Visit two of the most important monuments in Sofia – Boyana Church and Rila Monastery. Essential for any trip to the Bulgarian capital!
Description
We'll meet at the car park in Alexander Nevski Square, where we'll catch a bus and head to Boyana, a neighbourhood located to the city's south.
After a 25-minute journey in which you see the city's surroundings, we'll arrive in Boyana. Our first stop will be the Boyana Church, a small orthodox sanctuary with frescos from three different periods: the 11th century, 13th century and 19th century. You'll be amazed by the Italian Renaissance paintings that are a perfect example of the medieval art of Eastern Europe.
We continue our journey, arriving at the monastery of Rila. This is an iconic monument in Sofia to demonstrate Slavic cultural identity following the Ottoman occupation. We'll tour the grounds of this impressive medieval monument with colourful arches and domes that will leave you stunned.
Then we enter the interior to see the golden iconostasis carved into wood, one of the largest in the Balkans, and the tomb of the last monarch of Bulgaria, Boris III. Then you'll have around two hours of free time in order to complete your experience and explore the area on your own.
Once we've explored the area, we'll return to Sofia at approximately 5:30 pm.
Transfer to Rila Monastery
If you prefer to explore on your own, you can also book the option that includes only the transfer directly to Rila Monastery. Please note that this option is not guided and does not stop at the Boyana Church.
Important
The Boyana Church is closed during the Orthodox Easter and on January 1.
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