Aladzha Monastery

At 40 meters high, hidden among the trees and sculpted from the same stone of a vertical cliff, stands this interesting monastery. Thanks to some stairs you can access its two levels, and visit the rooms, common areas and a chapel. Inside, still remain a colorful frescoes which once covered almost all the walls of the building. Its splendor came during the Ottoman occupation of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, when the construction of new churches was forbidden. The monastery was inhabited by monks until the eighteenth century, when it was forlorn.

Palace and Botanic gardens of Balchik

A little over 10 kilometers north of Golden Sands you can visit the town of Balchik, where stands a beautiful palace, formerly the favorite residence of Queen Marie of Romania. The adjacent Botanic Gardens are a perfect place to relax and enjoy the calm and beauty of this place.

Varna

Many Bulgarians call Varna the “Jewel of the Black Sea”. Aside from its beaches, busies in summer, Varna is an attractive town with elegant churches, buildings and parks. One of the biggest highlights is the Cathedral, the second-largest church in the country after that of San Alexander Nevsky, in Sofia. This remarkable building has a beautiful Byzantine design, and is profusely decorated on the inside, which also has stained rose windows. It was constructed in 1884 to honour the independence from the Ottoman Empire.

The Church of the Virgin Mary, made of wood and adorned with Orthodox icons, and that of Saint Nicholas, where sailors go to ask for protection from their patron, are two of the most beautiful churches in Bulgaria.

Another symbol of the town is the Clock Tower, which rises up above the other buildings. It is situated in the heart of a wooded park, behind the elegant Varna Theatre, another interesting site.

The Evksinograd palace, which was once used by Tsar Boris III, contrasts with the city's predominant Byzantine style. Its architecture and fantastic gardens are similar to the 18th-century French style.

The Maritime Garden lies opposite the beach. Apart from the naval and natural history museums, there is also an aquarium here, with species from the Black Sea, plus a planetarium and a dolphinarium. This park is a good alternative to the extensive range of culture on offer in Varna. Another interesting place is the lake, the deepest on the Black Sea coast. Separated from the sea by a strip of sand alone, it is one of the most visited places in town.

You can also visit the Museum of Art and History, where you can visit an archaeological collection of exceptional value:  the world's oldest gold artifacts and manufactures, dating from the 4.000 BC. To the north of the town you will find the necropolis, with objects dating back to 5000 BC. Here you can see tombs and ceramic and copper decorations. These sites are some of the most important in Eastern Europe.

Monasterio de Rila

En el fondo de un estrecho valle cubierto de bosques se encuentra el Monasterio de Rila, a 150km al sur de Pravets. Sus sobrias paredes esconden una belleza inimaginable desde el exterior, donde varios niveles de arcos y balcones se elevan para cercar un gran patio interior. En su centro se erige la Iglesia de la Natividad, con una estructura de una belleza singular y unos frescos de vivos colores que parecen cobrar vida. Su conjunto es ciertamente espectacular y supone una visita obligada.

Durante la ocupación turca, este monasterio, como muchos otros, se erigió como el gran defensor de la cultura búlgara, lo que le valió ser destruido en varias ocasiones. Como la iglesia Boyana, Rila también figura como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO.

Sofia

Los barrios periféricos de Sofía, con hileras de edificios de la época comunista y el esqueleto en desuso de alguna que otra fábrica, no sugieren que estamos a las puertas de una de las ciudades más bellas y agradables del este de Europa. Suficientemente pequeño como para recorrerse a pie, el casco antiguo de Sofía luce elegantes avenidas, animadas terrazas, soberbios edificios y hermosas iglesias.

Entre estas últimas, quizá la más importante sea la Aleksander Nevski, construida en memoria de los soldados rusos que murieron en la guerra de independencia contra los turcos. A su impresionante estructura se le añade una entrada de mármol, pasillos coronados de mosaicos e impresionantes cúpulas en oro. En el interior hay murales, candelabros y ornamentaciones que añadidos al intenso olor a incienso, son una clara expresión de la religión ortodoxa dominante.

Otra iglesia muy bella es la de San Nicolás. Construida para la comunidad rusa de la ciudad, tiene una inmaculada fachada blanca, resplandecientes cúpulas doradas y vivos mosaicos verdes que captarán su atención de inmediato.

El centro neurálgico de Sofía es la plaza Sveta Nedelya, dominada por la catedral del mismo nombre. Tras su sobria planta grisácea se esconden preciosos murales. Cada jueves se celebra un interesante servicio en el que se bendice a los asistentes contra la magia negra.

