Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Day Tour
Description
Take a day to visit the cultural heart of Bulgaria: Rila Monastery and Boyana Church. Discover the origins of the Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabets and learn about the monastery’s role in Bulgaria’s political and Orthodox history.
The artistic richness of frescoes, carvings, and ancient monuments at these sites is immense. Rila Monastery features a large museum complex with a library holding around 3,500 exhibits, including 300 manuscripts and 9,000 printed works from the 11th to 19th centuries. Also preserved are the relics of St. Ivan Rilski, patron saint of Bulgaria, the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God Osenovitsa, and relics of 32 early Christian saints.
Boyana Church, near Sofia, was built in the 10th century and reflects the Byzantine-Balkan Renaissance. It houses the famed 13th-century portrait of Desislava, the “Bulgarian Mona Lisa.”
Both sites are UNESCO-listed — join the tour and discover why.
The artistic richness of frescoes, carvings, and ancient monuments at these sites is immense. Rila Monastery features a large museum complex with a library holding around 3,500 exhibits, including 300 manuscripts and 9,000 printed works from the 11th to 19th centuries. Also preserved are the relics of St. Ivan Rilski, patron saint of Bulgaria, the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God Osenovitsa, and relics of 32 early Christian saints.
Boyana Church, near Sofia, was built in the 10th century and reflects the Byzantine-Balkan Renaissance. It houses the famed 13th-century portrait of Desislava, the “Bulgarian Mona Lisa.”
Both sites are UNESCO-listed — join the tour and discover why.
Included
Transportation Air-conditioned vehicle
Рrofessional driver/assistant guide
Audio guide device ENG | FR | ES | IT | RU | BG | DE |
Map of Rila Monastery
Map of Boyana church
Audio records for 5 museums
Parking Fees
Рrofessional driver/assistant guide
Audio guide device ENG | FR | ES | IT | RU | BG | DE |
Map of Rila Monastery
Map of Boyana church
Audio records for 5 museums
Parking Fees
Know before you go
Other information:
- The monastery roads are mostly cobblestone, so we recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
- When entering the monastery, knees and shoulders must be covered. There are few places to eat around the monastery, so from April to October, we recommend bringing food with you. From November to March, we organize a stop at a nearby restaurant, as the colder weather makes outdoor dining uncomfortable.
- Bring cash (preferably Bulgarian leva) — shops, restaurants in the area, and museums in the monastery mainly accept cash.
The Boyana church is closed on the 1st of January, on the Sunday of the Orthodox Easter, on the 24th of December, the 25th of December - and on such days the tour is done only to the Rila Monastery.
Location:
Supplier:
Audio-Guide Bulgaria