Plovdiv Art

The Red Pony Art Gallery, established by Atanas Krastev in 1989 is the first private art gallery in Bulgaria. For the last 20 years the gallery has often been a kind host of the art exhibitions and numerous Bulgarian and foreign artists. In 1969 Atanas Krastev organized the Ancient Plovdiv Association and till 1986 he managed, restored and developed the Ancient Plovdiv Architectural and Historic Reserve.

The Gallery of Association of the Plovdiv Painters was built in 1975 and is the biggest in the town. It is situated on 400 m² and has a lantern-light (Oberlicht). It is managed by a private association of professional Plovdiv painters. There is always free entrance for the exhibitions organized in the gallery.
Representative Permanent Exposition
The exposition is located in the building of the High Scholl for Young Girls, built in 1881 after the design of architect Josif Schnitter. It represents the result of the four-year work of a highly qualified art experts’ team. It includes more than 200 original works of art that follow out the development of Bulgarian fine art from the time of the National revival to the present day.

Plovdiv Praying

Saint Petka is old Orthodox Church picturesquely situated amidst the rocks on the southern slope of Djambazteppe, Plovdiv, from where it dominates the residential quarters, built on the flat country, in spite of its modest dimentions (28 x 16m). Two unique icons are preserved here also, dates back to the 13th century.

The Holy Virgin Cathedral is situated on the northern slope of Taximteppe, possibly in the place of a medieval monastery church (9th-10th C.). The year when the first church was built is unknown, but it is dated back to the middle of the Byzantine epoch. The bell-tower built in 1880-1881. Saint Marina Orthodox Church – A bishop’s church, the main one for the whole of the Plovdiv Eparchy. Situated at the southern foot of Taximteppe. The iconostasis is one of the most precious monuments of the wood-carving art on our land 1828, which is 21m long. The unique six-storied wooden bell-tower, built in 1870 and 17 m high, is also valuable.

St St Constantine and Helena – built in the place of an early Christian sanctuary, initially having been dedicated to Severian and Memnos, who perished for their faith together with 38 Plovdiv martyrs, murdered at this place during the reign of Emperor Diocletian (at the beginning of the 6th century). Later it was dedicated to the equal to the Apostles St St Constantine and Helena.

Ancient Plovdiv

The Roman Epoch (1st-6th C.) represents a peculiar golden age in the development of the antique Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Time when its ancient town structure took shape, including splendid public buildings, an enormous forum, an impressive stadium, a beautiful amphiteather, heathen temples, aqueducts, aristocratic houses, imposing fortress walls.

The Aqueduct of Philippopolis was built in order to supply the city with drinking water from the springs of the Rhodope Mountains. The total length of the construction is nearly 30 km. In the square of the west of Djumaya mosque the imposing remains of Philippopolis’s Ancient Stadium were discovered. The dimensions of this huge building are: length 1 000 Roman steps, width – 250 Roman steps. The Ancient Stadium accommodated about 30, 000 spectators and was one of the most significant architectural works in Philippopolis.

The Ancient Forum, the civic center of Philippopolis, covers an area of 20, 000 sq m in the heart of the ancient city. The Odeon is situated in the north-eastern corner of the ancient theatre building. This magnificent architectural specimen was built in the early second century AD during the reign of Emperor Trajan. As an element of the city square of the Roman period, the building served as the city council chamber of Philippopolis. Today, the theatre is an attractive cultural venue, where modern arts interact with the intransient values of the past.

Bulgarian natural park Sinite Kamani near city of Sliven

In the Balkans, above the town of Sliven, over an area of 7094.1 hectares is situated the marvelous Nature Park Sinite kamani (Blue Stones) – bluish-grey to violet rock cliffs mounting to more than 1000 meters above the sea level – the peaks Big and Small Chitalka, Kutelka, Bulgarka (the highest peak in the East Balkans – 1181 m) covered with beech forests, the lake in Karandila, the rock phenomena Kuminite (Chimneys), Kuklite (Dolls), Rakavichkata (Glove) – marvels which only the nature can create.

The Nature Park Sinite Kamani is famous for its nature landmarks. “Halkata” (the Ring) – the arc-shaped stone garland, possessing, according to the legends, magic force – is one of the symbols of the town of Sliven. The forms that the nature has sculptured in the cave Zmeevi dupki (Dragon’s holes) – Zmejat (the Dragon), Orelat (the Eagle) and Vladishkija tron (the Bishop’s throne) are amazing. The ancient beech forest in the vicinity of the Kushbunar spring in the region of Karandila is quite picturesque.

The specific climate and lay conditions of the nature park determine the great diversity of flora and fauna. The plant species are more than 1000, about 900 of which are representative of high species. 27 of the high species are registered in the Red Book of Bulgaria, the endemic species are 48 and the tertiary relict species are 2. The invertebrate animals are represented by 235 species – eight species of fish, nine species of amphibians, nineteen species of reptiles, 165 species of birds and 34 species of mammals. The lay is of typical mountain type – steep and ravine slopes and at sea level between 290 and 1181 meters above the sea level. The north and northwest winds, the wind called “bora”, famous also as “the wind of the town of Sliven” and the night breeze are typical for the region. Through the park flow many rivers and their beds form numerous shoots, pools and waterfalls.