It’s easy to drive from Plovdiv to the Rodopi mountains. The vicinity of Varna is dominated by Pobitite Kamani and its stone pillars of up to 23 feet tall. Though they might appear to be the ruins of a former shrine, they’re indeed all-natural rocky formations.

With little more that 4,247 square miles of sublime scenery and continental weather, the small Balkan country is no doubt one of Eastern Europe’s most sought-after travel destinations. Thirteen centuries of history have witnessed the passage of the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines, the Slavic and the Islamic civilizations –all speaking volumes of unfathomable historic and cultural heritage. Sofia, the lovely Bulgarian capital, flaunts its Central European roots and flashes its urban gems in a variety of styles and ages. Plovdiv and Varna are the other two major cities in the country, both packed with historic and architectural values of their own.

Gilt domes, cobblestone streets, museums and galleries all housed in old-timed buildings that rub elbows with the comfort that modern life has to offer. It’s easy to drive from Plovdiv to the Rodopi mountains –the hometown of legendary musician Orpheus. The vicinity of Varna is dominated by Pobitite Kamani and its stone pillars of up to 23 feet tall. Though they might appear to be the ruins of a former shrine, they’re indeed all-natural rocky formations–some of them as old as 50 million years.

The wonderful monastery of Bachkovo, the amazing city of Smolian, the seaside spa resorts of Devin and Narechen, and the old Roman thermal baths of Augusta, in the town of Hisaria and its nearly two dozen mineral water springs, are only a few of the must-sees no one can pass up when visiting Danubebathed Bulgaria. One of the most coveted sightseeing spots among tourists with a flair for winter sports is Pamporovo, a pearl in the heart of the Rodope mountains, also known as Bulgaria’s sunniest winter resort. If the weather is right, you could make out the Aegean Sea from there.

Extremely nice and owners of a strong cultural identity, Bulgarians nod when they mean no and shake their heads to say yes. They seem to party all year round. In addition to an array of religious observances and familiar celebrations, there are world-class events like the National Folkloric Festival of Koprivshtitsa. This weeklong festivity up in the mountains gathers singers, dancers, storytellers and connoisseurs of the most genuine popular culture. Everything goes on day and night.

Bulgaria’s traditional music –teeming with folkloric dances that go hand in hand with male and female choirsis astonishingly rich. And so are the epic chants and the gospel music of the local Orthodox Church, and the gypsies’violins and accordions. The music that traveled to outer space aboard the Voyage shuttle craft was a folksy song from this land.

Bulgaria’s tourism industry is in full swing. In 2007, over 4 million foreigners spent their vacations there. With the financial support of the European Union, many Bulgarian¡ municipalities have successfully embraced a number of sustainable tourism development plans. May and June are good months to explore the Black Sea’s coast, an area that boasts the finest beaches and where many foreigners buy small houses for the summer. September and October –during the so-called “gypsy summer”- are perhaps the best months to pay a visit to this corner of the Balkans. And don’t miss out on the snowy Christmas. Equally known as the land of natural flavors, Bulgaria is a major world exporter of honey and mushrooms. Dairy products are similarly famous, especially the yoghurt. Yet no one can deny that its homemade wines are the name of the game. As Bulgarians themselves put it, “there’s plenty of it to drink and carry home.”

And when it comes to gifts, the one that takes it all around there is the rose oil musk in a wooden container. That’s the flagship fragrance of this celebrated nation. Bulgaria is all this much. It’s a treasure close at hand, right in the heart of Europe.