Your Travel Experience with Finest Journeys
Rock-hewn Churches of Ivanovo & Walking Tour of Ruse
After breakfast, you will head to the Roussenski Lom River valley in northeastern Bulgaria to visit the rock-hewn churches near Ivanovo. Carved into the cliffs by hermits in the 12th century, these chapels, monasteries, and cells feature remarkable 14th-century murals created by artists from the Tarnovo School. Recognized for their significance, the Rock-Hewn Churches of Ivanovo were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979. Lunch will be at Seven Generations Winery in Mechka village, paired with a glass of local wine. In the afternoon, enjoy a walking tour of Ruse, Bulgaria’s fifth-largest city, situated on the right bank of the Danube River, across from Giurgiu, Romania. Known for its striking mix of classical architecture, including Baroque, Renaissance, Gothic, and Rococo styles, Ruse was once called "Little Vienna" and was considered Bulgaria’s most European city in the 19th century. Afterward, you will return to Veliko Tarnovo/Arbanasi for a second overnight stay, with dinner at the hotel.