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Bucharest
Check in to the deluxe Hilton Athenee Palace, a distinguished city landmark for nearly 100 years. This evening, you’ll meet your engaging Trip Leader Silviu Anghel and fellow travelers as you gather for a welcome dinner at Caru cu Bere. Since 1879, this historic restaurant has been serving fine Romanian fare accompanied by traditional music and dance. Meals D
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Explore Bucharest
After breakfast, Mr. Anghel will be waiting to show you the historic and architectural landmarks of the city, including the Patriarchal Cathedral and the enormous Palace of Parliament; built during the Ceauşescu regime, this is one of the largest buildings in the world. From Revolution Square, you’ll be able to take in some of the city’s most impressive sites, including the Romanian Athenaeum – a handsome 19th century concert hall – and the imposing structures which once served as the headquarters for the Communist Party. It was from these rooftops that Nicolae Ceauşescu fled by helicopter at the end of 1989. In Herăstrău Park, the open-air Village Museum features a variety of traditional houses, workshops and studios which have been transported here from around the country; it’s a fine introduction to the diversity of Romania’s regional architectural styles. Meals B
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Across Transylvania to Sibiel
After checking out from your hotel this morning, you’ll depart the city in a northwesterly direction to the lovely centuries-old town of Curtea de Arges. The monastery here is an architectural wonder, built in the 1500’s with spiraling towers. Continue into the tranquil Olt River Valley to visit the Cozia Monastery, one of the oldest in Romania. Set along the riverbanks, this 14th century monastery is renowned for its splendid Byzantine frescoes.
Upon arrival in the quiet Transylvanian village of Sibiel, horse drawn carriages will transport you to the charming Reghina Sibiel Inn, where a traditional bread-and-salt welcome awaits. This evening’s dinner with a local family will be a festive and memorable occasion as well as a great opportunity to experience an authentic slice of life in the Romanian countryside. Meals B,D
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World Heritage Sites and the town where Dracula was born
About 170 miles from Bucharest in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains is the historic town of Sibiu. Once a major Saxon trading center, this 12th century town retains a distinctly Germanic ambience and still reflects the grandeur of its wealthy past. Your sightseeing here this morning will take you inside the medieval walls which still stand around sections of the historic district. Walking along narrow streets, you’ll pass steep-roofed 17th century homes to explore charming town squares dominated by medieval church towers.
Continue to Biertan to visit the fortified Saxon church, built between the 15th and 16th centuries in Gothic style with strong Renaissance influences. Recognized by UNESCO in 1993 as a World Heritage Site, this imposing structure was the religious center for the Saxons in Transylvania.
An impressive silhouette of towers and spires welcomes you to Sighişoara, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Regarded as one of Europe’s best-preserved medieval towns, your sightseeing here includes the Old Town and the Church on the Hill - from where you will have a terrific view of the Citadel and its 14th century Clock Tower. Before departing town, you’ll also visit the house where Dracula was born in 1432. Arrive in Brasov in time for dinner at Casa Hirscher and enjoy a 2-night stay at Curtea Brasoveana, a fine boutique style hotel ideally located in the Old Town. Meals B,D
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Out and about in Transylvania
Tour the fairytale town of Brasov, founded in the 12th century and home to the historic Black Church, so-named after its massive Gothic walls were blackened by a fire that devastated much of the town. At the country’s first school, get to know the fascinating life of Professor Olteanu Vasile in a private meeting arranged just for our guests. Through his personal insights, you’ll gain a deeper understanding and richer appreciation for Romania’s rich history and its enduring cultural traditions. In the afternoon, your sightseeing continues with Bran Castle, originally built in the 13th century as a stronghold by the Knights of the Teutonic Order and later made famous in Bram Stoker’s novel. Meals B
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From Brasov into Bulgaria
In the decades leading up to World War II and the abdication of the Royal Family, the charming mountain enclave of Sinaia was a favorite summer retreat of the Romanian aristocracy. Here, deep in the Carpathian Mountains, you’ll tour Peles Castle – revered as one of the finest and best-preserved royal palaces in all of Europe. Built in the late 1800’s by King Carol I, this impressive edifice of wood, stone, brick and marble comprises 160 rooms. It was designed by a Viennese architect in the German Renaissance style with Baroque and French Rococo flourishes.
