Monastery of St Joakim Osogovski

At 8:30 our guide will pick you up from your hotel in Skopje. You will have around 2 hours' drive to the first stop- the UNESCO monastery Osogovo. It is one of the most beautiful monasteries in North Macedonia. It consists of two churches including the larger "Saint Joachim of Osogovo" and the smaller "Holy Mother of God". It was found in the 12th century, though there are no remains of the original monastery. The smaller church in today's monastery complex got its present look in the 14th century, while the larger one was built in the 19th century. The larger, three-nave church, was built in 1851 by Andrey Damyanov. It has 12 cupolas, which represent the 12 apostles. Most of the church's interior and cupolas were painted by Dimitar Andonov Papradiški. The smaller and older church, founded in the 12th century and rebuilt in the 14th century, is dedicated to the Holy Mother of God. Osogovo Monastery is situated 825 meters (2,707 feet) above sea level.

Rila Monastery

After another hour and a half drive, we will reach Rila mountain. We will stop, if you want of course, for a lucnh in a very nice restaurant, situated on the Rila river. After the lunch break, we will continue towards Rila monastery. Situated deep in the dense pine forests of Rila Mountain, it is the biggest and most important Orthodox cloister in Bulgaria. It is an outstanding example of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage, in which architecture and painting merge harmoniously. The site is part of the UNESCO world heritage list. Rila Monastery was found in the 10th century by St Ivan Rilski, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy place and later on a monastic complex was formed. It played an important role in the spiritual and social life of medieval Bulgaria. When we finish with this amazing site you will be transferred back to Skopje.