Arrive in Sofia on suggested flights and make your own way to the hotel. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including travel insurance (a condition of travel), private hotel transfer, accommodation before or after the tour and a room category upgrade.

At 17:30, attend a welcome briefing and talk by your tour leader, Liz Gibson, followed by dinner with Liz and fellow tour members.

(D)

After a morning talk by Liz, set off on foot to explore Bulgaria’s vibrant capital. Uncover the fascinating ruins of Serdica, the well-preserved remains of an ancient Roman city that dates back to the first century CE, and marvel at the fifth-century Byzantine Church of Saint Sofia, one of the oldest churches in the city, which offers insight into the religious and cultural evolution of Sofia over the centuries.

Explore Bulgaria’s National Art Gallery, which displays over 50,000 pieces of Bulgarian art, from the Renaissance to contemporary pieces. Admire masterpieces by renowned Bulgarian artists such as Ivan Milev and Vladimir Dimitrov and experience the evolution of Bulgarian art through the ages.

After lunch, visit the National Archaeological Museum, housed within the oldest former Ottoman mosque in the city, with a large collection of pieces dating from Prehistory through to the Thracian, Roman and Byzantine periods.

(BL)

Depart Sofia and travel to Rila Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage site nestled in the Rila Mountains, south of Sofia. It is the largest and most famous Eastern Orthodox monastery in Bulgaria and one of Bulgaria’s most iconic examples of medieval architecture. Founded in the tenth century by Saint John of Rila, it became the primary spiritual and cultural centre of Bulgaria. Devastated by fire in 1833, it was rebuilt and stands today as Bulgaria’s most impressive example of National Revival architecture.

Enjoy lunch among the verdant mountain scenery before continuing to Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city and also one of its oldest.

The evening is at leisure.

(BL)

This morning, explore the charming cobbled streets of Plovdiv’s old city, which contain a living museum of the various phases of Bulgarian domestic architecture, including the unique buildings of the National Revival style, such as the Hindylian House Museum.

Visit Zlatyu Boyadzhiev House, which highlights the works of one of Bulgaria’s most celebrated artists, before being immersed in the city’s ancient past. Be amazed by the second century Roman amphitheatre built during the reign of Emperor Trajan, see the remains of the Roman Stadium in the lower town and enjoy stunning floor mosaics of the Early Christian Bishop’s Basilica.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

In the morning, depart Plovdiv for Kazanlak, located in the Valley of the Roses, the geographical centre of Bulgaria.

Visit the Kazanlak Art Gallery, founded in 1901 and among the oldest art collections in Bulgaria, before continuing to Ahinora House, a beautifully preserved example of Bulgarian National Revival architecture which houses works by Kazanlak artist Ivan Milev. Continue to the replica of the Thracian Tomb, a round burial chamber decorated with lively murals representing the military and political life of the Thracian leader, before checking in to the hotel.

In the evening, enjoy a private visit to Stoyan Staynov House, adorned by frescoes painted by the eminent Bulgarian artist Ivan Milev in 1925.

(B)

After breakfast, depart Kazanlak and visit the “beehive” tomb of Thracian King Seuthes III, who ruled in the fourth century BC, followed by the Shipka Memorial Church dedicated to the Russian and Bulgarian soldiers who died for the liberation of Bulgaria in the Russo-Turkish War between 1877 and 1878.

Continue to Arbanassi, perched on a high plateau overlooking the Trapezitsa and Tsarevets hills, and visit two remarkable examples of Bulgarian religious architecture: the Church of Nativity of Christ, known for its stunning frescoes and intricate iconostasis dating back to the 17th century, and the Church of Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel, renowned for its unique design and vibrant biblical murals.

In the late afternoon, arrive in Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of Bulgaria and often referred to as the ‘City of the Tsars’, and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

This morning, explore the medieval fortress of Tsarevets, the Second Bulgarian Empire’s main fortress and its strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393, housing the royal and patriarchal palaces.

Drive to Ruse for a lunch stop before reaching the Bulgarian/Romanian border and checkpoint. Following visa and passport formalities, continue to Bucharest, the capital of Romania.

(BL)

Begin the morning with a talk by Liz before a walking tour of Bucharest’s historic heart, followed by a coach tour along the Parisian-style boulevards and the old diplomatic area with its Belle Époque buildings. In great contrast, see the Bucharest constructed under the notorious past Romanian President, Nicolae Ceausescu, including the extravagant Palace of the Parliament, the second largest civilian administrative building in the world after the Pentagon in the US.

After lunch at a local restaurant, enjoy a tour of the National Art Gallery, housed in the former neoclassical-style Royal Palace. In the Romanian Gallery, see works from the Middle Ages to the contemporary era, including those of notable Romanian artists such as Nicolae Grigorescu, Theodor Pallady and Constantin Brâncuși.

The evening is at leisure with an opportunity to enjoy an optional concert of the Enescu Festival (not included in tour price; extra cost applies).

(BL)

Depart Bucharest and drive to Brașov, the major city in the historical region of Transylvania, bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range and a former Saxon fortress.

Stop enroute in the mountain resort of Sinaia to visit the imposing neo-Renaissance Peleş Castle, built by King Carol I of Romania (1839–1914) as the summer residence of the royal family.

