From Sofia: Afternoon Self-Guided Trip to Rila Monastery

From Sofia: Afternoon Self-Guided Trip to Rila Monastery

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Explore Rila Monastery at your own pace on a leisurely self-guided trip from Sofia. Discover the fascinating history of Rila Monastery, see the Rila Cross, and optionally visit Bells Park Monument.

Highlights

Explore the Rila Monastery, a Unesco World Heritage Site at your own pace
Benefit from a reliable round-trip transfer service from Sofia city center
See the beautiful sights of the Rila Mountains
Explore the highlights at your own pace without being rushed in a tour group
Add the Bells Park and National History Museum on the way to Rila

Description

Discover Rila Monastery at your own pace on a self-guided, afternoon tour from Sofia. Begin by boarding the shuttle service at noon (12:00h) at the centrally located meeting point (National Art Gallery). Receive intridcution and tips for the visited sites by our your host and head to the medieval Rila Monastery in the spectacular Rila Mountains. Get more than 2 hours of leisure time to explore the complex, founded by the hermit monk Ivan Rilski in 927 AD. Marvel at the frescoes of the main church and visit the medieval tower independently. Wander down quiet outdoor corridors adorned with beautiful mosaics, and see gold-plated iconostasis and valuable icons from the 14th to 19th centuries. Learn more about the history of the site at the museum, where highlights include the double-sided crucifix of the Rila Cross. See the old bakery and other monuments, including the residential area with high stone walls and little windows. Board the minibus back to Sofia in the afternoon and get dropped off at the central pick-up point on arrival. Make full use of your day by combining the trip to the Rila monastery with a visit in the morning to the Bells Park monument and the National History Museum, located in a former Bulgarian communist leader's residence, on the way to the Rila monastery (depending on the tour option selected).

Includes

Roundtrip transportation from Sofia Introduction Tour assistance via phone/WhatsApp during the trip Rila Monastery information

Important Information

Please cover your knees and shoulders before visiting the monastery This tour will take place rain or shine It is recommended to bring your own packed food The Rila Monastery Museum entry ticket is 8 BGN, and the National Museum of History is 10 BGN