FROM BLACK TO AEGEAN SEA THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE CENTURIES. Sunny Beach - Nesebar - Pomorie - Burgas - Malko Tarnovo - Edirne - Erikli - Burgas

Transcription

1 FROM BLACK TO AEGEAN SEA THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE CENTURIES Sunny Beach - Nesebar - Pomorie - Burgas - Malko Tarnovo - Edirne - Erikli - Burgas 5 days - 4 nights 1 day 8.30 a.m. Departure from Sunny Beach 9.00 a.m. Arrival in Nesebar walk, free time The architectural and historical reserve Nesebar is located in the old town and is a peninsula about 850 m long and 350 m wide. The old town was declared an architectural and historical reserve of national importance by Ordinance No. 243 of the Council of Ministers of 18 July In 1983 UNESCO included it in the list of world heritage monuments. Nesebar is one of the most ancient cities of Europe, founded 3200 years ago. In Antiquity the town was called Mesambria, during the Middle Ages Mesemvria and later Nesebar. Numerous archaeological finds evidence the centuries-old history of the old Nesebar. A big part of them can be seen in the Archaeological Museum of Nesebar, which is located at the beginning of the peninsula. The existence of the town during Thracian times, the time of the Roman and Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian State is traced in separate halls of the museum. Throughout its existence the town has always been surrounded by fortress walls, the remains of which are preserved until day. The first fortress walls were built by the Thracians in VIII century BC, then in V century BC the Greek colonizers built fortifications too. After the Romans conquered Mesemvria, they used the fortified walls too. The period during which Mesemvria was under the rule of the Byzantine Empire was a time of active construction activity (V century AD). The fortress wall around the town gate is best

2 preserved from this period. During the early Byzantine era a fortress wall was built on the southwestern coast too, which has been preserved until today. After the Roman Empire moved his capital in Constantinople and the Christian religion became official, many Christian churches started being built in Mesemvria. The church of St. Stefan or the New bishopric is from the period XI-XIII C. By design the church is a three-nave basilica, built of stone blocks and bricks. It was painted in 1599 and more than 1000 figures in 258 compositions are depicted in it. An original by style, painted iconostasis from the end of XVI C and a carved bishop s throne and pulpit from the end of XVIII C have been preserved in the church. The church is not operational and has been turned into a museum. It was declared an architectural and construction monument in issue 41 of State Gazette of It is located near the amphitheatre of Nessebar. The unfinished church St John Aliturgetus from 14 C is near it. The temple was seriously damaged by an earthquake in 1913 and today it is a site for free access. In 1964 it received the status of an architectural and construction cultural monument of national importance. One of the best-preserved temples from the Middle Ages - the church Christ Pantocrator is situated in the centre of the old town of Nesebar. The temple was built during XIII-XIV C and has a rectangular shape. It was declared an architectural and construction cultural monument of national importance in issue 41 of State Gazette of 1964.

3 Another church, museum site, is the temple "St. Spass". This church was built in 1609 with funds from a rich citizen of Nesebar. It was painted in XVII C and the gravestone of the Byzantine princess Mataisa Cantacuzina Paleologina, which is now on display in the archaeological museum in the town, was preserved in the floor for many years. The temple was declared an architectural and construction cultural monument of national importance in issue 41 of State Gazette of While walking in Nesebar tourists can see remains of early Byzantine thermae (baths) too. The bathrooms were built in VI C and by the end of VIII C were used according to their primary purpose, then rebuilt and used for residential and service needs. Another church - St. Paraskeva is located in immediate proximity to them. It was built in XIII-XIV C and has an extremely interesting architecture. It was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture in issue 41 of State Gazette of 1964.

