Sofia: Rila Monastery & Boyana Church with Lunch & Admission

About this tour

In order to visit Rila Monastery, the biggest and most significant Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria, depart from Sofia and head to the Rila Mountains. The monastery, which stands deep within the mountains’ dense pine forests, was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1976. Since the Middle Ages, it has been regarded as the guardian of Bulgaria’s national identity.

Admire the monastery’s striped colonnades and domed structures while learning about some incredible woodcarving and icon painting in the museum. Visit the cave where Saint Ivan Rilski, the monastery’s founder, resided and rests. Learn about his reputation as a miracle worker and the significance of his cave.

Then, visit Boyana Church, which was included on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List in 1979, which is located outside of Sofia. Admire its Greek cross ground plan with domes and Byzantine architecture. Be enthralled by the church’s elaborately painted exterior and interior, which features layers of wall paintings from the 11th, 13th, 15th, 16th, 17th, and 19th centuries.

Look at the 1259 frescoes for representations of medieval life in Bulgaria. Even though they were made much earlier, the experts claim that the style of these paintings is similar to the Renaissance.