Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Rila Monastery
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Set peacefully in a forested valley south of Sofia, Rila Monastery (
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) is Bul-
garia's biggest and most storied spiritual treasure; a former centre of learning and cul-
ture that kept national spirits up during the Ottoman occupation. A Unesco World Heritage
site since 1983, the monastery grew from a 10th-century hermit's hut, and has been rebuilt
many times since. Its elaborate arches and precious frescoes and icons create a sublime and
sumptuous atmosphere. Today's architectural incarnation of the monastery is considered a
masterpiece of 19th-century Bulgarian Renaissance.
