Discover one of the most important locations in Bulgaria on this tour of the Rila Monastery from Sofia. Moreover, you'll also visit the cave of Saint John of Rila.
Discover the History
Travelling to Bulgaria and not visiting the Rila Monastery would be a huge mistake. Would you really want to miss out on seeing one of the most beautiful places in the entire country? To do so, meet us behind the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in the centre of Sofia, and you'll be whisked away to your destination.
You'll leave the capital behind and little by little make your way unto the Rila mountain range, the highest mountains in the Balkans. During the tour, Bulgaria's most important geographical and natural features will be revealed to you, which are essential to understanding the country's history.
Upon arriving at the Rila Monastery, you'll be allowed two hours to explore the attractions of this World Heritage Site. This imposing temple, one of the greatest achievements of the Bulgarian Rennaisance, with its most beautiful frescos, will leave you stunned.
It's also recommended that you visit its cloister and museum, after all, it's a monument that encourages an awareness of Slavic cultural identity after many years of occupation.
Once you're done exploring the monastery, you'll be brought to the cave of Saint John of Rila, just 4 kilometres (2.48 miles) away from the monastery. To get there, we'll walk through the forest and see a small church just before arriving at the grotto, where Saint John of Rila spent more than seven years of his life. You'll learn all about his story!
Finally, you'll be brought back to Sofia where the tour will end after 8 hours of tours and travelling.
Itinerary Changes
In the event of adverse weather conditions, the walk to the Cave of Ivan Rilksi will be substituted with a visit to Boyana Church or a longer tour of Rila Monastery.
Languages
When making your booking, you'll be able to choose whether you wish to do the tour in English or with an audioguide through another of the included languages (German, Italian, Russian, French, or Spanish).
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