About this experience
Join us on a journey to two UNESCO-listed sacred places. In the heart of the Rila Mountains, you will visit a monastery that has become one of Bulgaria's symbols. Explore its fresco painting, the oldest icon of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and discover a collection of five museums. In the outskirts of Sofia, you will see a mural of great significance in European art history.
Please note: the tour at the monasteries is conducted in English; audio guides in Russian will be provided for visiting the sites.
How the tour goes
- At 09:00 - departure by bus from the meeting point in Sofia. The one-way journey will take approximately 2 hours.
- You will be traveling with an international group: fellow travelers from different countries may accompany you.
- No on-the-road tour is planned. Our Russian-speaking tour guide will be available for any questions or assistance.
- Upon arrival at the monastery, an English-language tour by a guide will last 30-40 minutes. If you prefer listening in Russian, you will be provided with an audio guide containing similar information and a map of the complex. You will have 2.5 hours of free time to explore the grounds and visit the museums.
- On the way back, there will be a stop at Boyana Church. The visit to the church is strictly timed and takes 8 minutes for each group. You can also use our audio guide here.
- Approximately at 17:30 - return to Sofia
A brief overview of the tour sites
Rila Monastery
The monastery is located at the foot of the Rila Mountains, in the heart of Mount Rila, between two rivers at an altitude of 1147 meters and covers an area of almost 9000 sq. m. Founded in the 10th century by St. John of Rila, the monastery houses his relics.
You will admire the impressive frescoes covering the entire interior and open gallery of the church. You will see the main relic of the monastery - the miraculous icon of the Osenskaya Most Holy Theotokos from the 12th century. You will learn about the special value of the oldest shrine of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church here.
Additionally, within the complex, you can visit the Icon, Church, and Ethnographic museums, the Ancient Tower, and the Monastery Kitchen Museum.
Boyana Church
In the outskirts of Sofia, you will stop by a small 10th-century church. Its fame lies in the exceptional 13th-century frescoes. This is one of the few completely preserved monuments of Eastern European art from the Medieval period.
The church is primarily known for portrait images of the highest Bulgarian aristocracy. The portraits of the royal couple and the family pair of Kaloyan and Desislava significantly predate the European Renaissance. Therefore, the interest of travelers in ancient art at Boyana Church has not diminished for many years.
