While I was wondering where to make a grand opening of the summer season 2020, The Place found me itself. The owner of Hotel Zebra in Tsarevo invited me to visit Tsarevo and the region and to stay in her hotel. So, summer season 2020 was officially opened in Hotel Zebra Tsarevo.
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Getting ready for the summer season 2020 grand opening – choose the right accommodation
First thing first – choosing the right accommodation is crucial. Especially because Covid-19 has shown us that health and safety are the most important things and people will be looking for accommodations that offer a high level of hygiene and cleanness.
Most noteworthy, Hotel Zebra in Tsarevo is the perfect place if you want to book a neat and tidy place. This is one of the cleanest hotels I’ve ever stayed in. Moreover, the rooms and the apartments of the hotel are very spacious and located at a very big distance one from another. Another great advantage is that there is an outdoor swimming pool that is completely renovated and is convenient for families with kids.
Furthermore, Hotel Zebra has a restaurant where you can have three meals a day. In addition, there is also indoor parking if you prefer to leave your car in a safe place. And last but not least, the hotel is located at a walking distance from Tsarevo Sea Garden, the beach and the city centre.
A huge bonus is that the hotel’s rooftop is the highest point of the city, so you don’t need to chase the best panoramic view – it will be at your disposal at sunrise and sunset ):
Summer 2020 grand openning cannot go without food
Also, Hotel Zebra has a restaurant where you can enjoy Bulgarian cuisine as well as international dishes. However, If you want to go out for a dinner or just to have fun with your kids, Mini Golf Tsarevo offers the best beef burgers I’ve ever eaten in Bulgaria and a mini-golf for children. The Mini Golf is located at the Tsarevo Sea Garden in 5 min. walk from Hotel Zebra.
Why choose Tsarevo?
I asked myself “Why to choose Tsarevo?” Well, the answer is “three days were not enough to visit Tsarevo and to enjoy the nearby crystal beaches”. Tsarevo is a small town at the South Black Sea Coast of Bulgaria, located near protected natural reserves and wild beaches. The Sea Garden and Tsarevo city centre are very well organized with walking and bike paths where you can have a walk, coffee on a romantic terrace or just hanging among the sea.
Sightseeing tour in Tsarevo and the region
Tsarevo Sea Garden
The Sea Garden in Tsarevo is spacious, green, with romantic open-air cafes and longing the sea. You can have a walk and reach the city centre directly from the Sea Garden.
The church of Dormition of the Mother of God and its mind-blowing garden
Next comes the church Dormition of the Mother of God and its stunning garden. When you enter the property of the church, you are immediately enveloped by the aroma of roses and figs. To your surprise, there is 280 years old fig tree there. You cannot miss it out as it’s huge. The church is located on a little peninsula overlooking the sea on one side and Tsarevo on the other. This is the perfect spot to have a house by the sea. My biggest dream is to have a house with a sea view with the same rose and fig garden.
Tsarevo Museum
The third place of interest is the Tsarevo Museum. It opens at 8.00 a.m. and it will take you not more than 1 hour to visit it. This is the only place where you can admire The Thracian Gold Treasure of Sinemorets found in 2012. The Thracian Gold Treasure of Sinemorets was found fully intact and now is one of the highlights of Tsarevo Museum.
Anastenaria ritual in Bulgari village
Seems like another great thing not to miss out in Tsarevo Museum is the section about Anastenaria rituals. Anastenaria is a magical ritual, inherited by the Thracians, performed on fire. The ritual is associated with the reverence towards Saints Constantine and Elena and its apogee is reached by dancing on fire. The dancers fall in a trance and pray for health and prosperity. The original ritual of Anastenaria is exclusively preserved nowadays in the village of Bulgari and is celebrated on the 3rd and 4th of June every year. Most of all, In 2009 the ritual of Anastenaria in Bulgari village was included in the UNESCO list of the intangible heritage of humankind.
Things to see and do in the region of Tsarevo
Thracian Sanctuary Begliktash
As we were travelling from Varna down to the south coast, we decided to start the sightseeing tour before reaching Tsarevo. Begliktash is a Thracian Sanctuary located near Primorsko in 20 km north from Tsarevo. As it was on our way, we could not miss it out. Begliktash is the biggest megalith left by the Thracians on the South Black Sea Coast. It is a park with 14 giant megalith stone formations in different shapes and named after the shape each of them has.
However, the most famous stone remains Apostle Tash – a rock formation in the shape of a turned upside-down heart. If you visit Begliktash at sunrise or sunset, you will see the ray of light passing through the upside of the heart. That’s the main reason why Thracians have chosen that place for their religious sanctuary. Begliktash is a magical place and if you are in the region, do not just pass by, stop and immerse yourself in the strong energy flowing there.
The mouth of Veleka River
Next absolute must-see spot near Tsarevo is Sinemorets village and Veleka River. Veleka River is one of the most instagrammable sights in Bulgaria and for a reason. Hence, it’s a very beautiful and wild place and the area is protected. Veleka River mouth flows into the Black Sea in Sinemorets. On one side you have the river and on the other – the Black Sea. And you have a plastic-free, wild beach with crystal waters. Sinemorets beach is the cleanest beach I have ever seen and I pray it remains like that. All the soft beverages sold on the beach are in a glass bottle to preserve the environment.
Rezovo and the frontier with Turkey
As it started raining by lunchtime, we decided to go more to the south and reach Rezovo – a tiny village located at the frontier with Turkey. Much as we were hungry, we found the lunch at a local road bistro unexpectedly good. Especially bacause the dishes on the menu were homemade – we had a tomato salad with buffalo cheese, a marinated fish as a main dish, homemade French fries as a side dish and peanut ice cream for dessert. No need to go to Michelin restaurant, Rezovo beats them all!
After the grand opening of summer season 2020 in Tsarevo and the region, it was time to say Goodbye!
In conclusion, I would like to thank the owner of Hotel Zebra, Mrs Emilia Stefcheva for the warm welcome and the great place she offered us to stay!
Are you convinced that Tsarevo is your next summer season 2020 grand openning destination?
Thanks for rading!