The Black Sea also hosts the Giro in Burgas, where the first Maglia Rosa of the 2026 Giro d’Italia will be awarded. Despite its strong industrial and port character, Bulgaria’s fifth-largest city knows how to welcome visitors. Its beaches and the three lakes located close to the city centre offer relaxation, as does the Sea Garden with its many open-air venues. A sightseeing tour can begin in Kiril and Metodii Square, home to the 19th-century church of the same name, featuring valuable frescoes and a beautiful iconostasis. Nearby is the Ethnographic Museum, displaying interesting collections of traditional costumes and embroidered textiles. Also worth a visit is the Archaeological Museum, which houses numerous artefacts used by the populations that lived along the Black Sea coast from prehistoric times onward, including exquisite jewellery discovered in a Thracian tomb.

Leaving behind Burgas, with its many attractions and the wineries that produce some of Bulgaria’s most renowned wines, the Giro heads decisively towards the centre of the country, where it encounters its first mountains. Before the climbing begins, however, the route passes through Sliven, one of Bulgaria’s main cities, best appreciated by visiting the remains of the medieval Tuida Fortress, set on elevated ground above the town centre. Also worth a visit is the National Museum of Textile Industry and Crafts, offering a journey into the country’s traditional culture through a wide collection of artefacts, including textiles, ceramics, wooden objects and jewellery.

From here, it is worth briefly leaving the race route to reach Kazanlak, the ideal gateway to the Valley of Roses, with its vast plantations that produce more than half of the rose oil used by perfume houses worldwide. A spectacle of colours and fragrances not to be missed, especially at this time of year, when it is at its most captivating.

The climb to the Lyaskovets Monastery Pass could prove decisive for the race. While waiting for the riders, visitors can explore the impressive Orthodox Monastery of Saints Peter and Paul, which for over a millennium has been an important spiritual - and for a long time also political - centre of the country. Repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, it now functions as a convent but remains largely open to visitors. Finally, Veliko Tarnovo, the stage finish, comes into view. The ancient capital of the Bulgarian Empire preserves countless remains of its golden age. Chief among them is the Tsarevets Fortress, once the seat of Bulgarian power and today an unmissable attraction thanks to its imposing walls, underground passages, restored church and outstanding panoramic views over the city. Nearby lies Trapezitsa, the historic fortified district. Also worth visiting is the Preobrazhenski Monastery, one of the largest and oldest in the country, set in a scenic location and home to important frescoes and icons. Another highlight is the Kolyo Ficheto pedestrian bridge, dating back to the 19th century, which connects the two parts of the city. Built in stone and decorated with classical columns, it is the perfect spot for a celebratory photo at the end of the day.