Sofia

 

Rila Monastry
No trip to Bulgaria would be complete without a trip to the Rila Monastery, the country's most famous monastery, which is renowned for its fabulous architecture and dramatic setting in the Rila mountain range. It is an improbable and magical citadel situated deep in the forest, and as breathtaking as the Rila mountains themselves. A must for the visitor to see.

Rila Mountains
A paradise for skiiers, walkers and climbers The Rila mountains seem to be a piece of the Alps thrown into the heart of the Balkans with many peaks above 2000m, divided by stunning glacial valleys and lakes. The mountains are considered a very popular place for Bulgarian rock climbers and mountaineers and many foreign climbers will join them once the word spreads. The area is extremely beautiful and offers sites such as a 100m waterfall, overhanging 300m red granite walls, centuries-old forests, beautiful Rila lakes and rivers. Situated one above the other the lakes form a brilliant necklace of crystal blue water basins.

Sofia

Founded seven thousand years ago, Sofia is the second oldest city in Europe. It has been given several names in the course of history and the remnants of the old cities can still be seen today.

Serdika was the name of the central dwelling of the ancient Thracian tribe known as “Serdi”. It bore that name when it became part of the Bulgarian state at the beginning of the ninth century and was soon recognised as one of the most important feudal towns, acquiring the Slavic name Sredets.

Near Sofia lies Boyana church, which is one of the most valuable memorials of Bulgarian and European culture. The church boasts frescoes, acclaimed by specialists as “the best examples of eastern mediaeval art during its twelve century history”.

The decline of Sofia during the Ottoman Empire was followed by the rejuvenation after the liberation in 1879, when Sofia was chosen as the capital of Bulgaria at the First National Constituent Assembly. The plans of 1881-1882 were followed by a brisk and straight-forward period of construction.

During the years of the totalitarian regime (9 September 1944 - 10 November 1989) Sofia became the major national economic, academic and cultural centre. From its years of socialist growth, however, the capital inherited a great deal of problems, which are at present the priorities of the democratically - elected council of Sofia.

In 1992, in honour of the celebration of St. Sofia the Martyr, the Government chose September 17th as the Day of Sofia. The flag of Sofia Municipality was also consecrated on that day.

Jeravna is a little Bulgarian village with ancient Bulgarian architecture, situated in the central part of the Eastern Balkan mountains, near the town of Kotel in Bulgaria.
The village of Jeravna has 330 houses and 550 habitants. It is situated at 640 m. above sea level. The most elevated point is Rasboina peak which is at 1128 m. above sea level. The minimum temperatures are registered in January (-10°C) and maximum temperatures are in July (39°C).