Balkan Tour (14) Veliko Tarnovo, one of the three ancient capitals of Bulgaria.

Travel Together Season 8 - Balkan Tour (14) Veliko Tarnovo, one of the three ancient capitals of Bulgaria Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria - Bucharest, Romania July 2, 2019, sunny, 20-30°C Morning tour of Veliko Tarnovo (Photo 1). Veliko Tarnovo, one of the three ancient capitals of Bulgaria, was the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire in history. In 1908, the Kingdom of Bulgaria declared independence here. In 1965, the city was officially renamed "Veliko Tarnovo" to commemorate its rich historical significance (Photo 2). Tarnovo is a strategically important city, and in the Middle Ages, it was the second largest city on the Balkan Peninsula after Constantinople (Photo 3). There are many ancient sites and attractions preserved here, the most famous of which is the Tsarevets Fortress (Photo 4). The fortress is magnificent, with thick walls and towers for defense, and a royal palace inside. It is a famous medieval fortress. It was the main fortress and barrier of the Bulgarian Empire from 1185 to 1393, and is now a famous tourist attraction in Bulgaria. The main buildings of the ancient city include churches (Photo 5), as it was the seat of the archbishop at that time, and is therefore famous for its church architecture. On the top of Tsarevets Hill is the Ascension Cathedral of the Archbishop and the Archbishop's Palace. The churches all have murals, but the difference is that the murals in this church are in a modern style (Photo 6). Today, the ancient city of Veliko Tarnovo has been designated as a key protected area and tourist destination. The ancient city is located on the two hills of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa, with the Yantra River winding through it (Photo 7). 12:30 Drive to Bucharest, the capital of Romania. 14:45 Cross the Friendship Bridge on the Danube River at the Bulgaria-Romania border, 15:30 Enter the border, arrive at 17:00, check in at Hotel Rin Grand after dinner (Photo 8), there is an open wetland park opposite the hotel (Photo 9).