Rila Monastery

About

Founded in the 10th century, Bulgaria's largest monastery played an important role in restoring Bulgarian faith and national identity during Ottoman rule in the 18th and the 19th centuries. Today, the monastery stands as a work of art, with its exterior decorated with bold stripes and vibrant polychromatic frescoes. Inside, the dynamic decoration continues, with every inch covered with colorful frescoes, and ornate gilding taking up an entire wall. For UNESCO, the monastery's importance to the Bulgarian national identity and its wealth of artwork made it an easy choice as a World Heritage Site.