Sofia's architectural masterpieces and monuments

WELCOME TO ANCIENT MODERN SOFIA!
The highlight of our central tour will be THE MAJESTIC ARCHITECTURE of the capital and a visit to some captivating masterpieces.

I will show you the beauties of a magnetic Bulgarian city - Sofia. I literally unravel all the wealth that the capital hides and present all this to tourists with great excitement and fascination. And so we plunge into the depths of the urban world.
Let's experience together an unforgettable, fascinating and exciting city itinerary, full of curiosities, in which my worship and you - the tourists - are the protagonists. Let's be the big explorers of Sofia!

Please note that THIS TOUR INCLUDES 3 ZONES: MODERN (very well restored buildings), URBAN (CENTRAL): THE SPACE OF LARGO (The Triangle of Power) with all its emblematic buildings and ANCIENT (THE OLD COMPLEX OF SERDICA). ALL ZONES represent THE CENTER of Sofia .

It will be a great pleasure for me to welcome everyone who has chosen THIS TOUR FOR 3 HOURS AND 30 MINUTES with me and is seriously interested in ARCHITECTURE and MONUMENTS.

RECOMMENDATION : THIS TOUR is designed FOR TRUE CONNOISSERS OF URBAN ARCHITECTURE AND MONUMENTS .

NOTE: THE WALKING TOUR IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH MOVEMENT DIFFICULTIES AND SLOW MOVING PEOPLE , because it has a fixed execution time, which each tourist must meet and judge their walking pace .

IMPORTANT: THOSE WHO MAKE A RESERVATION FOR THIS TOUR BUT CANNOT COME MUST MODIFY THEIR RESERVATION TO ANOTHER DATE OR MAKE A NEW RESERVATION OR CANCEL IT IN ADVANCE AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE AND NOT AT THE LAST MINUTE. IT IS NOT RESPECTFUL TO THE TOURIST GUIDE BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING FOR THE TOURIST AND WASTING THE TIME OF EVERYONE WHO IS PRESENT. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING.

STRICT RULES IN CHURCHES, TEMPLES, ORTHODOX CATHEDRALS AND MONASTERIES IN BULGARIA AND SOFIA:
Please note that when visiting Bulgaria and Sofia for the first time IN THE CHURCHES, TEMPLES, ORTHODOX CATHEDRALS AND IN MONASTERIES such as: TEMPLE-MONUMENT OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY IN SOFIA , THE BASILICA OF ST. JORGE IN SOFIA AND THE RILA MONASTERY YOU MUST WEAR LONG PANTS (applies to men and women as well as children), LONG SKIRTS AND DRESSES BELOW THE KNEE for both women and children, NO EXPOSED SHOULDERS and REMOVE HATS AND SUNGLASSES .
SCARVES ARE NOT ACCEPTED TO COVER THE LEGS IF SHORTS ARE WORN.
Let's enjoy the sacred places of Bulgaria and show human understanding!

PLEASE, EVERYONE WHO CHOOSE THIS TOUR ALSO READ VERY CAREFULLY THE INFORMATION AFTER THE TOUR DESCRIPTION, BECAUSE IT IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE.

BEGINNING OF THE WALKING TOUR
Our route starts from the largest and most popular tourist object, which is a peak in the architectural construction of Eastern Orthodoxy. TEMPLE-MONUMENT OF ST. ALEXANDER NEVSKY with its golden domes, ancient frescoes and spiritual energy will delight you.

END OF THE ARCHITECTURAL TOUR
The tour ends in the area of ​​the OLD SERDICA COMPLEX, which will take you to the amazing underground world of the capital and The Religious Quadrilateral of Tolerance: The Orthodox Churches of Holy Dominic (Santa Nedelya, Sveta Nedelya) and Santa Petka Samardzhiyska, The Mosque of Banya Bashi, The Synagogue and The Catholic Cathedral of San Jose.