Continue to Brașov and view the fortification walls and the Old Town Hall Square with its colourful Baroque-style buildings. Visit the imposing Black Church, Romania’s largest Gothic church, whose name derives from damage caused by the Great Fire of 1689, and see its impressive collection of Anatolian carpets.

In the early evening, visit the enigmatic Bran Castle – better known as Dracula’s castle – a national Romanian monument situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia, and enjoy dinner at a nearby restaurant.

(BD)

Depart Brașov and drive to Sibiu. On the way, stop to visit the UNESCO-listed Prejmer Fortified Church, founded by the Germanic Teutonic Knights in the 13th century and taken over by the Transylvanian Saxon community after their expulsion. With a blend of Gothic and Romanesque styles, this church is one of the best-preserved fortified churches in Transylvania.

Enjoy some time for lunch at leisure in the medieval town of Sighişoara, founded by German craftsmen and merchants known as the Saxons of Transylvania.

Arrive in Sibiu in the afternoon and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

(BD)

After breakfast, explore Sibiu, the geographic heart of Romania and, until WWII, the centre of the Transylvanian Saxons. From the 14th century, the walled city of Sibiu became the most important ethnic German city among the seven cities that gave Transylvania its German name Siebenbürgen (‘seven cities’). On a walking tour, see the city’s impressive fortifications, the Lutheran Church decorated with Anatolian rugs, the ornate baroque Jesuit Church and the late 19th century Orthodox Church modelled on Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.

Later, continue to Hunedoara and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before visiting Corvin Castle, a Gothic-Renaissance castle featured as one of the Seven Wonders of Romania. Its construction began in the 14th century, commissioned by John Hunyadi, a prominent military leader and future governor of Hungary. The castle’s strategic location and formidable design served to defend against invasions, particularly from the Ottoman Empire. The castle’s impressive towers, intricate stone carvings and vast inner courtyard reflect its historical significance and architectural grandeur.

Return to Sibiu in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure.

(BL)

This morning, depart Sibiu and visit Alba Iulia, a town developed by Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor. The so-called Upper Town features a star-shaped fortress constructed between 1716 and 1735 by Swiss architects Giovanni Morandi Visconti and Nicolaus Doxat de Demoret. Visconti built two Italian-style bastions, while Doxat transformed the medieval structure into a seven-bastion Baroque fortress, following the Dutch fortification system of Menno van Coehorn. Alba Iulia’s fortress is recognised as the best-preserved example of this architectural style.

After lunch, continue to Cluj, one of Romania’s largest cities, with a blend of medieval and modern architecture.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.

(BL)

After checking out of the hotel, drive through the picturesque countryside of Maramureș, the most northerly region of Romania. Rich in tradition, the Maramureș villages are distinguished by their unique wooden churches with tall Gothic-style spires and shingled roofs.

Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Baia Mare before continuing to Șurdești for a visit to the 18th-century Church of the Archangels Michael and Gabriel, one of the eight Wooden Churches of Maramureș listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

Arrive in Sighetu Marmației in the late afternoon and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(BLD)

Start the day with a morning talk by Liz and a walking tour of Sighetu Marmației, known until 1960 as Sighet. The town has a deep-rooted history that dates back to the Middle Ages but is also known for its role during the communist regime, as it was home to the notorious Sighet Prison, now transformed into a museum that highlights the struggles and resilience of those who opposed the regime.

Later, visit the home of Romanian-born American writer and Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and enjoy some time at leisure for lunch. Afterwards, drive to Săpânța to visit the fascinating and colourful Merry Cemetery. Renowned for its vibrant tombstones adorned with naïve paintings, this cemetery uniquely captures the lives of those buried there through original and poetic depictions.

In the evening, enjoy a traditional dinner with a folk performance at a local restaurant.

(BD)

Today, drive along the Iza river to Bârsana, home to the Church of the Presentation of the Virgin in the Temple, another one of the eight Wooden Churches of Maramureș.

Afterwards, continue to Bucovina, a region in the north-eastern province of Moldavia, renowned for the colourful exterior frescoes on the walls of its UNESCO World Heritage monasteries. These triumphs of Byzantine-influenced art reflect a development of Moldavian civilisation in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Check in to the hotel in Gura Humorului, the base for exploring the medieval painted monasteries of Bucovina, and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

(BD)

This morning, travel to Sucevita to visit its renowned monastery, the largest in Bucovina, with its outstanding and rather sobering ‘Stairway of Virtue’ fresco.

After a picnic lunch, continue to Moldovita and marvel at the International Museum of Painted Eggs, dedicated to the traditional art of egg painting, a practice deeply rooted in Romanian folklore.

In the late afternoon, visit the Voronet Monastery, perhaps the most famous of the painted monasteries. Known as ‘the Sistine Chapel of the East’ due to its interior and exterior wall paintings, this monastery is decorated with an abundance of frescoes depicting dramatic religious scenes which feature an intense blue known as ‘Voronet blue’.

(BLD)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and drive back to Bucharest, arriving in the late afternoon.

Tonight, celebrate the conclusion of the tour with a special farewell dinner with Liz and fellow travellers.

(BLD)

Tour arrangements conclude after breakfast.

For those returning home today, make your way to Bucharest Airport for suggested flights to Australia or New Zealand. Renaissance Tours or your travel agent can assist you with your flights and other travel arrangements, including a private airport transfer, additional nights’ accommodation either before or after the tour and travel insurance (a condition of travel).

(B)