4 The central church of the former Mesemvria bears the name of St. Sofia, just like in the capital of the Byzantine Empire - Constantinople. It is also called the Old Bishopric. The length of the temple is m, inside it was coated with mortar and wall-paintings and the entire floor was covered with a mosaic of tiny multicoloured pebbles. The basilica was built at the end of V and the beginning of VI C. It acquired its present-day appearance at the beginning of IX C. It was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture of national importance in issue 41 of State Gazette of The church St. Dimitar was discovered in its vicinity during excavations in 1968, from which the pillars, supporting the dome of the temple, are preserved. According to various legends there were about 40 churches in Nesebar and today there are data about 23 of them. Besides the churches, converted into museums, a few other restored temples in good condition can be seen in the old town. St. John the Baptist was built in X C. There is a preserved portrait of a church donor from XIV C in it. It was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture of national importance in issue 41 of State Gazette of The temple St. Archangels Michael and Gabriel has a rich external decoration. It was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture in issue 41 of State Gazette of The remains of the basilica Virgin Mary Eleusa, built in VI C, are on the northern coast of the peninsula, and according to historical records it was also a part of a monastery complex. Today, the church has been restored and partially preserved. It was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture in issue 41 of State Gazette of Besides the Archaeological Museum, the Ethnographic Museum of Nesebar is also located in the territory of the peninsula. Its exhibition is located in the traditional Moskoyani house from the period of the Revival. The house is a typical example of the residential architecture of Nesebar, it was built in 1804 and was owned by a wealthy merchant from

5 Nesebar. Objects and belongings from the household and crafts of the residents of Nesebar, as well as traditional local costumes, are exhibited in the museum a.m. Lunch in the town of Nesebar 1.30 p.m. Arrival in Pomorie, looking around, free time It is difficult to establish for now when exactly Pomorie was founded. The remains of an ancient village (3100), found several years ago, were flooded and it's hard to explore them. There is written evidence that in the middle of VI C BC apollonians built the frurion Anchialos on the northern end of Burgas Bay. The exact location of this fortress has not been found so far but the hypothesis that it was situated in the sea, northeast of the present-day town, in an area called gremizma (ruin), prevails. The strategic situation of the peninsula in the centre of the large Burgas Bay determined its further destiny. During the period I C BC - I C AD Anhialo was already the centre of a strategy (area) in the Odrysian Kingdom. The period of the greatest heyday of Pomorie began with the turning of Thrace into a Roman province. One of the ancient cities, largest by territory in our lands, was built in the area called Paleokastro (old castle) under the name Ulpianon Anhialeon. Being a main military and commercial port on the western Black Sea coast, in the words of Amian Mercelin Pomorie was "a great city". Despite the numerous attacks of barbarian tribes, the town managed to retain its foremost position until 740 AD, when as a result of a natural cataclysm it was destroyed and today its remains are located below sea level.

6 Upon its recovery the town was built on terrain, which the old part of the town is located on today too. Throughout the Middle Ages Pomorie retained its position as the main transport, commercial and military centre of Thrace on the Black Sea. This is why the town became "the apple of discord" between Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire too. As a result of a number of military operations by land and sea, the most famous of which is the battle at the river Ahelo in august 917, when the army of the Byzantines was destroyed by the troops of Simeon the Great, the town was at one time within the confines of Bulgaria and at another within the confines of the Byzantine Empire. Anhialo is one of the last towns on the Balkan peninsula, conquered by the Turks. The production and trade with grain, wine, fish, timber and other agricultural products, which are of primary importance for the prosperity of the town, were gradually replaced by an unknown until X C livelihood salt production. In the period XV XIX C Anhialo was one of the two largest salt - production centres in the Ottoman Empire (the other one was Thessaloniki). Despite the general decline of the Black Sea cities during the Ottoman rule, at the time of the Liberation Anhialo was still the main town of Thrace on the Black Sea. A number of objective and subjective reasons, however, led to its downfall. The construction of the first modern port in the nearby town of Burgas, as well as the burning down of Pomorie, are the main ones. On 30 July 1906 Anhialo was in ruins. In 1934 Anhialo was renamed to Pomorie. To this day the town has been developing as an important centre for the production of salt, wine and other agricultural products, the main republican centre for spa and sea treatment. The Municipal Museum and Gallery are located in the completely remodelled building of the former "burnt school" (monument of architecture). 3 p.m. Visit to the Museum of Salt

