two famous castles

During the panoramic sightseeing tour of Sofia you will visit some of the most important tourist attractions of the capital of Bulgaria. One of them is Alexander Nevski Cathedral, the biggest church in Bulgaria and according to many – the most spectacular building in Sofia. Next to Alexander Nevski Cathedral is The Church of Sveta Sofia, one of the oldest surviving Christian churches dating from the 6th century and probably the seat of the city`s bishop during the second Bulgarian Kingdom in the 12th century. National Assembly Square is another interesting stop. Here is located the Monument to the Tsar Liberator, an equestrian statue of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, whose war with the Ottoman Empire led to the liberation of Bulgaria. During this walking tour of Sofia you will admire the opulent Neo-Classical style building of National Theatre, built in 1907 by two Viennese architects. Next to the Presidency of Bulgaria is The Party House, built in 1954 to serve as the headquarters of the Central Committee of The Bulgarian Communist Party, this is Sofia`s most imposing example of Stalinist era architecture. Another interesting stop will be The Rotonda of Sveti Georgi which probably stands on the site of a pre-Christian temple. The church was converted into a mosque in the 16th century but the interior frescoes were kept. Leaving Sofia after lunch, we go south towards the ancient Rila Monastery, included in UNESCO World Heritage. Rila`s monks played a crucial role in preserving Bulgaria`s language and history during the most repressive periods of Ottoman rule. Magnificent murals adorn the church walls, illustrating religious characters and different episodes from the Bible. After the interesting visit to Rila Monastery and a couple of hours driving we will reach Plovdiv town which consists of steep cobbled streets lined with fine National Revival houses from the 19th century, many of them. During the Plovdiv Sightseeing tour we will visit the famous Roman Theatre. The three hills on which Plovdiv`s Old town stands were settled by Thracians in the 5 the millennium BC. The history of the ancient town of Plovdiv is pretty much connected with the Byzantine and Roman Empire History, the arrival of the Slavic tribes in the area, then the Ottoman conquering but also with Liberation of Bulgaria started before the 1878 war from here. There is a long list of tourist attractions of Plovdiv and here we will mention just couple of them: Roman Stadium, Dzhumaya Mosque, Church of Sveta Bogoroditsa and some of the most important National Revival style houses built for wealthy merchants in Plovdiv`s Old Town. Do not miss the impressive Roman marble amphitheater, set on the hillside overlooking the city and the mountains, which was discovered during a construction work in 1927. You can end this wonderful day with a Bulgarian traditional dinner and a glass of Bulgaria’s best wine. Overnight in Plovdiv at 3*** hotel close to the old town.