Second Bulgarian Empire

Veliko Turnovo

Our second place to visit was a rich heritage and fabulous place to discover. Veliko Turnovo,one of the oldest settlements having a history of more than 5 millennia. Our day was based on discoveries; we visited the remaining of the Tsarevets Royal Fortress. It was settled in the 4^th century, the fortress was the most important stronghold in Bulgaria, as for its magnificiance , often compared with Rome and Constantinople. It was the second Bulgarian kingdom and served as the primary fortress and the strongest bulwark from 1185 to 1393, it was the house of the royal and patriarchal palaces. In 1393 the fortress was destroyed by the Ottoman forces, who occupied the place for three months before being conquered on the 17h and that marked the fall of the Second Bulgarian Kingdom. They say that the first traces of human presence dating from the 3rd millennium BC were on the Trapezitsa Hill.

After that we went to visit the Preobrazhensk Monastery, set on a hill and offers beautifull views over the forest. It was built in the 14^th century and completely destroyed by the turkish while ruling. In 1832 the Turkish sultan ordered to make a new one on the ruins of former monastery. The color on the outside are totally amazing, blue, red, orange, yellow. The inside is full of religious Icons; our eyes were quiet busy looking everywhere. You could feel an ancient religious spirit inside.