Small group day trip to Medieval Bulgaria

You will meet your local guide at your hotel and you will drive south from Bucharest, towards the Romanian – Bulgarian border. After crossing the Danube River and the Friendship Bridge, you will enter Bulgaria, also known as the country of roses.
Your tour destination is Veliko Tarnovo. On the way there, you will stop to explore the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo. You will see Bulgarian Medieval churches, chapels and monastic cells hewn into the craggy gorge of Roussenski Lom River. Inscriptions, portraits of saints and other restored items are dated back to the 13th century. This unique monument of Bulgarian Medieval Art is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Next, you will head directly to Veliko Tarnovo. This town has a very rich history, as it was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire. It is also deeply rooted in Bulgarian tradition. The city is full of museums and historical sites, combined with vivacious nightlife propelled by the students in one of the largest universities in Bulgaria.
Take a walk on the Artisans Street where you have the chance to pass by craftsman's workshops owned by Bulgarian families for generations, preserving the old traditions. You will have the chance to see a fully functional Coppersmith workshop where even to this day, the specialty is formed out of copper plates & cups for Turkish coffee.
An icon painter is right next door, a miniaturist is exhibiting his art in the shinny window of a dusty building from the 19th century, while the silversmith is producing jewelry with traditional and contemporary motifs. There is no doubt that this place has a unique atmosphere
Hike up the Tsarevets Hill with the remains of the castle and church of the Bulgarian Kings. They were the ones that established the Bulgarian state after the Byzantine domination in the 12th century. Visit the Fortress, the Patriarchal Church, the Royal Palace and the Emperor Balduin’s Tower.
Next, you will drive to Arbanassi and step back in time while wandering the streets lined with houses and churches dating back as far as the 16th century. Take a peek into the life of rich merchants from the 17th century while visiting the Konstantsalieva House, a typical house from the area, showing the lavish but simple lifestyle of the nobility.
During your lunch break, you can stop in one of many traditional restaurants serving local food and savor the famous Bulgarian cuisine famous worldwide for its diversity and unique taste.
Head back to Bucharest and if time allows, also take a brief walk in Ruse, Bulgaria’s first European style city with the first streets with curbstones and pavements, Viennese lanterns and catering establishments. Bulgaria’s first lift was installed here in 1896. The list of monuments is vast here, counting sites like the Main Square, Palace of Justice, Catholic Boarding School, French College, the Pantheon, the Neo-Gothic Church of Saint Paul and over 200 buildings designated monuments of culture.
In the evening arrive back to your accommodation after a day full of great and unique experiences.