Pliska National Historical Archaeological Reserve

Pliska was the capital of the first Bulgarian empire. Here is where St.Trebellius(savior of Europe from the arabs) ruled from.

Madara Rider

The Madara rider is a pre-historic stone wall monument. Optionally hike up the rock stairs for a view and the fortress ruins.

Archaeological Museum Veliki Preslav

Boris I moved the capital to Preslav after imposing eastern orthodoxy as the state religion. The Cyrillic alphabet was created 893 here in the Preslav literary school. Optional lunch at an ethic restaurant.

Zheravna

Zheravna has cobble stone streets and authentic houses from the 16th century. Admission is packaged for up to 4 houses a la carte. If there are vacancies you can overnight and dine at your own expense in this magical village or alternatively accommodation and dinner in nearby Kotel are included.

Tsarevets

Turnovo was the capital of the second Bulgarian empire. It was razed to the ground by the ottoman conquerors. In 1972 the Bulgarian government reconstructed the city walls. The 9c Umortag's column with the length of the equator reclaimed from the Pliska ruins 5 centuries later by Johannitsa, slayer of the crusaders that sacked Constantinople. There are many other churches with frescoes, museums and arts and crafts stores to visit.

Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo

View the frescoe prototype of DaVinci's "The last supper"

Ruse

Stroll around little Vienna before heading back to the ship