7 The museum in Pomorie is the only one in Bulgaria and Eastern Europe specialized museum for the production of salt by solar evaporation of sea water. In the project "Pomorie a tourist attraction the town of salt, ancient history and traditions" was implemented with a grant under Operational Programme "Regional Development" ( ). Thanks to this project, Pomorie salinas and the Museum of Salt were turned into a year-round tourist attraction. The objectives of the project are to promote and preserve the intangible cultural heritage of ancient Anhialo, to preserve salinas as an immovable monument of culture. Funds for the overall development of the Museum and the surrounding area, as well as a variety of innovative ways of attracting tourists, were provided for. The Museum presents the ancient Anhialo technology for the production of sea salt. It consists of an exhibition hall and 20 decares of operational salinas. It disposes with a unique collection of photos from the beginning of the last century, tracking the development of salt production in the area, old topographical maps, models and authentic salt-producer facilities and tools. Interesting videos can be watched with the help of modern audio-visual means. The Museum of the Salt is among the 100 national tourist sites, brochures, souvenirs, etc. are offered. The salinas at the museum produce salt in the same way as this was done in ancient times. Visitors can see all technological operations "live", chat with salt-producers about the secrets of the craft, feel the authentic atmosphere of the past.

8 In Pomorie, ancient Anhialo, sea salt has been extracted from time immemorial. According to Bulgarian historians, salinas existed even before the founding of the town (around V C BC). The centuries-old experience has been passed from fathers to sons. The Museum of Salt is located in the area of the old town, on a narrow strip between Pomorie Lake and the salinas, immediately behind the stadium and the sanatorium of the Ministry of Health Departure to Burgas - accommodation at a hotel, free time, dinner, overnight stay 2nd day 9.00 a.m. Breakfast a.m. Viewing of the town of Burgas The name "Burgas" contains the root "burg", which is a component of the names of a number of world-famous cities: Hamburg, Johannesburg, Pittsburgh, etc. The root "burg" in European languages originates from Latin and has acquired the meaning "town" in them. In linguistic terms the origin of the name Burgas comes from the Greek "pyurgos"("pyrgos"), which means "tower."

9 The whole history of Burgas is connected with the sea. The location of the town itself, surrounded by water from three sides, is the prime cause of its origination and development. In 18 C Burgas was sighted by Europeans for the first time, in fact this was the most important port south of Stara Planina. A sea map from 1854 gives the first information about the town planning of the town, which occupied an area of 420 thousand sq.m. In the age of the Bulgarian national revival national ideologies and aspirations towards the creation of a Bulgarian school and an Orthodox Christian church formed. Learned Bulgarians arrived from Constantinople in Burgas, who created the municipality of Burgas. These are Dimitar Brakalov, Stefan Zhechkov, Nikola Kamburov, Yani Rusaliev, Georgi Dzhelepov. During the pre-liberation period there was only a Greek school in Burgas. A Bulgarian school and church were founded in our home town in On Burgas was liberated by the squad of colonel Lermonotov. The Russian army was greeted by all citizens, clergy and foreign consuls in the town. On the new administration was organized - the first Bulgarian town municipality. The architectural landscape of the town was sad: muddy streets, scattered buildings of port warehouses, semi-dilapidated houses. In 1891 the first town plan of Burgas was approved. 289 neighbourhoods were formed, green areas were not forgotten either - 7 parks were formed too. A new part of the land, donated by the benefactor Aleksandar Georgiev Kodzhakafaliyata, was included in the town so outlined in 1912.

10 Burgas grew rapidly during the first decade of last century. The construction of the central part with a nice seaside park, communal parks, a large casino on the sea shore started in 1938, municipal market hall in 1926, Chamber of Commerce. The completion of the railroad Burgas-Yambol was of the utmost importance for the development of the port of Burgas. In the first decades of the new century the town experienced accelerated growth in industry, banking, education and culture. 151 industrial enterprises were created: a confectionery and plant oils factory of Avram Chalyovski, the Big Bulgarian Mills of Ivan H. Petrov, the soap factory "Kambana", factory for canned fish, etc. Many banks were established, the Chamber of Commerce was established too. Education underwent development too, the first primary school was divided into two: men s and girls, High School of Commerce was established in 1905, and in the State Mechanical and Technical School. The interest in the past in our lands led to the creation of the Archaeological Society "Debelt in 1925, which dealt with the study, preservation and search for materials of historical value. This society later became a museum. In the second half of XX C the town of Burgas became a powerful industrial and economic centre, a tourist region with international reputation. Immediately after the Liberation a municipal library was created in Burgas in Hardly in something resembling a public library appeared, a room located on Aleksandrovska St. with several chairs and a table, which newspapers were placed on. At the beginning of 20 C, when the number of schools increased, intellectuals started to seriously deal with the founding of the educational reading room society "Deyatelnost", aimed at the education of the young and old. In 1926 Probuda library was established in

