OLD TOWN OF PLOVDIV.
Plovdiv
is the second largest city in Bulgaria, situated on the
Maritsa River. Its unique location on these ancient crossroads
has stimulated strong cultural and political influences
from East and West civilizations, and yet maintained its
unique cultural identity. Being older than most of the
oldest towns like Rome, Athens, Carthage or Constantinople,
an almost contemporary of Troy, Plovdiv is a town built
upon layers of towns and a culture developed upon layers
of cultures.
Plovdiv
is a picturesque town, with many parks and gardens, museums
and archaeological monuments. Its old part, called the
Old Town, with houses from the National Revival period
(18-19th century), is an imposing open-air museum situated
on the three hills of the ancient Trimontium. One of the
most remarkable sights of the town, the Ancient Theatre
(a well-preserved Roman amphitheatre), is located there
and is still used for open-air performances.
There
are a many great things to see and do in Plovdiv
Old Town: the Plovdiv Archeological Museum with Thracian
and Roman artifacts, including one of only two vases known
in existence depicting Thracians (the other is in an Athens,Greece
museum); the permanent exhibition of Zlatyu Boyadjiev
(1903-1976), one of Bulgaria's great artists who loved
and painted Plovdiv, antique stores, the workshops of
the traditional masters of old Bulgarian arts and crafts
on Strumna Street - coppersmiths, furriers, potters and
countless other museums and art galleries collected in
many places around the city.
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| Architectural
complex in Old Town of Plovdiv |
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| Traditional
19-th century house |
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| Narrow
stone streets of the Old Town |
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| Old
traditional houses |
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| Remains
from Roman buildings |
