Itinerary
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DAY 1:
USA
Departure this evening for your overnight flight to Bucharest -
DAY 2:
BUCHAREST
Upon arrival, meet your Homeric Tours represen-tative and explore the city. We will see the Palace of Parliament (the second largest building in the world), the Metropolitan Church, the Romanian Athenaeum, and the Arch of Triumph and visit Bucharest’s Harastrou Park and the Folk Village Museum. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant with wine.Dinner included -
DAY 3:
PAINTED MONASTERIES TOUR
After breakfast, we tour the monasteries of Buco-vina: Humor Monastery, Voronet Monastery, the Chapel of Eastern Europe, Moldavian Monastery, where the Golden Apple award was given in 1975 by UNESCO and Sucevita Monastery- the best preserved with its imposing walls and towers. Overnight in Pietra Neamt.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 4:
SIBIU
Depart for Sibiu, once the richest town in Transylvania. Our route crosses the Transylvanian Mountains through the magnificent scenic beauty of the Olt River Valley. Along the way we’ll visit the Cozia Monastery, built in 1386. We also stop at the Church of the Annunciation. In the evening enjoy a hearty Romanian dinner with a local family at a farmhouse in Sibiel and overnight in Sibiu.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 5:
SIGHISOARA / BRASOV
Today we take a walking tour of Sibiu where we pass the medieval shops and houses, visit the cathedral where Vlad the Impaler’s son was assassinated. Visit the Brukenthal Art Gallery and continue to the Saxon village of Biertan to visit the Fortress Church and continue to Sighisoara both UNESCO Heritage sites. Tour the towns and visit the famous Clock Tower Museum and the house where Dracula (Prince Vlad Tepes) was born in 1432. Continue to Brasov for dinner and overnight.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 6:
TRANSYLVANIA
Depart for Bram’s Castle, built in 1377 and now a museum with its collection from the 14th century. Afterwards, return to Brasov to visit the 13th century, Gothic Black Church, the Nicolae Church and the First Romanian school, the old town hall and explore Brasov’s city center. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Dinner in a medieval atmosphere restaurant.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 7:
VELIKO TURNOVO (BULGARIA)
Depart to Peles castle, once the summer residence of the Romanian royal family. Continue to Giurgiu. Drive across the Danube and enter the Bulgarian port town of Ruse. From there, proceed to the “Valley of the Roses,” where the Bulgarian rose oil is still being produced. Dinner and overnight in Veliko Tarnovo, the former capital of the Bulgarian Empire.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 8:
ARBANASI / PLOVDIV
This morning we tour Veliko Turnovo and then drive to Arbanassi, a medieval Bulgarian town with stone houses and red tile roofs. Visit the Church of Nativity, its walls covered with colorful frescoes from the 1600s. Continue to Plovdiv for lunch and visit the Etura ethnographic museum and Shipka Memorial Churches. Afternoon walking tour of old Plovdiv includes a visit to the Roman Amphitheater. Overnight in Plovdiv.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 9:
SOFIA
After breakfast, we visit the Bachkovo Monastery built in the 11th century and one of the richest galleries of traditional Bulgarian religious art. We continue to Rila Monastery, built in the 10th centu-ry, with ancient icons murals and rare incunabula. Arrive in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The balance of the day is at leisure. Dinner and overnight.Breakfast and Dinner included -
DAY 10:
SOFIA
Our sightseeing of Sophia includes visits to Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral with its gilded domes and interior murals, icons and mosaics, St. Nicholas Russian church and the 4th century Rotonda of St. George church, the oldest building in Sofia, and St. Joseph’s Cathedral. Afternoon is at leisure. Farewell dinner has been arranged.Breakfast and Lunch included -
DAY 11:
USA
After breakfast, we transfer to Sofia airport for your flight home.Breakfast included