11 Burgas. The extension of library activity in Burgas occurred much later. The libraries "L. Karavelov", "A. Georgiev", "A. Zlatarov were created. Library activity developed too. A new reading room of the library opened in what was then the town casino. In 1937 the library had books, magazines and newspapers. Books, property of the libraries in the town, increased with a fast pace on a daily basis. In 1925 Archaeological Society "Debelt was created. In 1931 the museum consisted of archaeological, ethnographic and numismatic departments. Today Burgas is one of the largest cities in the country. It is situated on the Black Sea coast, in Burgas Bay, 400 km away from Sofia and 130 km away from Varna. Burgas is the administrative centre of the homonymous district. The population of the town is over people. The port of Burgas is the largest cargo port in the country. 10 km northeast of the city is the airport, which operates international flights. The climate of Burgas, strongly influenced by the sea, is temperate continental, with average summer temperatures of 26.4 o C, and the average temperature of the sea water in the summer is 24.7 o C. The proximity to the sea and the even relief of the area is the reason why it has been inhabited since ancient times. The earliest finds in the region refer to the bronze and early iron age. The archaeological finds from the Thracian period (IV C BC) are many too. Some of the major battles of the Bulgarian State with the Byzantine Empire were fought in the area of Burgas. The victories of Khan Tervel (VIII C) in Anhialo field in 708 and of Khan Kardam (who reigned from 802 to 777) at the fortress Markeli near Karnobat in 792 reaffirmed the Bulgarian State. During the Ottoman rule the town developed as an educational and spiritual centre. In XVIII C the port of Burgas had already become the biggest port south of Stara Planina. Burgas was freed from Ottoman rule on 6 February The town underwent strong industrialization and modernization in the beginning of 20 C.

12 Along with its good transport links, the outlet to the sea, developed industry and along with this preserved history, Burgas is still an attractive destination for tourists. The town and the region offer various opportunities for tourism - sea, cultural tourism with numerous museums and cultural sites, balneo and spa, ornithological, wine tourism, etc. Tourists can learn more about the history of the town and other curious facts from the exhibitions of the Regional Historical Museum of Burgas, which are located in several buildings. Photographs, documents about the newest history of Burgas - after 1878 until 70s of 20 C are exhibited in the historical exposition. In the archaeological exposition on 22, Aleko Bogoridi Blvd. archaeological finds from prehistory and the Middle Ages are exhibited. The history of navigation in the Black Sea from the middle of II BC is presented by a special collection of exhibits. Here the visitors will learn more about the history of Burgas during the First and Second Bulgarian Kingdom and the fall of the town under Ottoman rule. The cathedral "St. St. Cyril and Methodius is also among the most visited sites in the town. The temple was built in the period by design of the Italian architect Ricardo Toscani ( ). The stained glass of the main entrance depicts the brothers Cyril and Methodius. The church was declared an architectural and construction monument of culture of national importance in issue 18 of State Gazette of Next to the cathedral "St. St. Cyril and Methodius, in a house from the middle of 19 C, ethnographic exposition, presenting the culture and lifestyle of Burgas in the past, is located. The richest collection of traditional costumes from all ethnographic groups in

