Rila Monastery Day Tour from Sofia Rila Monastery Guided Tour in English

Join the original and best selling tour made and ran by Traventuria since 2010. Enjoy the one of the most famous and photographed Bulgarian UNESCO sites as well as the amazing Rila National Park.
The Rila Monastery is also called the Treasury of Bulgaria. It's located in the Rila mountains between the Drushlyavitsa and Rilska rivers. It was founded in the first half of the 10th century by St. Ivan Rilski - spiritual protector of the Bulgarian people. The monastery is a cradle and a keeper of the Bulgarian spirit and national identity.
Rila Monastery is the most important spiritual and literary center of the Bulgarian national revival, with an uninterrupted history from the Middle Ages until present times. Reconstruction work was required following a fire, and sections of the monastery, a new church and other structures date to the 18th century. Main Church - "The Nativity of the Virgin Mary". One of the main reasons most people visit the Rila Monastery is to see the main church - "The Nativity of the Virgin". And we assure you'll be impressed with it both inside and outside. Literally those frescoes will wow you! Of course there is more to see in the complex. The tower of Hrelja. The tower of Hrelja is the oldest building in the complex, built 1334 - 1335. The famous inscription on the tower says: "During the reign of the high lord King Stefan Dušan, lord Prōtosebastos Hrelja, with great work and with great expense he built this tower for the holy father St. John of Rila and the Mother of God, called Osenovitsa, in the year 6843 fifth indizione. [1334–1335] " The museum of the Rila Monastery. From the end of the nineteenth century onwards, the Rila Monastery has a museum with historical exhibits from the region. The exposition includes important examples of Bulgarian and foreign art from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries. The most precious exhibit is the finely carved wooden cross, the work of Father Rafail. He worked on his masterpiece for years, using the finest chisels and tools, and completed it in 1802, losing his eyesight due to the strenuous work. The cross represents 36 Biblical scenes, eighteen on each side, with over 600 miniature figures.

To guarantee availability book as soon as possible. Early booking is worth consideration especially if you planning the trip during high season like public holidays or weekends.

This excursion you can cancel with no cost up to 24 hours before the start of the trip. If you cancel it after 24 hours or not show up on the excursion you will still be charged the full price of the activity. Being late on pick-up or departure will be considered as not showing up.