Plodiv & Bachkovo Monastery

General information

Destination	Category
Sofia, Bulgaria	Attractions/Entertainment

Program details

Discover the spirit of Bulgaria with this full-day trip to Plovdiv and Bachkovo Monastery, the country’s ‘Rome and Vatican’. Plovdiv is a two-hour coach drive from Sofia while Bachkovo is near Plovdiv in the Rhodope Mountains. Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second biggest city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world, with a history going back thousands of years. The city has more than 200 archaeological sites, with remains of Thracian, Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Bulgarian cultures. The city’s old quarter, with its museums, numerous archaeological sites and National Revival houses is a great place for sightseeing or simply losing yourself among the steep cobbled lanes and brightly coloured symmetrical houses. ˂br˃˂br˃
Some of the main attractions we will visit on this guided tour include the Roman Theatre and Stadium, and the 19th Century Church of Saint Constantine and Saint Helena, with its world-renowned murals by the Bulgarian Revivalist painter, Zachari Zograf. ˂br˃˂br˃
After the guided tour, there will be time for you to have lunch in one of the old town’s many charming restaurants before we leave for Bachkovo Monastery. ˂br˃˂br˃
The monastery, which dates from the 11th century, is second in importance only to the great monastery at Rila and contains many great art treasures, including the fabulous murals and icons that decorate the complex’s many churches and chapels. ˂br˃˂br˃
This full-day excursion includes transfer, entrance fees, the guided tour as well as the services of an English-speaking guide. Please note that meals and refreshments are not included.