can hold up to 1300 pilgrims, and the chandelier is the largest in the country and weighs 2 tons.
Recently, the synagogue was renovated with funds provided by the State of Israel as well as from private donations. From May 1992 at the temple also functions to the Jewish Historical Museum Organizatsiyaata of Bulgarian Jews Shalom. The museum is a continuation of the earlier exhibition "Rescue of Bulgarian Jews 1941-1944. Lunch. Free time. Dinner at Bulgarian traditional folklore restaurant. Overnight in Sofia.

Day 2: Sofia - Rila Monastery - Plovdiv 
Breakfast. The biggest monastery on the Balkan peninsula - in Rila, build in10 C. And included in the UNESCO List of World Cultural Heritage in Bulgaria. The tour of the monastery complex includes visit of the museum with its impressive collection of precious old manuscripts, icons, jewelry, masterpieces of woodcarving, an ethnographic exhibition of fabrics and carpets, visit of one authentic monk's cell with its typical decoration, the church of the monastery and the Lunch with tasty mountain trout menu. Proceed to Plovdiv. Accommodation and dinner. Overnight.

Day 3: Plovdiv - Backovo Monastery - Plovdiv 
Breakfast. Sightseeing tour of Plovdiv, including the Synagogue in Plovdiv this is one of the ancient monuments in the city. The first data date back to the third, fourth century AD, when Plovdiv is called Thrace. It was found an inscription in Greek and drawing a gold sedmochislenik /menorah/ a colored mosaic floor, dating from the third, fourth century AD. Our archeologists exploring the cultural monuments in the city said that it is a valuable cultural monument. After that visit of the old city complex, including the Roman theatre Lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon - visit of the impressive Bachkovo monastery (35km), the second biggest monastery in Bulgaria. Back to Plovdiv. Free time. Dinner and overnight.
 
Day 4: Plovdiv - Kazanluk - Veliko Turnovo 
Breakfast. Proceed to Kazanluk - the valley of the roses. Sightseeing tour of the city, visiting the museum of the roses, an unique Thracian tomb and the Shipka monastery complex dedicated to the liberators of Bulgaria. Lunch in Kazanluk. Proceed to Veliko Turnovo - the capital of medieval Bulgaria. Accommodation in hotel. Dinner. Option - light and sound show in the hill Zarevetz /unique program presenting the Bulgarian history by lights and music/. Overnight.
 
Day 5: Veliko Turnovo 
Sightseeing tour of Veliko Turnovo - visit of the royal palace and fortress, where in 14th century, the Bulgarian king Tsar Ivan Alexander (1331-1371), which governs these gatherings, is married to ... Jewish. This is the queen Sarah, the mother of the last medieval Bulgarian ruler Shishman (1371-1396). Before the wedding she is baptized and took the name Theodora. Rather, it is the initiator of these gatherings. Several monasteries and churches from 13-14 century are included as wll in the sightseeing program. Lunch. In the afternoon half-day excursion to Arbanassi - impressive small village with traditional Bulgarian houses and churches from 13-14 century. Back to Veliko Turnovo. Free time for shopping in the Samovodksa Charshia Street where you can find a diversity of art craft and handmade souvenirs. Dinner. Overnight.
 
Day 6: Veliko Turnovo - Rousse 
Breakfast. Proceed to Rousse. Visit of the world famous writer Elias Canetti’s house (He was a Bulgarian-born novelist and non-fiction writer of Sephardi Jewish ancestry who wrote in German. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981). Sightseeing tour of the city, on the Danube bridge. Lunch. Visit of the Ivanovo monastery, included in the list of UNESCO (In contrast to the traditional monastery complex which consists of 1-2 churches and a residential part, the Ivanovo monastery represents a network of small churches, chapels and cells hewn into the rocks, 32m above the waters of the picturesque canyon of the Roussenski Lom River.). Dinner and overnight in Rousse.
 
Day 7: Rousse - Pleven - Sofia
Breakfast. Proceed to Sofia. On the way back visit of the historical complex of Panorama (Pleven Epopee 1877, more commonly known as Pleven Panorama, is a panorama located in Pleven, Bulgaria, that depicts the events of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877-78, specifically the five-month Siege of Plevna (Pleven Epopee) which made the city internationally famous and which contributed to the Liberation of Bulgaria after five centuries of Ottoman rule). Proceed to Sofia. Dinner and overnight in Sofia.
 
Day 8: Sofia departure
Breakfast. Free time till departure flight. Transfer to Sofia airport. End of our services. 
 
Rates for Jewish Heritage in Bulgaria Tour 2020
 
2 pax 
4 pax
6 pax 
 3* Hotels 
 790 euro 
 530 euro 
 430 euro 
 4* Hotels
 824 euro 
 570 euro 
 470 euro
 5* Hotels 
 910 euro  
 650 euro 
 540 euro 
 
What is included in Jewish Heritage in Bulgaria Tour?
- price is per person 
-  7 x hotel accommodations
- BB board, private tour with personal guide/driver
- road taxes and parking
What is excluded from Jewish Heritage in Bulgaria Tour?
- tipping (no fixed amount)
- entrance fees 
- personal expenses. 

Here you can find more Bulgaria tours from Rad-Festa Travel Agency
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