13 Burgas area is located in the museum, unique ritual costumes from 19 C, typical of the area of Burgas, are exhibited. Here the visitors can learn about traditional Bulgarian rituals such as singing of Christmas carols, dancing (to the accompaniment of St. Lazar's Day songs for health, happiness and fertility), fire dancing, etc. Troyka square is near the temple too - a pleasant place for a stroll too. The diversity of birds in Burgas lakes and the current condition of the flora and fauna on the Southern Black Sea coast is presented in a an exposition of natural science. Visitors can learn about the life and creativity of the youngest poetess of Bulgaria in the House - Museum "Petya Dubarova". Petya Dubarova was born on 25 April 1962 in Burgas and although she ended her life when she was 17 years old, she remains in the history of Bulgarian literature with her incredible poetic talent. The house she was born in has been turned into a museum, which opened its doors to visitors on 7 August A restoration of the room of the young poetess is created in the museum - her school uniform, her mark book, as well as rich photographic material are exhibited. The museum serves as a cultural institute too. Since 1984 a literary contest in the name of the poetess has been held, whereas young artists of all genres can take part in it. From 2003 a summer workshop has been held, in which the best performers at the literary contest are awarded, lecturers are invited too. The museum hosts many exhibitions, readings of literary works, presentations of books, etc. Burgas is the cultural centre of the region, which is evident from the rich activity of Burgas Opera, the Drama Theatre Adriana Budevska and the State Puppet Theatre of Burgas. There are numerous galleries in the town too. The restored Sea casino near the marine park also hosts many cultural events. The Marine park is a suitable place for walking and recreation. The summer theatre of the town is located here too, where a variety of concerts and performances are held.

14 The pier of Burgas is one of the favourite places for walking for the residents and guests of the town. It was built in 1936 and is located near the casino. A bicycle park with three different levels of difficulty has been built in "Lake" park (at the entrance of the Marine park), for those seeking more adrenaline a special track for the socalled "dirt jumping has been built - a discipline in cycling, in which baboons, artificially made by earth mass, are overcome, whereas a variety of attractive figures are performed in the air. Burgas turns into a festival centre during the summer season. For several years Festival of sand figures has been held in the town - sculptors from around the world take part in the making of the sand figures, using tons of sand. The figures are related to the theme of the festival, which is different every year. Spirit of Burgas is undeniably the festival, having brought international fame to Burgas and Bulgaria. The festival has been taking place from 2008 in August and gathers worldfamous musicians of different styles on several stages. The town is also host to numerous literary, musical and folklore festivals, whereas their climax is traditionally during the summer season.

15 As a major economic, cultural and tourist centre, one can find a wide range of accommodation in Burgas luxury hotels, small cosy family hotels, rooms, guest houses. Night life, especially during the summer season, offers many opportunities too discos, bars, casinos. Besides on the main streets of Burgas, there are restaurants on the beach in the Marine park too. Other sea towns like Chernomorets, Pomorie, Nesebar and Sozopol are situated near Burgas too; there are numerous campsites in the area p.m. Lunch in Burgas 2.00 p.m. - Departure to Malko Tarnovo 3.00 p.m. - Arrival in Malko Tarnovo Malko Tarnovo is situated in the central part of Strandzha mountain. European road E87 passes through the town. Malko Tarnovo Border Control Point is in the immediate vicinity. Malko Tarnovo is located 76 km south of Burgas and 5 km away from the border with Republic of Turkey. Its population numbers inhabitants. It is situated in a karst valley, surrounded by high wooded hills, the town is the only one in the territory of the central part of Strandzha mountain in Bulgaria. The highest peak of Strandzha mountain in Bulgaria - Golyamo Gradishte (709 m altitude) rises west of Malko Tarnovo. An older name has not been preserved, although the village has existed yet in Antiquity (IV-III century BC). There was a metallurgical centre here, belonging to the territory of Biziya (today s town of Vize in Republic of Turkey), the last capital of the Thracian kings.

16 A big turning point in cultural and economic aspect occurred in 330, when Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the empire from Rome to Constantinople. Thus Strandzha, from a peripheral mountain, proved to be in immediate proximity to the new economic and cultural centre. As the closest and largest centre for the extraction of ore, the mountain undertook the entire supply of metal for the needs of the new capital. About 70 ancient mines were found only in the territory of Malko Tarnovo municipality, and in the vicinity of the town four furnaces for melting. A number of monuments have been found in the area of the town - megaliths, mound necropolises, antique buildings, a fortress, revealing the importance of the settlement during the Thracian and Roman epochs. The old mining in this region is touched on in a quadrilateral marble altar, found in Mishkova Niva locality. This monument and a number of other traces indicate that the centre of the Roman metal-extracting industry in Strandzha mountain was located near Malko Tarnovo. In its appearance of today the town of Malko Tarnovo was established in During the first two centuries stock - breeding was strongly developed, which was the main occupation of the population to the beginning of 20 C. Visit to the museum in the town The town s and the region s historical and ethnographic heritage are well represented at the premises of the Historical Museum in Malko Tarnovo. The museum was established in 1983 under the name "Strandzha Museum Complex" and since 2002 it has been restructured in a Municipal History Museum; yet until today it is the only cultural institution in the territory of Strandzha mountain. The exhibition area is

