Day Tour to Rila Monastery from Sofia
Tour ID: 1070
Tour Theme: Sightseeing Guided City Tours and Day Trips (Bulg)
Countries: Bulgaria
Duration: 1 Day - 7 hours approx.
Tour Theme: Sightseeing Guided City Tours and Day Trips (Bulg)
Countries: Bulgaria
Duration: 1 Day - 7 hours approx.
Day Tour to Rila Monastery from Sofia. Rila Monastery is the biggest monastery
in Bulgaria, one of the most remarkable monuments on the Balkan Peninsula. It is
situated at an altitude of 1100 m in the northwestern part of Rila mountains,
135 km south of Sofia. The monastery was founded in the 10th century by the
Bulgarian monk St. John of Rila and was rebuilt in the l3th -l4th century. From
that time are the fortress tower (1334), erected by the local ruler Hrelyo
Dragovola, the bishopâ™s throne, richly carved doors and some manuscripts,
icon-paintings and church plateс. In the l5th century, when Bulgaria fell under
the Ottoman yoke, the monastery was abandoned for a short time but in the second
half of the same century it was restored to a new life. Later it was for several
times plundered and ravaged. Its thorough renovation began in the early l9th
century.
It
was then that the residential wings and the church of the Holy Virgin were
raised (1834-1837). In the four-story dormitories there are more than 400 cells,
4 chapels, guest-rooms, a cook-house, unique in terms of construction and
design. The mural paintings are remarkable- all of them work of masters builders
from Samokov and Bansko Art School of the 19 th century. A museum with a rich
library is arranged at the monastery. Since 1983 it is included in the list of
monuments of the world culture and natural heritage compiled at UNESCO.Inquire for more details...
Day Tour to
Rila Monastery from Sofia!!!
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