Bulgaria Holidays
A country full of promise and one that is quickly developing into a thoroughly modern cosmopolitan European country, Bulgaria has much to offer fascinated tourists.
With one foot still in its glorious past, illustrated by many museums and Orthodox churches, whilst the other foot is firmly striding towards the future in the form of the youthful capital, Sofia, Bulgaria has something to offer both younger and older crowds.
Throw in the beautiful golden beaches of Varca and Bourgas and you can quickly begin to see why Bulgaria is fast becoming one of Europe’s, and if not the worlds, essential vacation locations.
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Bulgaria Holidays
Perfectly complimenting Bulgaria’s medieval European architecture, the town of Nessebur has many a prevalent site to see, even a few that are so precious they have been placed on the UNESCO world heritage site list – churches and cathedrals are some of many.
Close by, the town of Varna offers a glimpse of the high life of ancient Bulgarian royalty; the area is home to historic Roman Baths; many spas in the area simulate the luxurious experience for their discerning customers.
Close by, the village of Madara has its fair share of intriguing sights; the Madara Horseman, carved in the 8th century is an oddity. Built over three consecutive stages, the monuments are inscribed in Greek yet detail important events in Bulgarian history under a series of Bulgarian rulers.
Bulgaria Holidays
If you are on the look out for scenery that highlights Bulgaria’s natural beauty, then take to the hills of Veliko Turnovo, perched treacherously over 4 hills. As well as gaining some fantastic panoramic views of the city, the hills and surrounding areas hold a lot of hidden secrets regarding Bulgaria’s past; the Tsarevets Hill Archaeological Reserve holds a virtual treasure chest of such pieces, including ceramics and metalware.
Leaving the district, we arrive at the town of Gabrovo, an old industrial centre that is home to the unique open air museum of ‘ETARA’, a relatively new complex, as it was built in the mid 20th century. A wonderful exhibition, the museum brings to life the Bulgaria of old, preserving the appearance and the spirit of the old time Bulgarian mountain villages and the manufacturing traditions of the region. Built on the two sides of a small river, this fascinating full - scale enclosure perfectly replicates living conditions of 19th century Bulgaria; the whole experience is rather surreal.
Bulgaria Holidays
A town full of history, Kasanluk, close to the region known as the ‘Valley of Roses’, is well known for its Thracian Tombs, an almost spiritual place where many of Bulgaria’s past kings and queens have been put to rest.
Onward then to Rila, home to the Rila Monastery, a UNESCO world Heritage site, this area is preserved with pride, due to its high reverence with the people of Bulgaria, who still come to prey en mass here, ever since its inception in the 10th century by followers of the Bulgarian hermit St. Ivan Rilski. The monastery is one of the most significant cultural centres in Bulgaria, where through the century’s intensive spiritual, educational and creative activities flourished. After a devastating fire, the monastery was completely rebuilt in the 19th century.
Bulgaria Holidays
Not far from this sleepy, hilly town is the capital city, Sofia, home to yet more fascinating architecture and antiquated finds, as well of course, as being home to a thoroughly modern 21 st century Eastern European shopping capital.
Perfectly summed up by its motto of "Ever Growing, Never Ageing", Sofia is one of the oldest settlements in Europe with some of the most ancient traditions on record, yet, at the same time, it is rapidly moving forward, and the city is quickly developing into one of Eastern Europe’s hippest and trendiest party towns.
Sights to absorb in this splendid city include the magnificent Alexander Nevski Cathedral, built in 1912 to honour the Russian soldiers who died during the 1877-78 War of Liberation, freeing the Bulgarians from Ottoman rule, whilst the intricate gold-domed Alexander Nevski Memorial Church, considered the finest piece of architecture in the Balkans, similarly recognises this sacrificial event. Craftsmen and artists from 6 countries worked on the five-aisle church in the course of 30 years and created real masterpieces - icons, nearly 300 mural paintings and decorative frescoes and huge chandeliers. The frescoed interior and splendid iconostasis surpass its lavish exterior. The interior decoration, made of Italian marble, Egyptian alabaster, Brazilian onyx, gold, and mosaics, embodies the spirit of the finest Eastern Orthodox Church traditions.
Bulgaria Holidays
Returning to nature, the large first class Borovets mountain resort acts as an ideal base from which to venture outwards and explore the stunning Borovets Mountains and surrounding scenery. From here you can journey on to Plovdiv, where such sights as The Old Town and Roman Amphitheatre. The Old Town of Plovdiv is an architectural and historical reserve, situated on the Three Hills: Bounardzhika, Nebbet, and Sahat Tepe. Here you can bear witness to a flurry of picturesque houses, many of which vary in style, as they have been influenced by different European style eras over the years.
Staying in the forests, the town of Sliven, situated in the foothills of the Balkan Mountains, is a real treat for those of you with an interest in ancient European history. One of the oldest settlements in Europe, Sliven has been controlled by the Thracians, Romans, Slavs, and Ancient Greeks, and nowadays is home to a quaint textile museum that chronicles the history of the various cultures that have influenced this region.
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