Jewish Heritage Tours to Bulgaria
Bulgaria is an unspoiled pearl in the Balkan mountains of Eastern Europe. Blessed with a lush countryside, mineral springs, and the world’s most exquisite roses (used in the best perfumes), it is also a major site for the Jewish traveler for a unique and wonderful reason. Anti-Semitism never had roots in Bulgaria and Jews have always been an integral part of its society. During the Second World War, the Bulgarian people, led by Orthodox Church leaders Kiril and Stefan, stood in the way of the Nazi machine. Ultimately, not a single Bulgarian Jew was deported to Nazi death camps. This, as well as the charm and beauty of this country and its people, makes Jewish Heritage in Bulgaria a treasure.

Day 01 Sunday October 12 Departure from the USA
Departure on your trans-atlantic flight to Bulgaria’s capital, Sofia.

Day 02 Monday October 13 Arrival in Sofia
Arrival to Sofia Airport, where you will be greeted by your guide and transferred to your hotel in the center of the dynamic capital of Bulgaria. Sofia, centrally located in the majestic Balkans, is one of the most ancient cities in all of Europe. Three mountain passes lead to Sofia, key roads since antiquity which connect the Adriatic Sea and Central Europe with the Black Sea and the Aegeanl. Its history can be traced back to almost 7,000 year-old prehistoric settlements, and the existing town walls go back to 7th century BCE, when Thracians established their city next to mineral springs which still function. Later, Sofia, which means “wisdom” in Greek, was ruled by Philip of Macedonia and Alexander, as well as Alexander the Great. Over the centuries, it has also come under Roman, Byazantine Christian, and Ottoman rules, which gives it a rich, multicultural texture. As for Jewish life, there has been a synagogue in this city since the year 967 CE. Dinner at the hotel. Sheraton Hotel.

Day 03 Tuesday October 14 Sofia
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, a jewish tour in Sofia including a visit to the impressive Sephardic Synagogue, third largest in Europe. Designed by Austrian architect Friedrich Gruenanger in Spanish-Moorish and Byzantine style, it resembles the Vienna synagogue destroyed by the Nazis. Perhaps the most beautiful architectural structure in Sofia, the synagogue has been kept in immaculate condition in by joint Bulgarian and Israeli government funding. View its unique collection of artifacts, which tell the amazing story of the saving of the entire Jewish population in Bulgaria, amounting to 50,000 people, during World War II. In the afternoon, stroll downtown Sofia and see Roman fortifications and the 4th century St. George's Rotunda, famous for its exquisite frescoes, only discovered and restored in the 20th century. You will also visit the National Art Gallery, housed in the former Royal Palace. Later, view the unforgettable film, “Beyond Hitler’s Grasp: The Heroic Rescue of Bulgaria’s Jews,” based on the book by Michael Bar-Zohar. Dinner at a local restaurant. Sheraton Hotel.

Day 04 Wednesday October 15 Sofia – Sandanski
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, depart on a scenic mountain drive towards the lovely spa town of Sandanski. En route, visit the Rila Monastery, the most impressive of traditional Bulgarian monasteries, and now a national museum with a well-preserved 14th century tower. The monastery is believed to have been founded by a hermit, John of Rila, in the 10th century, during the reign of the Bulgarian Tzar Peter (927-968). St. John of Rila (or St. Ivan Rilski) is the patron saint of the country of Bulgaria. His relics are exhibited for pilgrims in the main church, but he in fact lived in a variety of cold, simple caves about a half-hour’s walk away from the present-day monastery complex. The monastery itself is considered to have been built by his scholars, who came to the place to be taught by him. This renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site is located in the gorgeous natural scenery of the Rila Mountains, and considered one of the highest achievements of Bulgarian architecture. Lunch at a mountainside restaurant. Continue to Sandanski, arriving at your spa-hotel in the late afternoon with time to relax at the therapeutic hot pools. Dinner at the hotel. Interhotel Sandanski.

Day 05 Thursday October 16 Sandanski- Melnik- Sandanski
Breakfast at the hotel, followed by a late morning departure for Melnik. Melnik is more than a village; it is a picturesque jewel, famous for its fascinating national revival houses, fantastic rock formations and fine red wines. (One of these wines was reportedly a favorite of Winston Churchill’s.) Enjoy wine-tasting and Lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, return to Sandanski, which enjoys a wealth of resources for natural spa treatments, including hot mineral springs. (It was also the birthplace and home of Spartacus, the Roman slave who launched an uprising in 73 BCE – and a major motion picture.) Enjoy the thermal pool, a therapeutic massage, or simply relaxing amidst Sandaski’s beautiful scenery. Interhotel Sandanski.

