The Sofia province surrounds the capital city and provides a ring of mountain escapes for your road trip. Your primary destination is **the world famous Rila Monastery** which sits in a deep valley surrounded by the highest peaks. You can drive through the thick woods to reach the gates of this massive fortress like cloister. Inside the courtyard the walls are covered in thousands of colorful religious scenes and the golden altar shines in the dim light. It is the most visited site in the country and a powerful symbol of national identity. Skirt the edge of the **Vitosha** mountain dome to find the Boyana Church which is hidden in a quiet grove of trees. This small stone building holds frescoes from twelve fifty nine that are famous for their realistic faces and vibrant colors. It is a rare chance to see medieval art that looks like it was painted only yesterday. You must park nearby and walk through the peaceful park to reach the church entrance. It is a small but incredibly rich piece of history that stays cool and quiet even in the summer. The drive takes you further north into the Balkan mountains to find the **Iskar Gorge** where the river has cut a deep path through the rock. You can follow the winding road right next to the water and see the tall limestone cliffs rising on both sides. Stop at the Cherepish Monastery which is perched on the edge of the river and looks like it is part of the cliff itself. The views from the road are some of the best in the country for a scenic drive. This province is the perfect mountain belt that protects the history of the capital.

Sofia (province) highlights

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Follow the routes that cross this destination

The Scenic Route

The Heritage Drive

The local Four

Sofia

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History of Sofia (province)

Sofia Province is the **Ring of the Balkan Range**. It has been the strategic highway of the Balkans for 2,000 years, with the **Via Militaris** passing through its valleys. The province history is dominated by the **Rila Monastery**, the spiritual center of Bulgaria, and the **Iskar Gorge**, a 70 kilometer natural tunnel through the mountains that has served as a trade and military route since the Romans. The town of **Koprivshtitsa** is the province historical crown jewel. In 1876, the first shot of the **April Uprising** was fired here from the **Kalachev Bridge**. The town is a perfectly preserved museum of the National Revival, with colorful merchant houses like the **Oslekov House** showing the wealth and taste of the Bulgarian elite before the liberation. It is one of the few places where you can see the 19th century world entirely intact. For road trippers, the province offers the **Etropole Waterfall** and the **Glozhen Monastery**, which perches on a vertical cliff like a castle from a fantasy novel. You can drive the scenic mountain passes of **Petrohan** or **Vitinya**, explore the **Saeva Dupka** cave with its emerald green rock formations, or visit the historic clock tower in **Botevgrad**. It is a province of rugged peaks and revolutionary echoes that guard the approaches to the capital.

Sofia (province)

Sofia (province) highlights

Part of these road trips

The local Four

History of Sofia (province)

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