Romania and Bulgaria

Product Description

ITINERARY

DAY 01 BUCHAREST

Arrival in Bucharest, capital of Romania and transfer to the hotel Rest of the day at leisure for a first contact with this city. Dinner and accommodation.

DAY 02 BUCHAREST – COZIA – SIBIU

Breakfast. Departure to the center of Romania, crossing the Department of Valcea, an area of lakes, forests and spas, where according to tradition was the camp of Emperor Trajan in his last war against the Dacians, Stop in Cozia to visit the Monastery and continuation to Sibiu, located in the historical region of Transylvania, in the heart of the country, with a medieval and modern atmosphere at the same time. Lunch and panoramic visit with local guide, with its evangelical, catholic, and orthodox cathedrals, as well as its well-kept monumental center. Continuation to the hotel. Typical Romanian dinner in the village of Sibiel and overnight.

DAY 03 SIGHISOARA – BISTRITA COUNT DRACULA’S ROUTE

Breakfast. Departure to Sighisoara, in the Transylvanian Carpathians, and free time to visit the medieval citadel (World Heritage Site by UNESCO), the “Castrum Sex” of Roman origin occupied by the Saxons in the twelfth century, in a mixture of styles and influences. Highlights the Clock Tower of 64 m, and the birthplace of Vlad Tepes “The Impaler”. Lunch. Continuation to Bistrita, known thanks to the novel by Bram Stocker, Dracula, in which the protagonist arrives in this city and stays at the hotel “The Golden Crown”, to spend the night while waiting for Count Dracula. Dinner and lodging.

DAY 04 BISTRITA – BORGO PASS – MOLDOVITA, SUCEVITA AND VORONET – BUCOVINA

Breakfast. Departure to the Borgo Pass, in the Bargau Mountains, one of the most representative places in Transylvania, which will take us north to the village of Salva, known for its rich folklore and traditional costumes. We will complement our visit and knowledge of the local traditions with a unique experience with our Lunch in Sadova. In the afternoon, we will begin to visit some of the most famous monasteries of Bukovina, in the north of the province of Moldavia, magnificent exponents of Byzantine art, erected in the time of Stephen the Great (15th-15th century) and noted for their exterior frescoes. The first on our route will be the Byzantine monastery of Moldovita (where the church of the Annunciation, one of the masterpieces of Romanian art, is located). It was built under the reign of Petru Rares, son of Stephen the Great in the 16th century. Then we will visit the monastery of Sucevita, solid stone citadel and the Voronet Monastery “the Sistine Chapel of the East”. Continuation to the hotel in the Bucovina Region (Monastery Zone). Dinner and overnight.

DAY 05 BUKOVINA – MONASTERIES OF NEAMT – CARPATOS – RED LAKE – BRASOV

Breakfast. In the morning we will visit the Neamt Monastery, the largest of the monasteries founded by Stephen the Great, with a special decoration of the facades with ceramic discs arranged vertically and horizontally. Lunch on route. Continuation to Brasov, through a very interesting scenic route through forests, lakes and seaside resorts, along the impressive gorge of the Bicaz River. Stop at the Red Lake station. Arrival in Brasov. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 06 BRASOV – BRAN – BRASOV

Breakfast. Departure to Bran Castle, built in the 14th century to stop the Turkish invasions, linked to the legend of Dracula and summer residence of the Romanian royal family from 1920. Lunch on route and return to Brasov. Panoramic tour of the city where the buildings and urbanism of the old town have been preserved: the “Piata Sfatului”, the Black Church, the Trumpet Tower, the fortifications, the citadel, the Schei district, the Church of St. Nicholas, etc.. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 07 BRASOV – SINAIA – BUCHAREST

Breakfast. Departure to Sinaia and visit of the castle-palace of Peles, of the Hohenzollern Sigmaringen family (19th century). The city takes its name from an ancient monastery under the biblical invocation of Mount Sinai, in the vicinity of which King Carol I of Romania built this Summer Palace. Continuation to Bucharest, founded by Vlad Tepes. Lunch and visit of the city with its contrast between the modern area and the old center with narrow streets. Lodging.

DAY 08 BUCHAREST – ARNABASI – VELIKO TARNOVO

Breakfast. Departure to Arbanasi, lunch. Short visit of this town, summer residence of the Bulgarian kings with houses that belonged to rich court families. View of the church of the Nativity and the Konstantsalia house. Departure to Veliko Tarnovo and visit the hill of Tzarevetz, where is the medieval walled enclosure, which was the capital of the country in the early Middle Ages, the small gate, the southern wall, the Tower of Baldoin and the Patriarch’s Palace. Free time at leisure. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 09 VELIKO TARNOVO – ETARA – KAZANLAK – PLOVDIV

Breakfast. Departure to the open-air museum Etara, where there are handicraft workshops of the 26 Bulgarian crafts practiced in the past centuries. Continuation to the Russian Orthodox Church of Shipka. Continue to the Valley of Roses, a beautiful region where the oil rose is cultivated and 70% of the rose oil used in the manufacture of perfumes is obtained. In the city of Kazanlak we will visit the replica of the Thracian tomb and the Ethnographic Museum, visit of this one. Lunch and continue to Plovdiv. Arrival and walking tour of Plovdiv, which with its old center is a real museum of ancient Bulgarian architecture and decoration. The old narrow streets, the richly colored wooden houses, the mansions with flowery gardens, the craftsmen’s bazaars and the ruins of the fortifications offer a touristic ensemble of well-deserved renown. Visit the Ethnographic Museum, the Roman Theater and the Church of Konstantin and Elena. In the evening we will be able to attend optionally to a Folkloric Dinner. Lodging.

DAY 10 PLOVDIV – SOFIA

Breakfast Departure to Sofia and panoramic visit of the city: Sveta Nedelia Square, the Rotunda of St. George, the National Theatre, Alexander Batenberg Square with the Royal Palace, the Russian Church of St. Nikolas, the Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky, with its collection of icons and the ancient basilica of St. Sophia. Lunch and afternoon at leisure in this city whose origins date back to the 8th century B.C., when the Thracians established the city. BC, when the Thracians established a settlement in the area. An optional excursion to the National Museum of History is available that afternoon. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 11 SOFIA – RILA MONASTERY – SOFIA

Breakfast and departure to Rila Monastery, built and founded in the heart of the mountain by the monk Ivan Rilski in the 10th century and since its inception has been the driving historical center of Bulgarian national culture. Visit of the museum and church. Lunch. Continuation to Sofia. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 12 SOFIA

Breakfast. Free time until transfer to the airport to take the flight to your destination city. End of our services.