17 located in four Strandzha houses from the Revival period - cultural monuments, which belonged to wealthy families of traders from the end of 19 C. The history museum in Malko Tarnovo has a carpet workshop too, offering demonstrations of weaving on an authentic loom p.m. Departure to Edirne (crossing the border at Malko Tarnovo Border Control Point) 6.00 p.m. Arrival in Edirne - accommodation at a hotel, free time, dinner, overnight stay 3rd day 9.00 a.m. Breakfast a.m. Tour of Edirne Edirne is the capital of Eastern Thrace. This town has always been very important. The Thracians called it Uskudama. It was the first capital of their Odrysian Kingdom. Shortly before the new era the victorious Roman legions enter it. Emperor Hadrian built a new town in the place of the ancient village and gave it his name Adrianople. Periods of prosperity and decline follow. During the Middle Ages Byzantium and Bulgaria repeatedly fought for it. The Ottoman Turks captured it in It was their capital until the fall of Constantinople in 1453, but even after that it was as a second capital of their huge empire. Many sultans preferred to rule from Edirne. Between 1700 and 1750 it was the fourth largest city in Europe with a population of 350 thousand people.

18 From Antiquity until today Edirne and the surrounding area have survived more than 15 major battles and sieges. The Bulgarian wars have won many great victories. In VIII C Khan Kardam destroyed a large Byzantine army near its walls. Khan Krum conquered it in 813. In September 914 Tzar Simeon entered triumphantly into the town and in 921, after a siege, Edirne surrendered to Simeon and was included in the boundaries of Bulgaria. On 15 August 1002 Tsar Samuil conquered the town and plundered it. The battle at Adrianople on 14 April 1205, however, was particularly important for European history! After that Tzar Kaloyan defeated the heavily armed chivalry army of the Latin Empire and captured its emperor Baldwin I. In honour of this victory the citizens of Adrianople raised Bulgarian flags over the fortress. In the new history the siege of Adrianople during the Balkan war ( ) had tremendous significance. Karaach station was the first bombarded by air with a strategic goal site in the world s history. This was done by a Bulgarian plane on 29 October On 13 March 1913, what was considered by many western military specialists an impregnable fortress, was taken hold of by an irresistible assault from the victorious Bulgarian troops. Today we celebrate this date as the day of Thrace. The central square of the modern city is surrounded by three imperial mosques Selimiye, Uch Sherefeli and the old mosque Talat Pasha Bulvari. We will start our tour with the biggest pride of Edirne - Selimiye mosque. According to some experts it exceeds even Saint Sophia in beauty and impressiveness! It has been recognized as one of the highest achievements of islamic architecture. The temple is a work of the famous Mimar Sinan ( ), Chief Architect of several sultans, having

19 left behind him about 400 mosques, bridges, madrasas, baths, aqueducts, fountains, etc. The mosque Selimiye is the ultimate achievement in his works. According to the legend, the architect was inspired for this masterpiece while he was watching his mother's hair. Thus he made wonderful guilloches for all 384 narrow windows of the mosque, similarly to her plaits. The dome of Selimiye mosque is 44 m high and has a diameter of 32 m. It was erected on eight marble columns. The mosque of Selim II has ideal proportions and is of the Rotunda type without supports in the interior space. Its 70 m high minarets are exquisite, an integral part of the architectural silhouette of the building and are the highest in Turkey with their 70 m. The original mosque had 1000 windows, but after that one was walled up because of the belief that 999 is a magic number and also because the expression of this number in Turkish sounded more glorious than the word for After a short break we head to the Bulgarian church Saint Martyr Georgi. It is located in the northeastern part of the town. One of the big Bulgarian neighbourhoods was once located here. The foundations of the temple were laid on 23 April 1880 and it was completed the same year. It was built on an area of 320 m 2 and represents a three-nave pseudo basilica, spacious, with a high ceiling, in a style, characteristic for the late Bulgarian Revival. Originally the services were performed in Greek but under the pressure of the Bulgarian community this changed rapidly and the services began to be served in Bulgarian. Unfortunately years of destruction follow. In 1951 the church closed. Services were no longer performed and the building gradually started to crumble. During this hard time it

