The Sokolovo Monastery is situated at the distance of 4km from Etara and 12km southeast of the centre of Gabrovo, at the foot of Stara planina Mountain, at the bank of Yantra river. It was established in 1833 by archbishop Yosiph, who had built a small wooden church, destroyed a year later. Soon after on the same place the main church of the monastery (a remarkable mountain of the Bulgarian National Revival culture) was built with the financial aid of donors from the villages of Etura and Nova Mahala.

 In 1862 the icon painter Pavel Zograf and his son Nikola from the village of Shipka painted the men’s department and the large narthex of the church.
Later on the monastery turned into an educational center and Neofit Bozveli was a teacher in it. It also played active role in the struggles for national independence.

 In 1856 the detachment of armed volunteers of Dyado Nikola found shelter here. After the defeat 8 of the revolutionists were hanged in the cave past the Monastery. The place of these gallows hooks is hammered into the wall.

 During the rebellious spring of 1876 the detachment of 220 rebels of Tsanko Diustabanov was blessed in the monastery before it set off on the way to immortality. Before that the Apostle of Liberty Vasil Levski found shelter here too. During the Russian-Turkish war for Liberation the Monastery was turned into a military hospital.

 A modest museum collection has preserved relics from the struggles for freedom. Old icons, depicted by the hand of Zahari Zograf complete the richness of the museum. Of great interest is the stone fountain with the falcons erected by Master Koliu Ficheto.