Passing through the Balkans

Sofia is certainly among the destinations that no one would ever dream of putting on their list of dream trips. And yet Bulgaria holds numerous surprises for us. We set off as usual, the two of us, from Catania via Bergamo, with Ryanair and Wizz Air, destination Sofia. On 21 May at around 18:00 we are at the airport and in the hall we book a convenient transfer into the city for just 6 euros. The first big surprise at the Anel hotel is the upgrade to a junior suite (freeee), 100 sq m of apartment with jacuzzi included. A quick stroll near Serdica metro station, and we come across a good restaurant at reasonable prices. 22 May: up at dawn, quick breakfast and dash to the Ivan Vazov Theatre to join the free bike tour (bike green tour) of about 3 hours.

For 10 lev (about 5 euros) we rent the bikes that will lead us on a tour of about 5 km among the city's parks, with the guide explaining anecdotes about the history of Sofia, passing by the National Assembly, the Presidential Palace, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, and other monuments bearing witness to Bulgaria's conflicting relationship with neighbouring peoples and with the former Soviet Union. 23 May: we set off already at 8:30 with Vtravel, with a driver-guide, heading for Belogradchik, crossing the Balkans (it took over 4 hours to cover 160 km; we also had the thrill of getting a flat tyre). The spectacle awaiting us at our destination is unique in Europe: a fortress that over the centuries was an outpost for controlling the passage of different peoples from north of the Danube towards the south, towards Serdica and the Aegean Sea.

24 May: shopping on Ulica Vitosha and surroundings, then transfer to the airport.