Small Group 2021

042 Cozia Monastery SGK 370 The Balkan Adventure from Tirana FROM TIRANA TO BUCHAREST (VIA BULGARIA) 16 Days including Tirana, Elbasan, Ohrid, Skopje, Sofia, Rila, Plovdiv, Veliko Tarnovo, Arbanassi, Baile Govora, Cozia, Sibiu, Sighisoara, Targu Mures, Bucovina painted monasteries, Brasov, Bran, Sinaia and Bucharest Day 1, Monday, arrival to Tirana Upon arrival transfer to hotel. Day 2, Tuesday, in Tirana The panoramic city tour of Albania’s capital includes views of 'The Albanians' - the mosaic in front of the Museum of National History, the Statue of Skanderbeg in Skanderbeg Square, the 'Et'hem' Mosque with the Clock tower, the monument to Mother Teresa and other monuments of the city. Rest of the day free at leisure. Day 3, Wednesday, to Elbasan and Ohrid Today, we travel along the old ‘Egnatica’ road to Elbasan to visit the Castle . We continue to Struga, famous for being the place where you can see the Black Drin river flowing out of Lake Ohrid. Then we continue to Ohrid, the city that has its place on the UNESCO list for its natural, cultural and historical values. Day 4, Thursday, to Skopje In the morning, we visit Ohrid, also known as "the Jerusalem of the Balkans" with its 365 churches. A town of vast history and heritage was honored as UNESCO heritage site in 1980. Nestled between high mountains up to 2,800 m and Lake Ohrid, it is not only a place of historic significance but also of outstanding natural beauty, it is the jewel in North Macedonia's crown. Continue to Skopje where we take a walking tour of the North Macedonian capital city upon arrival. Skopje has been occupied by many different peoples since its foundation. However, the group that left the greatest mark was the Ottomans. The Ottomans ruled North Macedonia for hundreds of years and built a large number of mosques and other buildings. The visit of Skopje includes the Mother Teresa Memorial House , dedicated to the humanitarian and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Mother Teresa. Day 5, Friday, to Sofia Today, we travel to Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria, where you will have free time upon arrival. Day 6, Saturday, in Sofia Today, we enjoy a complete tour of the city of Sofia. Among others, the most emblematic places are the Alexander Nevski Cathedral that dominates the city, the Church of Saint George, considered the best-preserved Byzantine church, the Russian Church of Saint Nicholas, the Banya Bashi mosque and the ruins of the ancient Serdica. In the afternoon, travel to the Rila Mountains to visit one of the most famous places in Bulgaria - the Rila Monastery . This monastery is a sanctuary of Bulgarian literature and spiritual life. Founded in the middle of the 10th century by San Iván de Rila, it played a key role in preserving Bulgarian culture and the language for centuries. After visiting the monastery church with its impressive fresco paintings, return to Sofia. Day 7, Sunday, to Plovdiv and Veliko Tarnovo Leaving Sofia behind, we head toward the second largest city in Bulgaria - Plovdiv. This is a city with an ancient history. During our city tour we will see the Roman Forum and the stadium, as well as the Roman amphitheater. We will walk through the cobbled streets of the small and ancient city surrounded by houses and beautiful churches. After the visit we will cross the Balkan Mountains through the historic Shipka Pass, which played a key role in the Russian-Turkish War for the Liberation of Bulgaria. Arrival in Veliko Tarnovo - the medieval capital of Bulgaria. Day 8, Monday, to Arbanassi and Baile Govora In the morning, panoramic visit of the city of Veliko Tarnovo with a walk to Tsarevets , where the kings of Bulgaria once lived. We will walk along the oldest street in the city called Samovodska Charshia. We will proceed to Arbanassi, a small village in Bulgaria located 4 km from Veliko Tarnovo, known for its interesting architecture. In the village, we can see the Konstancalieva house and the Church of the Nativity , whose wall paintings are a work of art. Then we head to the mountain resort of Baile Govora (long transfer). Day 9, Tuesday, to Cozia and Sibiu Head to Cozia for a visit of the Byzantine style Cozia Monastery . A model of harmonious proportions, the main church is richly decorated with frescoes dating back to 1390. Then we cross the Olt Valley into Transylvania. In the afternoon we take a panoramic walk through the city of Sibiu. Sibiu is one of the most important cultural centers of Romania and bears a strong resemblance to a southern