Bulgaria's Untouched Cultural Heritage: A Journey Through Monasteries and Ancient Churches
Ludovico Pratesi explores Bulgaria's cultural heritage, highlighting its absence from mass tourism. Lonely Planet's last guide was in 2017, never reprinted. The Touring Club's 2019 guide is the only recent one. In Sofia, the Church of St. George (4th century, remodeled multiple times) contrasts with the monumental communist-era architecture. The Boyana Church, a UNESCO site, features 11th-century frescoes. Monasteries like Rila, Bachkovo, and Troyan showcase Orthodox devotion. At Bachkovo, the 1643 refectory frescoes include Christ's genealogy. The rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo (c. 1360) are in a pristine natural setting. Koprivshtitsa, where the 1876 uprising against Ottoman rule began, preserves houses of intellectuals like Georgi Benkovski and Todor Kableskov. The article notes few European tourists, mostly French and Spanish, with Italians rare.
Key facts
- Lonely Planet's last Bulgaria guide was published in 2017 and never reprinted.
- Touring Club's Bulgaria guide was published in 2019.
- Church of St. George in Sofia dates from the 4th century.
- Boyana Church has 11th-century frescoes.
- Bachkovo Monastery's refectory frescoes date to 1643.
- Rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo were frescoed around 1360.
- Koprivshtitsa was site of the 1876 uprising against Ottoman rule.
- Few European tourists visit Bulgaria; mostly French and Spanish.
Entities
Artists
- Ludovico Pratesi
- Georgi Benkovski
- Todor Kableskov
- Elias Canetti
- Malevič
Institutions
- Lonely Planet
- Touring Club
- Church of St. George
- Boyana Church
- Rila Monastery
- Bachkovo Monastery
- Troyan Monastery
- Church of the Dormition
- Church of St. Domenica
- Monastery of the Transfiguration
- Rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo
- Artribune
Locations
- Bulgaria
- Sofia
- Boyana
- Rila
- Bachkovo
- Troyan
- Koprivshtitsa
- Plovdiv
- Veliko Tarnovo
- Ruse
- Asevnograd
- Ivanovo
- Mar Nero