Day 06 Friday October 17 Sandanski – Plovdiv
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, depart Sandanski and travel to the historically rich town of Plovdiv. En route, visit the lovely, mountainous town of Samokov, known for its Sarafska House, home of the Arie, a wealthy and prominent Jewish family. The founder of the family, born in Vienna, settled in Samokov in 1793, leading to a great increase in the Jewish population; the house is situated near the synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. Next, stop at scenic Borovets, a famous ski resort in the Rila Mountains. Lunch en route. In the afternoon, arrive in Plovdiv and check-in to your hotel. Friday night dinner with members of the Jewish community. Trimontium-Princess Hotel.

Day 07 Saturday October 18 Plovdiv
Breakfast at the hotel. The picturesque, ancient city of Plovdiv has a Thracian history that dates back thousands of years, traces of which have survived to the present day. Who in fact were the Thracians? Inhabitants of ancient Bulgaria, Greek mythology provides them with a mythical ancestor, named Thrax, son of the war-god Aries, who was said to reside in Thrace. The Thracians appear in the Iliad of Homer as Trojan allies, led by Acamas and Peiros. Another Thracian King, Rhesus, also appears in this great Homeric epic. This morning, visit the Synagogue and see the monument of the grateful Jewish community to the kindhearted and ancient people of Bulgaria. In the afternoon, explore a 2nd century Roman forum and stadium as well as the fabulous Roman amphitheatre built during the time of Emperor Trajan (98-117 CE). It has 28 rows with tiers of marble seats, which can accommodate over 3,500 spectators. You will also explore the historic Old Town, built in the 18th and 19th centuries as a centerpiece of Bulgarian National Revival architecture. Trimontium-Princess Hotel.

Day 08 Sunday October 19 Plovdiv – Kazanlak – Veliko Tarnovo
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, depart Plovdiv for a beautiful drive through the famous Valley of Roses and the historic Shipka Pass in the Balkan Mountains. En route, visit Kazanlak, situated amidst the Valley of Roses. Here is the home of the exquisite (and rare) Bulgarian rose oil, also known as “attar of roses,” a world center for rose oil production – and the source of a key note of many of the world’s finest perfumes. You will also visit the Museum of the Rose, describing the many aspects of this inimitable bloom. The Valley of Roses is also known as “the Valley of The Thracian Kings,”as numerous artifacts of the Thracian period have been discovered there. Continue to the breathtaking, 4th century BCE Thracian tomb, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and enjoy a lecture on Thracian history and culture, which is treasured not only in Bulgaria but in Greece and Turkey as well. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. Later, arrive in Veliko Tarnovo and check-in at your hotel. Grand Hotel Yantra.

Day 09 Monday October 20 Veliko Tarnovo
Breakfast at the hotel.Perched on steep hills overlooking the Yantra River, Veliko Turnovo’s narrow, lantern-lit streets wind past ancient ruins and unique architecture. Veliko Tarnovo was the capital city of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom (1185-1396), and has been at the center of many important literary, artistic, and historic events, including the creation of the first Bulgarian constitution. This morning, visit the fortress at Tsarevets Hill, where the Royal Palace was once located, as well as The Museum of the National Revival, where the first Bulgarian Constitution was adopted in 1879. In the afternoon, visit the charming village-museum of Arbanassi, famous for its traditional architecture, and walk through the narrow, cobblestoned streets of the old Samovodene Market Place. Dinner at an authentic Bulgarian restaurant in town. Grand Hotel Yantra.

Day 10 Tuesday October 21 Veliko Tarnovo – Sofia
Breakfast at the hotel. Today, return to Sofia, stopping at the town of Tryavna, famous for its woodworking and revival-style houses. Upon arrival in Sofia in the early afternoon, check-in at the hotel and enjoy time for browsing the city and/or shopping on your own. In the evening, enjoy a Farewell Dinner in a local restaurant. Sheraton Hotel Sofia.

Day 11 Wednesday October 22 Sofia – USA
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Sofia Airport for departure to the USA.