Orlitsa is a village in Southern Bulgaria. It is located in the municipality of Kirkovo, Kardzhali Region.

The village is located 22 km south-east of Kirkovo, 47 km south of Kardzhali, 32 km in the same direction of Momchilgrad and about 256 km south-east of the capital Sofia city. 

It is situated in an area with hilly and foothill relief at an altitude of 487 meters. The climate is transitional-Mediterranean, winters are relatively mild and summers are long and hot.

Here live about 210 people.

The village has a relatively good infrastructure, the streets are paved, there are electricity and water supply systems. All mobile operators have coverage. Regular bus transport connects the village with the municipal center and the neighbouring villages.

The village of Orlitsa is situated only 5 km from the national border with Greece, on European road E-85, part of transeuropean transport corridor #9 - an important thoroughfare with major contribution to the economic development of the region. The Makaza Pass is located only 1 km south of the village.

There are a community center, a grocery store and a cafe here. The nearest functioning secondary school and kindergarten are in the village of Chorbadzhiysko /9 km in the north/. Besides, you will find a bank branch and a post office there Medical care for the population is provided by two GPs again in Chorbadzhiysko and the nearest polyclinic is located in the village of Kirkovo. General hospital you can find in the town of Momchilgrad.

LANDMARKS AND TOURISM

The remains of an ancient village were found near the village of Orlitsa.

Only 16 km in the north, in the village of Stareyshino, can be visited the Dome tomb "Punar Kaya" which means rock well in Turkish. The water that rises from the tomb is collected in two stone basin carved into the rock before it. The tomb is revered among local people as sacred, as there is a belief that the place and the water flowing from the tomb, have curative power.

In the village of Krilatitsa, 22 km in the south-west, you can visit a late ancient and medieval fortress in the Asara area, declared in 1996 to be an archaeological culture monument.

In the village of Benkovski, about 30 km in the north-west, you can see a few sites:

• the renovated mosque in the center of the village where Muslims from all over the region gather to pray;

• the venerable oak, over 200 years old, declared protected;

• a rocky area, where the elements have for centuries carved the huge stones in a variety of bizarre rock forms of animals and plants, the most interesting of which are "The Crocodile", "The Mushroom", "Lion's Head", etc.

Source:  http://www.kirkovo.bg, http://bg.guide-bulgaria.com
Photos:  http://www.panoramio.com