Rila Monastery and Boyana Church with Light Lunch
Sofia, Bulgaria
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Trip Type: Full-day Tours
Duration: 8 hours
The tour includes a visit of Rila Monastery, recognized as a part of UNESCO world heritage site. The tour also explores the cave of St. Ivan Rilski the miracle-worker, who is the most famous Bulgarian hermit and saint. The next stop will be another UNESCO site- Boyana church. This one-day tour provides the unique opportunity to visit one of the supreme Bulgarian sites, along with some of the highlights of the region.
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The tour includes a visit of Rila Monastery, recognized as a part of UNESCO world heritage site. The tour also explores the cave of St. Ivan Rilski the miracle-worker, who is the most famous Bulgarian hermit and saint. The next stop will be another UNESCO site- Boyana church. This one-day tour provides the unique opportunity to visit one of the supreme Bulgarian sites, along with some of the highlights of the region.
Rila Monastery is the biggest and most important orthodox cloister in the country and the jewel of Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage. Recognized as a part of UNESCO world heritage sites since 1976, the monastery is an unique monument of the church architecture. Situated deep in the dense pine forests of Rila mountain, it is a place of massive cultural and historical importance and acts as the keeper of the national identity trough the middle ages. The monastery museum contains some amazing examples of the best Bulgarian icon painting and woodcarving. Not far away is the cave where St. Ivan Rilski, the founder of the monastery, originally lived. St. Ivan was a miracle-worker and is considered the most honored Bulgarian holy man, with his cave considered a sacred place.
Another UNESCO site, part of the tour is Boyana Church, located on the outskirts of Sofia. It was added to the World Cultural Heritage List in 1979. The building consists of three parts, which are example of the Byzantine architecture - Greek cross ground-plan with dome, richly decorated facades with ceramic elements. In the interior of the church there are several layers of wall paintings from different historical periods-11th, 13th, 15-17th and 19th. The church owes its world fame mainly to its frescoes from 1259, which reflect the unique achievements of the Bulgarian medieval culture. According to the experts the style of the paintings from this period is much resembling the Renaissance style though much earlier than it begun. The Boyana Church displays 89 different scenes with 240 human figures either individually or together.
Itinerary: The tour starts from your hotel. After a 2-hour transfer, we reach the Rila monastery. Enjoy a 2-hour tour of the Holy cloister. After lunch, it is time to visit the cave of st. Ivan Rilski (1 hour). Transfer back to Sofia (2 hours), visit of Boyana church (1 hour). Afterwards the tour ends at your hotel
Another UNESCO site, part of the tour is Boyana Church, located on the outskirts of Sofia. It was added to the World Cultural Heritage List in 1979. The building consists of three parts, which are example of the Byzantine architecture - Greek cross ground-plan with dome, richly decorated facades with ceramic elements. In the interior of the church there are several layers of wall paintings from different historical periods-11th, 13th, 15-17th and 19th. The church owes its world fame mainly to its frescoes from 1259, which reflect the unique achievements of the Bulgarian medieval culture. According to the experts the style of the paintings from this period is much resembling the Renaissance style though much earlier than it begun. The Boyana Church displays 89 different scenes with 240 human figures either individually or together.
Itinerary: The tour starts from your hotel. After a 2-hour transfer, we reach the Rila monastery. Enjoy a 2-hour tour of the Holy cloister. After lunch, it is time to visit the cave of st. Ivan Rilski (1 hour). Transfer back to Sofia (2 hours), visit of Boyana church (1 hour). Afterwards the tour ends at your hotel
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