Arbanassi was founded in the late 15th centry by Christians coming from the south-western parts of the Balkan peninsula - Bulgarians, Greeks, Albanisans. It was ruled for number of decades by different Ottoman notables. By the mid 16 th. Centry it became property of Roustem pasha, the Grand Vizir to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire.
The population was granted many privileges and paid reduced taxes, providing the safety of the pass nearby in return. These favourable conditions brought the settlement to a considerable prosperity and attracted new settlers.
The wealthy Arbanassi merchants were actively involted in international trade and had established close link with Italy, Austro-Hungary, Russia, Wallahia and Italia. They carried out significant transactions between European towns and Istanbul. A good number of crafts flourished in the village-goldsmith's, coppersmith's, blacksmith's, sericulture and silk-worm breeding.
The diverse character of the population, its economic might and the intensive contacts with many countries were the main condition for the creation of an original culture Unique are the architectural and religions monuments that have come down to us from the 17th.and 18th.centuries - houses, streets, fountains churches, and monasteries, mural painting, iconostases and icons.
The Konstantsaliev's house was built in the 17th century. The basement was built of stone. The main entrance was protected with a solid studded door. Although the premises are spacious and roomy, the large house fortress emanates coziness and warmth. This is additiunally emphasized by the rich decoration. The owner must have been a rich man with a sophisticated taste, while the master-builder must have been talented for creative work.
Another interesting architectural monument is the Hadjiiliev's house built in the end of the 17th.century. It is also a two-storey house, built in the end of the 17th.century. It is also a two-storey house, very well protected. An exquisite parade entrance and a wide strair case lead upstairs where are the reception rooms and the bedrooms. The large reception rooms are richly decorated. The ceilings have white clay ornamentation, while along the upper part of the walls there is a friere of stylized floral motifs. The doors, the shutters of the windows and the built-in cupboards are decorated with wood carvings.
The Nativity church is the oldest Arbanassi church. The mural paintings in the chapel are from 1632 and represent the most important scenes from the live of St.John the Baptist, the patron of the chapel. The iconostasis is one of the earliest examples of wood-work in Bulgaria.
Most of the compositions in the gallery are from 1649. They depict scenes from the Old and the New Testament, a Menology and the wheel of live with the Zodiac. The mural paintings in the nave are from 1681 and represent the Feasts, the Passions and the Miracles of Christ.
The Archangels Michael and Gabriel church consists of a nave, narthex a gallery and a chapel. The nave was built and painted in 17th.century. The other painter was more or less under West European artistic influence - he went for the perspective. The painting was completed in 1760. As for as artistic standards are transition from old iconographic schemes and technique to new active rethiking of the experience reality, making use of new expressive technique.
The prosperity of Arbanasi lasted till the end of the 18th century when it was plundered and devastated by bands of kurdjalii and its population runaway.
Today the village has its new life as an architectural and artistic preserve. Its unique nature cultural and historic heritage, immedieate proximit to V.Turnovo, make the village an attractive place for visits. The old athmosphere is eleganty combined with modern tourist services.
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