Continuing south, you’ll cross the Danube River into Bulgaria to visit the spectacular rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated high atop the banks of the Rusenski Lom River with commanding views over the surrounding countryside, this is an impressive collection of churches, chapels and monasteries that were hewn out of solid rock. In several of these churches, frescoes from the 13th and 14th centuries have been amazingly preserved. Together, they are thought to be some of the finest examples of Bulgarian medieval art. Your journey into Bulgaria continues to Veliko Târnovo for a 2-night stay in the Old Town at the Grand Yantra Hotel. Meals B,D
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Explore Veliko Tarnovo
Cradled by forested hills and set along the banks of the meandering Yantra River, this handsome town was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom, from the 12th through the 14th centuries. In the heart of town, protected by a loop in the river and occupying a commanding hillside position, Tsarevets Fortress was home to medieval Bulgarian tsars. Today’s sightseeing will include this impressive citadel as well as other sites in the town’s medieval quarter.
Then in the nearby village of Arbanasi, the simple exterior of the Church of the Nativity belies the incredible 17th century frescoes which adorn the interior. At the Konstantkalieva House, an ethnographic museum set in a 400-year-old residence, you’ll get a fascinating look into the history and long-ago daily life of rural Bulgaria. Meals B
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Through the Shipka Pass to Plovdiv
Check out from your hotel in Veliko Târnovo and travel to Etara to visit an impressive open-air museum which recreates life during the Bulgarian Renaissance, an historic period which lasted from the late 1700’s until the Liberation of Bulgaria in 1878 following the Russo-Turkish War. In an original water mill from 1780 and numerous houses built in the Bulgarian Revival style, you’ll see artisans and workers following old traditions in wood carving, pottery, copper work and other crafts.
Your journey continues into the Balkan Mountains and through the scenic Shipka Pass to visit the Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak. Discovered in 1944, this UNESCO World Heritage Site dates to the Hellenistic period around the end of the 4th century BC. With its exceptionally well preserved frescoes, this monument is the only one of its kind in the world. Continue through the Valley of Roses to Plovdiv for a dinner of regional Bulgarian cuisine and an overnight at the Novotel Hotel. Meals B,D
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The Rila Monastery and onward to Sofia
Plovdiv, Bulgaria’s second largest city, is beloved by residents and visitors alike for its art galleries, cafes and vibrant culture. But the historic quarter has been largely restored to its mid-19th century grandeur and it’s filled with winding cobblestone streets and handsome old buildings that now house galleries and working artists; there’s and even a finely-preserved Roman amphitheater. You’ll tour Old Town Plovdiv this morning before departing for Rila, home to another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Originally founded in the 10th century by St. John of Rila, the Rila Monastery was destroyed by fire at the beginning of the 19th century and rebuilt in the mid 1800’s in classic Bulgarian Renaissance style. This monument is recognized as an important symbol of a strong Slavic cultural identity following centuries of Ottoman occupation.
Your journey continues onward to Sofia where you will check in to the Radisson Blu Grand Sofia, a top-rated deluxe hotel with a privileged city-center location. Meals B
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Discover Sofia and enjoy dinner with live entertainment
This morning’s city tour focuses on the architectural landmarks of Sofia’s historical core. Chief among these monuments is the impressive Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, erected soon after the Russian-Turkish War helped to re-establish Bulgaria as an independent state in 1878. With its large gilded domes visible from many areas of the city, the cathedral of the Bulgarian Orthodox Patriarch has become of the city’s most recognized and popular symbols.
Enjoy your afternoon at leisure to explore, shop or relax as you wish. Later this evening, gather once again with Mr. Anghel and your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner at your hotel. Meals B,D
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Farewell, Sofia
Your tour finishes this morning. Meals B