Orthodox Heraldry in Sofia
- 2 hours
- Free cancellation up to 24h before
- Guided in English
- Instant confirmation
Highlights
Discover the secrets of the three main Orthodox churches in Sofia with their inherent crypts and museums. Visit the tomb of the king-liberator and first ruler of the Third Bulgarian Kingdom, Alexander I Battenberg. Learn more about the history and development of the Christian religion, about the guiding principles and differences between Orthodoxy and Catholicism, and about the life of the first Bulgarian monarch after the liberation from the five-century Ottoman yoke. The tour duration of 2 hours also includes the short walking between the sites.
Inclusions
What's included
- Visit and entrance tickets to: Al. Nevsky crypt with icon gallery, St. Sofia underground museum
- Guided tour
- Visit to: Al. Nevsky Cathedral, St. Sofia Basilica, St. Nicholas Church and Al. Batenberg mausoleum
What's not
- Gratuities (optional)
Itinerary
Your tour guide will immerse you in the mysticism of Orthodox Bulgarian heraldry. Learn interesting facts about the construction of the largest Orthodox church on the Balkan Peninsula, the Patriarchal Cathedral of Alexander Nevsky. Visit the icon gallery in the crypt of the church and learn more about the style and meaning of Bulgarian Orthodox icon painting in the period from the Middle Ages to the end of the 19th century.
Compare the temple-monument Al. Nevsky and its golden domes with the late antique basilica of Saint Sofia, which is just next to it. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the museum under the temple and learn more about the Roman period of the ancient city of Serdica and the acceptance of Christianity.
Next, visit the third main temple, the Russian church of Staint Nicholas. Learn about the distinctive features of Russian Orthodoxy and visit the crypt of Staint Seraphim, where locals descend to address their wishes, written on paper, to the saint.
At the end of the walk, visit the tomb of the first Bulgarian monarch after the liberation, Alexander I Battenberg, and learn more about his deeds and contribution to the Bulgarian people in the end of the 19th century.
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience starts, for a full refund.
Reviews
5.0
- 52
- 40
- 30
- 20
- 10
Ratings come from 2 reviews collected by our booking partner. They are travellers' own words, in the order they were written — never reordered to flatter the experience.
Know before you go
- Meeting point
- The meeting point for the tour in in front of Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (generally it is not crowded there). The guide will have your booking details and will identify you.
- Pickup
- Everyone meets at the starting point; there is no pickup.
- Ticket type
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operated by
- Hola Bulgaria
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
How it compares in Sofia
- Its from-price is close to the median of the 44 city tours we list in Sofia.
- It is shorter than most of them.
- By number of reviews it ranks 17 of 44.
- The operator lists free cancellation on it.
About Sofia
Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, lies below Vitosha mountain, mixing Roman ruins, golden-domed churches, mineral springs and a busy café culture.
Sofia sits in a high basin at the foot of Mount Vitosha, and its centre layers Roman Serdica, Orthodox Bulgaria and the Ottoman and Soviet eras. The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, completed in the early twentieth century, is the city's best-known building. Close by are the fourth-century rotunda of St George, the Banya Bashi Mosque and the remains of Roman streets that show through glass in the metro stations.
Top-ranked sights in Sofia: Rila Monastery, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Ivan Vazov National Theatre.
Special offers in Sofia
Was/now prices come from the operator, never from us.
