Arbanasi is a village located on a plateau 4 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo, the capital of Bulgaria during the middle ages. From the plateau there is a wonderful view of the hills of Tsarevets and Trapezitza. The village is famous for its architectural sites, including many beautiful houses and impressive churches decorated with fantastic murals. These monuments of Bulgarian architecture and artistry are a site of interest for the Bulgarian government, who make a great effort to maintain them and the history tied to them.
The story of the village of Arbanasi is first chronicled in a document from Suleiman the Magnificent from the year 1538. In the 15th and 18th centuries, the village experienced a period of large economic development, and became an important trade center for art and craftsmanship. During this time, the residents of Arbanasi began constructing some of its most beautiful and renowned churches, in which can be seen the artistic heritage of the village. Even today these works accurately reflect the refining of tastes and behaviors of the past. There are 144 designated architectural and cultural monuments. Deep in the green of venerable walnut trees, Arbanasi is an oasis of calm with its own preserved style of houses, grape vines and serene gardens. A peaceful place filled with the smell of geranium, colorful beds of flowers and winding narrow streets. Immersed in this dreamlike environment, it’s as if time stands still in the past.
Village
Bulgaria
Macedonia
Romania
Arbanasi