En frente, y escondida entre edificios modernos, se encuentra la diminuta capilla medieval de San Jorge, construida sobre un templo romano del siglo IV a.C.

En la misma plaza se erige el Palacio Presidencial. No se pierda el cambio de guardia que se realiza en el patio, una ceremonia digna de ver.

A ambos lados del gran bulevar María Luisa encontramos la mezquita turca de Banya Bashi y la sinagoga sefardí, elegantes testimonios de un pasado y un presente multicultural.

Al final de esta concurrida vía se encuentra el mercado central de la ciudad. Variopinto y animado, recuerda el pasado de dominación otomana y la situación de Bulgaria entre oriente y occidente. Si acude a él, recuerde que en Bulgaria, para negar y afirmar con la cabeza se hace justamente lo contrario que en España.

Además de su arquitectura, también captarán su atención la cantidad de puestos y mercadillos donde comprar libros. Sin duda, la cantidad de literatura que se vende por las calles es uno de los aspectos más sorprendentes de Sofía.

Entre tanta visita, podrá pararse a descansar en alguno de los muchos parques de la ciudad. El Borisova Gradina es enorme y muy bello, con mantos de flores y numerosas estatuas que decoran su trazado. También destaca un enorme monumento de la época comunista.

El parque urbano de Sofía es más pequeño pero también muy agradable. Hay terrazas, columpios y una fuente en torno a la cual se reúnen hombres de todas las edades a jugar al ajedrez.

Senderismo

A pocos kilómetros al sur de Pravets surge la cordillera de Stara Planina, que cruza de este a oeste el país.

Aunque tiene una altura media de 700m, y sus senderos suelen ser fáciles y accesibles, Stara Planina tiene 30 picos sobre los 2000 metros, siendo el Botev el más elevado con 2376m. Los aficionados al senderismo disfrutarán de los panoramas sublimes que ofrecen estas montañas verdes, cubiertas de bosques y riachuelos.

Nightlife

Gastronomy

Bulgarian cuisine is tasty, spicy and very similar to that of its Balkan neighbours. The Turkish influence is considerable. At times, the difference between a Bulgarian, Greek, Turkish or Serbian dish resides solely in its name or just one ingredient. With the huge variety of bars, cafes and restaurants present in Golden Sands, there is no excuse to taste the excellent Bulgarian cuisine.

Meat: Highlights are kavarmá, a kind of stew containing pork, leeks, wine, chilli and fresh herbs; méshana skara or mixed grill; and sarmí, well-spiced minced meat wrapped in vine or cabbage leaves.

Yoghurt: Without doubt this is the culinary symbol of Bulgaria. In fact, the microorganism that transforms milk into yoghurt is called 'Lactobacillus bulgaricus' or ‘Bulgarian milk bacillus’. Yoghurt is an indispensable component of the cold ‘tarator’ soup, which also contains cucumbers, garlic, oil and walnuts, and is eaten like gazpacho. Another popular dish is ‘airán’, diluted yoghurt with a little salt.

With regard to cheese, ‘sírene’, made with cow or sheep milk, is used in many dishes like the ‘shopska salata’, a salad made using tomato, cucumber, green pepper and onion.

Desserts: Ottoman influence can be felt in the typical sweets such as ‘baklavá’, a pastry gateau filled with walnuts and honey; ‘tolumba’, a fritter with syrup; or ‘kadaif’, vermicelli with walnuts, cinnamon and syrup.

Wines: Although Bulgarian wines have lost their splendour and the markets they had during the Communist era, they are still very good quality. The country has many local grape varieties such as Mavrud, Gamza, Pamid and red Misquet, among others, which produce excellent wines. The crisis in the sector saw the introduction of international varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Rkatsiteli, of Georgian origin. We should also mention the Rakia or the Mint, typical liquors in the region.

Sport Activities

In Golden Sands is possible to practice many sports, highlighting the offer of golf courses,  minigolf, horseback riding, tennis and volleyball, and a large variety of water activities including windsurfing, diving and canoeing. You can also make beautiful excursions across the natural surrounding areas.

“Aquapolis” Water Park

"Aquapolis" is the most beautiful water park in Eastern Europe. It was the first to be built in Bulgaria, with a Mediterranean style. It is located in the northwestern part of Golden Sands resort, on the main road. Surrounded by lush forests and near the sea, from there you can enjoy a beautiful view of the coast, while you have fun for the whole family.