Uniworld – the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line, offering the highest standards in luxury river cruising – has now included Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi in its programme. The first luxury river cruise ship, River Princess, sets off at the beginning of July; a week later its passengers will embark in Ruse. From there they will be transferred to Veliko Tarnovo and Arbanasi where tourists will visit historical sites and museums and will taste authentic dishes from the Second Bulgarian Kingdom in a local restaurant. After that they will be returning to their ship to continue with their cruise.
Sights
We have long known that Veliko Tarnovo is probably amongst the most unique towns all over the world and now it was officially confirmed. Veliko Tarnovo topped a chart for the most beautiful towns ever built on sheer slopes which was recently published in the Italian newspaper La Repubblica. The magnitude of this first place is proven by the towns left behind by the old Bulgarian capital – Meteora and Santorini (Greece), Ronda (Spain), Rocamadour (France), Riomaggiore, Vernazza and Civita di Bagnoregio (Italy), Piodao (Portugal), Wadi Dawan (Yemen) are a few to name among others.
The paper calls the selected locations jewels of architecture and pieces of treasure. It also notes how hard it must have been for the towns to be built and points the constant drive of humanity to conquer Nature. The Italians also state that Veliko Tarnovo, along with the rest of the towns, is even more picturesque when seen in person and its charm stays vividly in one’s mind long after the encounter.
On April, 4th Tsarevets Fortress will be the arena of a number of re-enactments of everyday life routines from medieval times as part of the 12th Cultural Tourism Fair which will take place in Veliko Tarnovo from April, 1st April, 4th. The day’s events start at 10.00 am and will include@
- Demonstrations of medieval crafts;
- Weapon replicas exhibition and usage demonstrations;
- Medieval kids games;
- Open air museum showing armours, uniforms, military equipment and also plain clothes from Bulgaria, Byzantium, the Russian Principalities, Cumania, Western Europe and the Latin Empire;
- Lecture on medieval fighting skills and a demonstration (fencing with a single-handed sword and a buckler and crossbow shooting;
- Acoustic concert with medieval music performed by Der Dudelgeist Band on replica instruments from the Middle Ages.
Entrance is free.
On Sunday Veliko Tarnovo celebrates its official holiday. The events marking the day start at 7.30 am in the The Holy Forty Martyrs Church with a Holy Mass by Veliko Tarnovo’s Metropolitan Bishop Grigoriy. At 9 o’clock flowers will be laid at the monument of Tsar Kaloyan at the same venue. At 9.20 an extract from Asen’s pillar which is placed in that very church will be read out. There will be a march from the church to the building of Veliko Tarnovo Municipality at 9.45. At 10.30 the Mayor will address the citizens of the town. A festive programme with lots of artist and musicians will start at 11o’clock in front of the Municipality building; it will last until the early afternoon. A warm up party will start in front of the European info centre at 4.30 pm and the traditional street parade will kick off at 18.00 pm. Sky lanterns will be lit at 7.30 pm at Asenevtsi Monument near the Art Gallery; after that all the guests and citizens of Veliko Tarnovo can enjoy the 3D mapping show The glory of Asenevtsi Dynasty and the subsequent firework show.
A replica of a warrior from the renowned Terracotta Army can now be seen in the foyer of the building accommodating Veliko Tarnovo Municipality Administration. The 2-meters tall figure is a copy of a general serving in the afterlife army of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. The sculpture is a special gift for the citizens and guest of the Old Bulgarian capital from the Chinese twin town of Veliko Tarnovo – Xian. The warrior will stay there for one month; after that it will be handed over to the Regional history museum. The terracotta soldier was presented to the audience in the presence of the cultural attaché of China in Bulgaria. The terracotta army was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.