20 was maintained on a voluntary basis by one of the few local hereditary Bulgarians - the patriot Philip Chakarak. The restored temple was inaugurated and consecrated on 9 May 2004 in the presence of numerous Bulgarian and Turkish officials by the Bishop of Ruse Neofit. At the end of the day we will take a nice walk to another architectural monument of international importance. Several fine old bridges over the rivers Maritsa, Tundzha and Arda have been preserved and are still in use in Edirne p.m. Edirne - dinner, overnight stay 4th day 9.00 a.m. Breakfast After breakfast we will continue the programme in Edirne. Visit to the second Bulgarian church. The temple St. St. Konstantin and Elena "rises in Kirishhane district" in the southwestern part of the town. It was built in 1869 on the eve of the formation of the Bulgarian exarchate with funds of the Bulgarian community. The church represents a three-nave pseudo-basilica with a total area of 600 sq. m. The walls are made of mixed stone-brick masonry in the style of Orthodox architecture of that time. Two rows of columns support the wooden ceiling and the roof, and above the narthex in the western part the matronea are erected on two levels. After the Balkan Wars and the mass exodus of Bulgarians from South-Eastern and Aegean Thrace the church St. St. Konstantin and Elena remained unattended and gradually started to crumble. It has repeatedly been the object of treasure-hunters incursions and at the end of 80s of last century it was burned and robbed. It was restored in In the Archaeological Museum of Edirne valuables from Thracian and Roman times can be seen, whereas an authentic Thracian dolmen is exhibited in the garden in front of it. A beautiful collection of Islamic art has been added to the museum. The built by the Romans fortified wall with the well-preserved Macedonian Tower, the old Karaach Station (1890), today the rector s office of Thracian University, as well as the prison tower from the Middle Ages, also called "Edirne Tower, are of interest in Edirne too. The historic Covered Bazaar is the symbol of the town. Heavily damaged by fire three decades ago, today it has been fully restored. It houses shops and craft workshops. We will finish the programme in this remarkable town with a visit to the less known but very interesting and original Museum of Health. The drugs here are the pleasant music and the murmuring sound of the water.

21 1.00 p.m. Lunch in Edirne 2.30 p.m. Departure to Erikli (a stop in Keşan for a break) 5.00 p.m. Arrival in Erikli Erikli is still a hardly and almost unknown Turkish resort. It will have an exceptional future. It disposes with the third longest sandy beach in Turkey after those in Patara and Side. It is spread out along the picturesque Gulf of Saros in the northeastern part of the azure Aegean Sea. The surrounding area, covered with pine forests, are extremely beautiful! And it's no wonder that in Eastern Thrace they call it "The lost paradise". Accommodation in hotel, free time, dinner, overnight stay 5th day 9.00 a.m. Breakfast

