RILLA MONASTERY
Biggest monastery in the Balkans
DAY 5
EXCURSION
We took a bus at 10 in the morning to the Rila Monastery , the most important monastery in the country . It was founded in the 10th century by Saint John of Rila known as Ivan Rilski , a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church . The temple is located in the Rila Mountains , in the deep valley of the Rilski river , in the western part of Bulgaria , about 120 kilometers from the capital , Sofia .
Once there , we visit the monastery and its surroundings where we taste mekitsi ( very good ), something very typical in Bulgaria . Here you can see images of the place . A very enriching experience where we could learn more about the Orthodox religion and its customs .
Later , we go to a cave located about 10 minutes from the monastery . There , we made a route of approximately 15 minutes to reach it . A route with incredible views and scenery .
Finally , we had the opportunity to visit the city of Blagoevgrad . A small city but with a lot of life . It is a good occasion to buy some gifts and take a walk around the main square .