Rila Monastery was founded in the 10th century by St John of Rila, a hermit canonized by the Orthodox Church. His ascetic dwelling and tomb became a holy site and were transformed into a monastic ...

The Balkans are where Europe gets wild, ancient, and breathtakingly unpredictable. This region, stretching from Slovenia’s ...

As we drove along the narrow, mountainous road to Rila Monastery, my co-passenger mused, “I suppose the gods all over the world choose to manifest in mountains, caves, or places away from humanity.” ...

Bulgaria's ancient forests are a treasure trove of biodiversity, offering a unique opportunity to explore nature's wonders ...

On the southeastern fringes of Europe, Bulgaria is only just gaining a reputation tourist destination with huge potential. But while it’s already pulling in visitors to its Black Sea beaches, its ...

A day trip to Rila Monastery, Bulgaria’s biggest monastery is one that should be on every tourist’s list of things to do in Sofia. It is 117 km away from the city of Sofia but the two are extremely we ...