22 Opportunity for rest on the gorgeous beach of Erikli or a trip to the ancient Enez. Enez (Enos in Bulgarian, Ainos in Greek), located on the southeastern coast of Maritsa River, right where its waters meet the Aegean Sea. In Antiquity the town here was named Ainos and was one of the important ports of Eastern Thrace on the eastern bank of Evros. The town is mentioned by Homer and Herodotus in their works. It is believed that the town was founded by colonists from Mytilene (Lesbos island) and Kime around 7th C BC. In 375 BC, during the Peloponnesian War, the town took part on the side of Athens and was a member of the Athenian maritime union until 345 BC. From 341 BC it belonged to the Atalidi dynasty from the ancient town of Pergamon, the capital of the Pergamon Kingdom. Enos passes into the hands of Rome after the last king of the dynasty Atlus III called with the nickname The Crazy, bequeathed all his kingdom and wealth to the Roman Empire. In Late Antiquity the town was the capital of the province of Rhodope and an episcopal centre. According to the ancient chronicler Prokop, emperor Justinian built the great fort and the city walls. A medieval fortification, which belonged to the genovese family Gatiluzio, which governed it from 1376 until its conquest in 1456 by the troops of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed The Conqueror, is situated today at the site of the ancient acropolis. In 1912, during the the Balkan War, Enos was conquered by the Bulgarian army. The town is the end point of the line Midia Enos, the territory, which according to the London Peace Treaty, was ceded by the Ottoman Empire to the Balkan Union and Bulgaria, but a few months later the line was adjusted by the Treaty of Bucharest of 1913 and the town was returned to Turkey. The preserved and restored acropolis of Enez rises at a height of 25 meters above the level of the sea and the river, perched on the hill preserving memories from glorious times of the peoples having passed through the district, revealing a wonderful, breathtaking view to the Aegean Sea and the delta of Maritsa and inviting to a romantic meeting at sunset, when you are here, you can watch one of the most beautiful sunsets on the Aegean Sea.

23 Sightseeing of the remains of the Fortress and the church Saint Sophia - "Wisdom of God". After the town was captured by the Ottoman Turks by order of Sultan Mehmed the Conqueror, the Episcopal Church was converted into a mosque which bears his name FATIH - conqueror. It is located in the south-eastern part of the acropolis and has impressive size for its time - 21 to 38 metres, without the apse, and rivals many churches, built in Constantinople at the same time. Unfortunately a big part of the church, which was converted into a mosque, was destroyed in a big earthquake in 1965 and it has not been fully restored yet, but the municipality of the town hopes to provide enough funds for the restoration of the site, part of the European and World Cultural Heritage. Sightseeing of the remains of chapels and small churches in the area of the fortress and the harbour. Sightseeing of Tashalta necropolis and the tomb of Has Yunus Bey. The Byzantine monastery and the church were converted in 1456 in a tomb of Yunus Baba - commander of the fleet of the Ottoman Empire. Sightseeing of the remains of the ancient Roman road Via Egnatia and bridges over Maritsa and its tributaries, remains from its fortress walls around the harbours. In Antiquity Enos was known as the "dual port - the first one located by the sea and the other by the river. By the middle of XIX C, when the mouth of the river at Enos was covered with silt, the lower stream of Maritsa

24 was used for river transport, whereas with high water one could reach Plovdiv along it and even Pazardzhik. Free time, dinner, overnight stay in Erikli 6th day 8.00 a.m. Breakfast 9.00 a.m. Boat trip in the Gulf of Saros After breakfast we head towards the harbour. Saros Bay is located in the most northeastern part of the White (Aegean) Sea between Gallipoli Peninsula and the mouth of Maritsa river. Far away from industrialized areas, it is extremely clean, beautiful and picturesque, with sandy beaches and azure sea. The favourable sea currents make it very suitable for diving, windsurfing, fishing and other water sports. It is inhabited by more than 243 species of fish and other aquatic animals, because of which it can be compared to a sort of a natural aquarium. In 1970 the world famous oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau visited it with his ship "Calypso" and called it "the Northern Red Sea. And indeed, in 2001 something very interesting happened. Fish species, typical of the Red Sea, appear in the gulf. One of them is ANTIAS, in red and yellow colours, with a tail in the shape of a crescent. The other one is "ZEBRA" black, with white stripes. This news spread quickly and made interest in Saros even bigger

25 Our trip will continue until 1 p.m. and will end with a delicious fish lunch on board p.m. Departure to Burgas The price includes: Price: 380 lv. * Transport with a licensed tour bus (mini bar, video, hot drinks) * 5 overnight stays with breakfast in a 3* hotel in Burgas, Edirne and Erikli * Guide service along the route * Medical insurance - assistance with coverage Euro 5000 The price does not include: * Dinner at the hotel or in a restaurant in the town optional * Organised Fish evening around Euro 30 (depending on the choice of menu and whether live music is included) Expenses of personal nature * Excursion to the ancient Enez and Gala National Park - Euro 10 * Boat trip in the Gulf of Saros - Euro 20 The excursion will take place with minimum number of tourists - 20 people