century: George and Gabriel. The surroundings of the monastery are shown: the nunnery in Assenovgrad; Assen's fortress; the chapels nearby. The painter gave us a good idea from ethnographical point of view, about the clothing of the aristocracy from Plovdiv and the festal clothing of the women in the Rhodopes, through the group of the people that are following the Procession of the Miraculous Icon. Details, such as the well in the northern courtyard and the belfry in the Church of the Archangels, are included. Scenes from the passionals of the two Saints George and Demetrius are depicted at the side of the “Panorama”. The “Panorama” mural is exceptionally interesting because of its sheer size and because of its artistic impact and craftsmanship. The paints were made after a recipe by the painter himself, probably from grasses mixed with egg emulsion. The used painting technique is “fresco buono,” which is a mural art of painting that is applied on a smooth moist plaster. When the water evaporates the images emerge on the surface. The implication of this technique, with the great deal of artistic mastery, is why these murals look fresh today. References Cultural associations Bachkovo Monastery is one of the locations in the 2005 bestseller novel The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. External links Official website of the Bachkovo Monastery Nikola Gruev's photo gallery of the Bachkovo Monastery Bulgaria.com page about the monastery Bachkovo Monastery at Bulgarian Monastery.com Byzantine Monastic Foundation Documents. Typikon of Gregory Pakourianos for the Monastery of the Mother of God Petritzonitissa in Backovo. Anna Comnena. “The Alexiad”, Translated by E.R.A. Sewter, Pengium Books Ltd., London, 1969, (reprinted in 2003), Pp. 560. Encyclopédie Universalis. Petritzos Buildings and structures in Plovdiv Province Christian monasteries in Bulgaria Art museums and galleries in Bulgaria Museums in Plovdiv Province Religious museums in Bulgaria Georgian Orthodox churches Ossuaries Rhodope Mountains Christian monasteries established in the 11th century 1080s establishments in the Byzantine Empire 11th century in Bulgaria Tourist attractions in Plovdiv Province Byzantine church buildings Byzantine architecture in Bulgaria Medieval Bulgarian Orthodox church buildings 1083 establishments in Europe