BULGARIA : VELIKI TARNOVO
The town of Veliko Tarnovo is situated along the historical hills of
Sveta Gora, Tsarevets and Trapezitsa, on the two banks of the Yantra
River, cutting a peculiar gorge through Tarnovo elevations. Veliko
Tarnovo was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire ( 1185 - 1393).
Probably the most outstanding landmark of the town is the medieval
fortress of Tsarevets , the place of the patriarchal church and royal
palaces, the hill where Baudouin's Tower still rises, linked with the
legend of the Latin Emperor Baudouin of Flanders who was captured by
Tsar Kaloyan.
Then you will be shown another hill Trapezitsa - where the foundations
of 17 mediaeval churches were discovered. To the west lies the Asenova
quarter with the 13 century Church of the Forty Martyrs and to the north
the Church of SS Petar and Pavel, the sole better preserved church from
medieval Tarnovo. An area of great archeological importance where the
bolyari and leading clergy built their mansions and some 40 private
churches, is the massif Trapezitsa. Sveta Gora (Holy Hill) used to be a
centre of monastic scholasticism with numerous churches and monasteries.
Tarnovo is also a National revival city which houses seem to grow out of
the steep slopes of the river. Some of the finest architectural examples
from this period can be found in the old Varosh quarter.
The original SAMOVODENE MARKET has been brought back to life and, as in
olden times, skillful craftsmen fashion and sell exquisite objects in
the small restored workshops.At night, proud Tsarevets lends the natural
decor to a fantastic SOUND AND LIGHT spectacle.
