Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Day Tour
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.
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Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Day Tour
What's included in Rila Monastery and Boyana Church Day Tour
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Rila Monastery
The artistic richness of the frescoes, carvings, and ancient material monuments found on these sites is enormous. And to top it off, all of this rich cultural history is preserved by a large museum complex, complete with a rich library that preserves approximately 3,500 unique exhibits, including nearly 300 manuscripts, and 9,000 print and graphic publications from the 11th to 19th centuries. Safely protected within the museum grounds are also the relics of the founder of the monastery and patron saint of the Bulgarian people, St. Ivan Rilski, as well as the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God Osenovitsa, and the relics of 32 early Christian saints.
Inclusions
- Audio records for 5 museums
- Map of Boyana church
- Рrofessional driver/assistant guide
- Audio guide device ENG | FR | ES | IT | RU | BG | DE |
- Transportation Air-conditioned vehicle
- Map of Rila Monastery
- Parking Fees
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- Information for your tours: Departure: 09:00 (meeting at 08:45) Place of departure: Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (there is a bus stop at the back of the temple) Your bus and the guide who will be responsible for you will be signed "Audio Guide Bulgaria" or "City Tour".
