The village of Arbanassi is one of the most picturesque places in Bulgaria and is a real paradise for tourists. It is situated 4 kilometers from Veliko Tarnovo and panoramic views towards the hills of Tsarevets and Trapezitsa open out from it. The houses here impress with their incredible charm, specific atmosphere, and unique architecture from the 16-17th centuries, with huge stone walls, high fences and pretty yards. Its history is very rich. In 1921 with the Tsar’s decree, Arbanassi was announced as a resort and since the year of 2000 as an architectural reserve with national significance. The first evidence shows that Arbanassi has existed as a settlement since the 14th century. It is presumed that the village was established by Bulgarian boyars, who came here together with their peasants, from the western districts after the conquest of Arbanashka land by Ivan Asen II. During the Turkish occupation its dwellers had taken advantage of certain tax concessions which helped the flourishing of the crafts and trade, as well as the great development of the village during the Revival period. At the end of the 18th century Arbanassi was plundered and burnt many times. Its population diminished vastly. After 1810 a new location of Bulgarians began. In the following several centuries the Greek language was made official in Arbanassi, a Greek school was built, and divine services in Greek were conducted. But this didn’t prevent the Bulgarian spirit to stay alive, and to actively participate in the struggles for national independence.
Nowadays Arbanassi offers its visitors nice hotels, many attractions, folk-style taverns, restaurants and hospitable houses, which together with the beautiful nature make it a preferred tourist destination in this part of our country.

Quick facts about village of Arbanassi:
In Bulgarian Alphabets: Арбанаси
Location: North-Central Bulgaria
Distance to capital city: 197 km from Sofia
Latitude: 43.1 N
Longitude: 25.667 E
Altitude: 300 - 499 m above the sea level
Province: Veliko Tarnovo District
Municipality: Veliko Tarnovo Municipality
Area size of village of Arbanassi: 11.881 sq km
Population: 274 inhabitants (to 01/01/2007)
Post code (ZIP): 5029
Phone code: 062 from Bulgaria; 0035962 from outside.

Landmarks
The Arbanassi type of houses may be defined as dwellings - fortress. The most interesting are:
Konstantsaliev's House was built in 27th century. The basement was built of sons. The main entrance was protected with solid studded door. The rooms upstairs are grouped as folows: reception premises, bedroom premises and cooking premises. Although they are spacious and roomy, the house emanates coziness and warmth; Hadzhiiliev's House was built in the second half of the 17th century. An exquisite parade entrance and a wide staircase lead to the second floor, where the bedrooms and the sitting rooms are. In the bottom of the corridor there is a large kitchen furnished with a big fire place and furnaces for banking bread and pastries. The house was heated by built-in brick stoves. There is a frieze, of stylisied floral motifs, running along the upper part of the walls. The door farmes, the window shutters and the cupboards were decorated with woodcarvings; Kandilarov's House; Nikolchokostov's House and others. Arbanassi is the birthplace of Ilarion Dragostinov, chief apostle of the Sliven Revolutionary District in the April Uprising. The following churches deserve special atention, too:
The Nativity Church is the earliest church in Arbanassi. The present wall-paintings in the naos were completed in 1597. The paintings in the women's section dated from 1638 and those in the chapel of "St. John the Baptist" dated from 1632. The iconostasis is one of the earliest examples of wwodwork in Bulgaria.
The St. Nicola's Monastery was founded next to The St. Nicola's Church, built in 1680. Two years after Arbanassi was plunered and razed by kurdjalii gangs (1798) the church was recovered by the local people. The Monastery was recovered after the earthquake in 1913 and it works nowadays.
The Sts Archangels Michael and Gabriel's Church consists of an altar, a naos (a men's department), a narthex (a women's department), a chapel of St. Paraskeva and a gallery. The naos of the church was built and painted in 17th century. The mural paintings in the narthex were made by two painters - Michael from Thessaloniki and Georgi from Bukuresht. The painting was completed in 1760.
The "Uspenie Bogorodichno" Monastery originates in the vicinity of a church with the same name that has been built at the end of the XVI century. In 1680 the church has been renovated and totally repainted. The monastery itself is established in 1716. It hosts the miraculous icon "Bogoroditsa Troeruchitsa", which has been bought here from Mount Atos, as well as various other icons from the XVII - XVIII centuries. The monastery is still active.
Kokonska Fountain - the two fountains are both from the XVI - XVII centuries. One of them, which is opposite the Konstantsaliev House, has the following inscription in Arabic: "He, who watches this fountain and drinks, will be granted the light of the eye and the soul".
There is a taxi service runing every 30 to 40 minutes between Gorna Oryahovitsa and Veliko Tarnovo passing the road fork for the village (1 km).