October 30 – November 3, 2019

Jewish National Fund

PRESIDENT’S SOCIETY MISSION PRE-MISSION ITINERARY TO SOFIA

Sofia

Wednesday, October 30 – Sofia

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PM

Overnight

Welcome to Sofia! Upon arrival, transfer* to the hotel.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure to settle in and relax.

In the evening, meet your guide and driver for a panoramic tour of the city. Hear a brief introduction about the country and its capital city, and see several key landmarks along the way.

Later, enjoy a welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant with traditional Bulgarian and European cuisine.

InterContinental Hotel

*Airport Transfers are not included.

Itinerary is subject to change.

Thursday, October 31 – Sofia

AM This morning, meet your guide in the hotel lobby for a short walk to Sofia’s magnificent Great Synagogue designed by an Austrian architect in the Byzantine-Moorish style in 1909. It is the third largest Sephardic synagogue in Europe after Budapest and Amsterdam. Enjoy a tour of the synagogue. It seats 1,200 and the interiors feature ornate decorations, arches, and a huge chandelier hanging from the dome. The synagogue’s grand opening was a lavish occasion attended by Bulgaria’s political; the Tsar himself cut a ribbon in front of the Ark. The synagogue was damaged and its library destroyed during the bombings in World War II. During the Communist rule, the building remained empty and was neglected for decades before being fully renovated and rededicated in 1996. On the second floor, a Jewish Museum was established in 1992 which exhibits historical and Holocaust artifacts and documents.*

It is a little known fact that Bulgaria was one of the few European countries to save much of its Jewish population from Nazi gas chambers. In March 1943, trains arrived to transport 50,000 Jews straight to the death camps, but the local heads of the Bulgarian Orthodox church, ordinary citizens, and members of parliament mobilized against the deportation. Jews were sheltered in churches and private homes, railroads were blocked and, under pressure from the public and the clergy, the King canceled the deportation, sending the trains back empty.

As you continue to explore Bulgarian capital, your guide will point out the Central Market Hall and the famous Rotunda Sveti Georgi (St. George), originally built in the 4th century as a Roman temple. Later, it was consecutively used as both a church and a mosque, and recent restoration works have revealed magnificent medieval frescoes. The rotunda is considered to be the oldest preserved building in Sofia.

You will also see Sofia’s signature gold onion-domed landmark, the Alexander Nevski Memorial Cathedral, built as a tribute to the Russian soldiers who liberated Bulgaria from the Ottomans at the turn of the 19th century.

Itinerary is subject to change.

Great Synagogue at Sofia

PM After lunch at a nearby restaurant, meet your driver and continue to the outskirts of the city and the small Boyana Church which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich collection of murals, considered to be among the finest examples of medieval religious art. The east wing of the two-story church was constructed in the late 10th or early 11th century; the central wing was added in the 13th century, and a further expansion took place in the 19th century.

The frescoes from the 13th century cover paintings from earlier periods and represent one of the most complete and well-preserved monuments of Eastern European medieval art, with a total of 89 scenes with 240 human images.

Continue to the National History Museum, located in a former presidential residence. Your guide will take you into the museum and through several of its magnificent collections, including the Thracian gold treasures, jewelry dating back to the first Bulgarian kingdom, and exquisite pieces of religious art.

Return to your hotel. Dinner this evening will be at one of Sofia’s premier restaurants.

Overnight InterContinental Hotel

Please note that some of the sightseeing today involves walking. Wear comfortable footwear and do not hesitate to let your guide know if you need a break.

*As there are very unique and inspirational stories with regard to the Holocaust and Bulgaria’s role during these times, we will invite a member of the Jewish community either from Sofia or while in Plovdiv to meet and speak with the group. This will be looked into a bit later but will be incorporated in the program.

CONTINUED Thursday, October 31 – Sofia

Itinerary is subject to change.

Natural History Museum

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PM

Overnight

After an early breakfast, meet your guide and driver and begin your trip to Plovdiv, the country’s second largest city.

Plovdiv is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe – a contemporary of the legendary Troy and Mycenae and older than Rome or Istanbul. A settlement was first founded here by the Thracians in the 5th millennium BC. Later, it was conquered by Philip of Macedon – the father of Alexander the Great, who named it after himself – Philippopolis (the town of Philip). The Romans arrived in the 1st century and further fortified the city, also building streets, towers, and aqueducts. See the Roman amphitheater which could once seat 6,000 spectators and is still used for performances and events.

Jews have lived in Plovdiv since at least the 3rd century. This was also one of the first places on the Balkans where Sephardic Jews settled after fleeing persecution in Spain and Portugal. At the start of the 20th century, Plovdiv had four functioning synagogues, boys’ and girls’ schools, several charity organizations, and five Jewish newspapers. Currently, the community numbers several hundred, making it Bulgaria’s second largest city. Just one synagogue survives in a small courtyard with a rather plain ‘Ottoman-style’ exterior, but has beautifully restored interiors with colorful frescoes and an ornate Holy Arc.

Transfer back to Sofia and your hotel. Evening visit to the Synagogue for Shabbat services followed by Shabbat Dinner.

InterContinental Hotel

Please note that some of the sightseeing today involves walking. Wear comfortable footwear and do not hesitate to let your guide know if you need a break.

Friday, November 1 – Plovdiv

Itinerary is subject to change.

Plovdiv

Saturday, November 2 – Koprivshtitsa

Koprivshtitsa

AM Later this morning, meet your guide for the short walk to the Central Market Hall. One of Sofia’s busiest markets, it first opened in 1911 and, after a long renovation in the 1990s, now hosts food stalls, fast-food outlets, souvenir shops and more. The building’s architecture is Neo-Renaissance with interior iron pillars, balustrades, roofing beams, and a little clock tower with three dials on top. You will get a chance to rub shoulders with the locals and sample some traditional products.

Transfer east of the capital city to visit Koprivshtitsa – a true museum town with wonderfully preserved authentic architecture from the National Revival period.

Picturesquely situated at 3,000 feet altitude in the Sredna Gora Mountains, amongst alpine pastures and pine forests, in the middle ages Koprivshtitsa prospered from cattle trading and farming. In the 19th century, the town was plundered and torched by bandits but quickly rebuilt and nowadays the historic houses of several notable artists, poets, and merchants have been preserved as museums displaying period interiors and furniture.

PM After some time to explore the cobbled streets and historic buildings, transfer back to Sofia (approximately 2 hours) and your hotel.

Enjoy a farewell dinner at one of Sofia’s top restaurants.

Overnight InterContinental Hotel

Itinerary is subject to change.

Sunday, November 3 – En Route

AM Breakfast and transfer to the airport to meet your onward flight.