Rila Monastery

Rila Monastery is a famous ancient monastery in Bulgaria. It is the largest monastery in the Balkan Peninsula. It is located in the Rioska Valley, the highest mountain in the Balkan Peninsula. The Neo-Byzantine building was built in the mid-10th century AD by the hermit San Juan Derrila, when it was the headquarters of the second Order of the Balkan nation. The monastery was originally built near the cave where Bulgaria's first saint, Leoski, lived. It was moved to its present location in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the early 14th century AD, the Rila Monastery was destroyed by an earthquake. Later the monastery was rebuilt and a strong castle was built. It was last rebuilt between 1834 and 1860. Inside it still preserves the remains of the medieval monastery and the monuments of San Juan de la De La.