On April 18, the International Day for the Preservation of Cultural Monuments was celebrated. This is an occasion to draw the attention of the world public to immovable cultural heritage and its value. The day has been celebrated since 1984 by decision of UNESCO.
The first director of the National Institute for Cultural Monuments arch. Peyo Berbenliev set out in the early 1960s with a backpack around the country to look for beautiful old buildings and structures. This is how the beginning of the protection of the immovable cultural wealth of Bulgaria was set, recalls the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage (NINKN). 80 years later from there they use the occasion to announce their new initiative. And she is let’s rediscover these together old but valuable buildings.
“They are on your street, in your neighborhood, city, village, maybe they are your home
Shoot! Look with the eyes of a hunter of hidden treasures. Show an exquisite authentic facade, fragment, decoration, window, door that impressed you. Discover for yourself and for everyone a valuable object – it may be restored or not, in good or bad condition. Tell me! Tell a story you know about an old beautiful building. Share what attracts you to her. Look for interesting facts. Tell us which cultural monument you want to show to a friend from Bulgaria or abroad. We will publish the most interesting photos and stories so that more people can learn about them,” the Institute of Cultural Monuments announced. The most beautiful photos will enter in an outdoor exhibition in September.
“With it, we will celebrate the European Days of Cultural Heritage – specified by the National Institute of Cultural Heritage. – Each participant in the initiative will receive a diploma and deep appreciation from the National Institute for Immovable Cultural Heritage and the professionals who are trying to preserve the valuable objects and our cultural memory.
We remind you that Plovdiv is already included in UNESCO’s Indicative list of significant cultural and natural sites. The city’s bid will protect the Episcopal Basilica and the Roman mosaic heritage of Philippopolis.
Nine Bulgarian sites are on the UNESCO list
for cultural and natural heritage. Seven of them are cultural monuments – the Boyan church, the Madar horseman, the Thracian tomb in Kazanlak, the rock churches of the village of Ivanovo (Rusen region), the ancient Nessebar, the Rila monastery, the Thracian tomb in the village of Sveshtari (Razgrad region). Two are natural sites – Pirin National Park and Srebarna Biosphere Reserve. In the list of the intangible cultural heritage of UNESCO, the Chipro carpets, the fireplace making, the “Surva” custom, the Bistry grandmothers, as well as the assembly of folk art in Koprivshtitsa have earned a place.
The mosaics of “Irini” are the new attraction
Plovdiv has a new pearl, revealing the mosaic wealth of the city, and this is the late antique building “Irini”. It was opened precisely on the International Day for the Preservation of Cultural Monuments – April 18. It is located in the Archaeological Underpass, near the main street.
Currently, “Irini” is part of the objects that are already on the indicative list of UNESCO. It is expected that in 2027, the late antique building, together with the Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis and the Small Basilica, will become a serial object of the United Nations cultural organization. It was opened in 1983-1984, during the construction of the underpass under Tsar Boris III Obedinitel Blvd., along with the adjacent streets and part of the neighboring houses, the complex was declared a cultural monument of national importance.
The ancient street network with a crossroads and the late antique building “Irini” (Eyrene, goddess of peace) – today exhibited in place, were discovered in Plovdiv by archaeologists Zdravko Karov and Mina Bospachieva during rescue archaeological research in 1983-1984. This happens during the reconstruction on the former “Georgi Dimitrov” Blvd. (today “Tsar Boris III the Unifier”) and the construction of a collector and an underpass facility.
After the completion of the archaeological survey, a campaign was made to conserve the archaeological structures and mosaics, whereby the representative part of the “Irini” building (probably built by a rich and wealthy owner) was set aside as a separate hall. Unfortunately, not the whole building has been revealed, but only part of it, because the rest is under the roadway. It functioned from the 3rd to the end of the 6th century, archaeologists claim.
“With these magnificent mosaics, this is one of the rich buildings of Ancient Philippopolis – probably the residence of the bishop of the nearby Episcopal Basilica – is categorical Zheni Tankova, one of the archaeologists who has studied the monuments in the Monday Market area for the longest time. The entrance fee for the unique building is BGN 5.
A cultural route is about to be created that presents the mosaic heritage of Plovdiv with a combined ticket for the “Irini” building, the Great and the Small Basilica, announced the director of the Municipal Institute “Ancient Plovdiv” Elena Kantareva-Decheva.
Photos: Natasha Maneva
Tags: Photograph building rediscover value ..
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