INTERESTING PLACES TO VISIT
During the architectural tour, you will understand which OBJECTS we will look at ON THE OUTSIDE and some on the inside, and which ones I recommend you visit at your free time. Main part of which are:

• The Temple-Monument of Saint Alexander Nesky
• The First Museum of Christianity in Bulgaria (The Crypt of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral) - outside only
• The Paisius Monument of Hilendarius (The Founder of Slavic-Bulgarian History)
• The National Gallery of Art 500 Square - outside only
• The National Library of Saints Cyril and Methodius with the Monument of the Holy Brothers of Cyril and Methodius (The Founders of Slavic Writing and Culture) - outside only
• Sofia University of St. Clement of Ohrid - outside only
• The National Academy of Arts - outside only
• The Monument to the Liberator King (Emperor of Alexander II)
• The National Assembly (Parliament) - outside only
• The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - outside only
• The Patriarchal Synod (The Holy Synod) - outside only
• The Monument to the Unknown Warrior
• The Eternal Fire
• The Basilica of Santa Sofia
• The Monument to the poet of Juan Vazov
• The Russian Church of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker
• The Branch of the National Gallery of Art and the National Ethnographic Museum (formerly the Royal Palace) - outside only
• The Garden of the City by Juan Vazov
• The National Theater of Juan Vazov - only outside
• The National Bank of Bulgaria - outside only
• The National Archaeological Museum - outside only
• The Presidency - only outside
• St. George's Rotunda
• The Ministry of Education and Science - only outside
• The Center of the City of Largo (The Triangle of Power) with the Buildings of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Presidency, the Branch of the National Assembly, the Council of Ministers and the First Central Store in Sofia - TSUM (not today works) - only outside
• The Statue of Saint Sofia (The Symbol of The Capital)
• The Archaeological Complex of La Serdica Antigua

OTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION FOR THE TRAVELER:
- If you are on a Sunday afternoon around 5:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. in the metropolitan center in the square ( the square in front of the National Theater of Juan Vazov ; the square of the Church of Holy Dominic ( Santa Nedelya, Sveta Nedelya) or the square in front of the Sofia History Museum (the former central mineral bath), you will have the great pleasure of participating in traditional Bulgarian dances (chorus and rachenitsa) with the locals.
In this way you will touch, even if only for a short time, the magic of Bulgarian national folklore .

NOTE: OBJECTS are seen ONLY from the OUTSIDE. As it often happens that tourists want to explore some of the sites with me from the inside , such as St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral , St. Sophia Basilica and St. George's Rotunda , pay attention to this and plan your walking time and pace consequently according to your commitments that are after the tour.

If you decide that this tour of this topic is interesting to you, but you think it is TOO LONG for you, but you don't have the energy to continue it, or you decide that it is not interesting after starting the tour , then THERE IS NO PROBLEM TO DISCONTINUE AT ANY TIME. There are only certain conditions that a serious tourist must follow. NOTHING IS MANDATORY on this tour.
There are rules that relate to the chronology of the tour , because if you decide to join you will understand that it is very important to follow this chronology.

REQUEST: I strongly request anyone who chooses this tour TO RESPECT THE AGREED MEETING TIME , as this is of utmost importance for every tourist.

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING!

TIP: Keep in mind that THE WEATHER IN BULGARIA AND IN THE CAPITAL OF SOFIA IS VERY DYNAMIC AT ANY TIME OF THE YEAR! I ask that anyone who decides to sign up for this walking tour ALWAYS carry AN UMBRELLA or A RAINCOAT or A WATERPROOF JACKET .

RECOMMENDATION: During your free time , I recommend visiting the following sites :
- The National Museum of Christianity ( The Crypt of the Temple-Monument of St. Alexander Nevsky ): for all those interested in icon painting
The National Gallery of Art Cuadrado 500: for connoisseurs of fine arts and sculpture )
- The Necropolis with catacombs, Roman tombs and mosaics under the Basilica of Saint Sophia: for those interested in Roman history and archeology )
- The National Ethnographic Museum (The Old Royal Palace): for those interested in national traditions, folklore, traditional costumes, carpet exhibitions (handmade)
- The National Archaeological Museum: for connoisseurs of archeology, gold treasures, icons )
- The Sofia History Museum (The Old Central Bath): for lovers of the history of the city and the lifestyle of the 19th century aristocrats .
- The Synagogue (a unique masterpiece of architectural art with its incredible chandelier )
- The Women's Market: the multicultural world of Sofia
- Vitoshka Pedestrian Street , emblematic for all residents and guests of the city with its shops, bars, cafes and restaurants , here you will feel the spirit of Sofia .
- The Church in the Boyana neighborhood (on the outskirts of the city), on Vitosha Mountain - it is necessary to use different types of public transport with transfers - one of the main symbols of Bulgaria under the auspices of UNESCO

If you have any questions related to the itinerary or anything unclear about the tour, please contact me here via the messaging platform. I will try to respond as quickly as possible!

I WELCOME YOU!
Are you ready to join me and adventure together into the depths of the metropolitan center?
I'M HERE! I'M WAITING FOR YOU! COME ON! ;)