The town of Veliko Turnovo is regally situated along the historical hills of Sveta Gora, Tsarevets and Trapezitsa, on the two banks of the Yantra River, cutting a peculiar gorge through Turnovo Hills. Veliko Turnovo is the town with the most glorious historical past in Bulgaria. It is a symbol of Bulgarian statehood and a source of national pride for every Bulgarian. Each little place in it is history. Although Sofia became the capital of Bulgaria after the Liberation, Veliko Turnovo continued to be a sanctuary for all Bulgarians, a bastion of Bulgarian national spirit and self-awareness. The Tsarevets Hill Archaeological Reserve in the eastern part of the modern town – the fortified wall, which in combination with the natural endowments, provided safety of the institutions which were of the greatest importance for the Bulgarian state, is restored. One of the most interesting sites is the Palace of Bulgarian Tsars representing an independent fortress situated on the area of 4872 square metres. The second largest architectural complex of Tsarevets is Bulgarian Patriarchy. The Patriarchal complex rose at the highest place, above the Tsar's Palace. It occupied an area of about 3000 square metres, as an individual fortress in the shape of an irregular polygon. The village of Arbanassi – Architecture and Historical reserve located at the distance of 4 km north-east of Veliko Turnovo. It’s flourishing as a trade and craftsmen's centre was during the 16^th to the 18^th century when the monumental houses and churches with a rich interior decoration, woodcarving and mural paintings were built. These are unique monuments of our architectural and artistic heritage. The Arbanassi type of houses may be defined as dwellings – fortresses. One of the oldest monasteries around Veliko Turnovo – Sveta Troitsa Monastery (The Holy Trinity) is located on the right bank of Yantra River opposite the Preobrazhenski Monastery. It originated about the year 1070.