Bulgaria’s National Museum of History Reintensifies Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska
The archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in Pliska, capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) between 680 and 893 AD, has been reintensified by the National Museum of History in Sofia as of May 2016.
Veliko Tarnovo History Museum Raises Funds to Raise Bulgaria’s Flag on Trapesitsa Fortress
The Regional Museum of History in the city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria has started a campaign to raise money in order to purchase and raise a large Bulgarian flag on the ruins of the Trapesitsa Hill Fortress.
Mural Portrairs of Tsars from Second Bulgarian Empire Identified in Largest Study of Frescoes from Medieval Capital Tarnovgrad (Veliko Tarnovo)
Previously unkown mural portraits of Tsar Ivan Asen II (r 1218-1241), one of his wifes, and three other medieval Bulgarian rulers from the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) have been identified in the most comprehensive study to date of the frescoes…
Bulgaria’s Sofia Starts Excavations of Western Gate of Ancient Serdica in Preparation for Restoration Project
Sofia Municipality has started the preparatory archaeological excavations of the Western Gate of the Ancient Roman city of Serdica, the predecessor of today’s Bulgarian capital, as part of a project for the restoration of the gate and the structures around…
Bulgaria’s Kula to Restore Archaeology Museum at Roman Fortress Castra Martis, Promotes Joint Route with Felix Romuliana (Gamzigrad) in Serbia
The northwestern Bulgarian town of Kula is moving to restore an archaeological museum which used to exist at the ruins of the Ancient Roman fortress Castra Martis, whose preserved ruins include a 16-meter-tall tower.
Newly Opened Early Christian Archaeological Park in Bulgaria’s Sandanski ‘Meeting Expectations’ as Top Cultural Attraction
The Archaeological Park of Early Christian buildings from the Roman city Parthicopolis which was opened recently in the southwestern Bulgarian town of Sandanski in a long-anticipated and long-delayed event has met the expectations for emerging as a top cultural attraction,…
History Museum in Bulgaria’s Kazanlak to ‘Digitize’ 9 Ancient Thracian Tombs with Norway / EEA Money
The “Iskra” Museum of History in the central Bulgarian town of Kazanlak has started a Norway/EEA-funded project for the “digitization”, i.e. filming, photographing, 3D presentation, and web publication of a total of nine Ancient Thracian tombs in the Valley of…
Bulgaria’s Capital Sofia Opens Much Criticized Open-Air Museum of Ancient Roman City Serdica
Bulgaria’s Cabinet and Sofia Municipality have opened the long-delayed open-air museum of the Ancient Roman city of Serdica, popularly known as the Sofia Largo project, which has been much criticized over the past 7-8 months because of the quality of…
Excavation, Restoration of 5th Century Great Basilica in Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Be Completed by 2018 End
The excavations and restoration of the 5th century Early Christian Great Basilica with its stunning mosaics in the city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria (also known as Europe’s oldest city) are supposed to be completed by November 30, 2018.
Bulgaria’s Kazanlak Starts Long-Anticipated Excavation, Restoration of Helvetia Tomb, Griffins’ Tomb in Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings
Kazanlak Municipality in Central Bulgaria has finally begun the delayed restoration of two of the most famous Ancient Thracian tombs in the Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings, the Helvetia Tomb and the Griffins’ Tomb, which is funded with a grant…
Bulgaria’s Karlovo Municipality to Turn 6th Century BC Ancient Thracian City with Royal Residence into Cultural Tourism Site
An Ancient Thracian city from the 6th-5th century BC containing the royal residence of a Thracian king, whose ruins are located near the town of Vasil Levski in Central Bulgaria, is to be restored and opened for visitors by Karlovo…
Bulgaria’s Sandanski Opens Long Anticipated Early Christian Archaeological Park of Ancient Parthicopolis
The long-anticipated and long-delayed opening of an Archaeological Park of newly restored Early Christian buildings from the Roman city Parthicopolis in the southwestern Bulgarian town of Sandanski has finally materialized.
Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Rebuild Stage of Antiquity Amphitheater, Exhibit Underground Archaeological Structures
Possibly the most famous cultural landmark of the southern Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, its well preserved Antiquity Amphitheater, will be renovated as part of a project which also provides for exhibiting in situ archaeological structures under its stage.
Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Moves to Begin Much Anticipated Exploration of Ancient, Medieval Fortress of Nebet Tepe
Plovdiv Municipality in Southern Bulgaria and the Plovdiv Museum of Archaeology have signed the contract for the much anticipated resumption of the archaeological exploration of Nebet Tepe, the prehistoric, ancient, and medieval settlement and fortress, to which the city of…
Bulgaria’s Botevgrad to Excavate Archaeological Site from the 6th Century AD Famous for Old Stone Church
An archaeological site from the 5th-6th century AD which is famous for harboring an old stone church is to be excavated near the town of Trudovets, Botevgrad Municipality, in Northwest Bulgaria.
Governor of Bulgaria’s Pleven District Moves to Clean Up, Restore Ancient Roman City Ulpia Oescus
The ruins of the huge Ancient Roman city of Ulpia Oescus located near the town of Gigen, Gulyantsi Municipality, close to the Danube River, in Northern Bulgaria, will be cleaned up at the initiative of Pleven District Governor Ralitsa Dobreva.
Bulgaria’s Plovdiv to Restore Marble Seats during Reconstruction of Antiquity Odeon
The city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria has started the long-overdue restoration of its Antiquity Odeon, an Ancient Greek and Roman public space for musical and theatrical performances and competitions. The reconstruction has started with the all-out demolition of the wooden…
Bulgarian Archaeologists, Architects Rally against Controversial Amendments to Cultural Heritage Act
Leading Bulgarian archaeologists and architects have staged a protest rally before the Parliament building in Sofia against controversial draft amendments to the Cultural Heritage Act.
Bulgaria’s Cabinet Allocates More Funding for Restoration of 9th Century Great Basilica in Early Medieval Capital Pliska
Bulgaria’s Cabinet has allocated a total of BGN 770,000 (app. EUR 335,000) to the Ministry of Culture for completing the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) Pliska
Bulgaria’s Kazanlak to Launch Excavation, Restoration of Helvetia Tomb, Griffins’ Tomb in Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings
Kazanlak Municipality is finally going to start the restoration of two of the most famous ancient tombs in the Valley of Odrysian Thracian Kings, the Helvetia Tomb and the Griffins’ Tomb, which is funded with a grant from the European…
Restoration of Ancient Roman Ceramics Factory in Bulgaria’s Pavlikeni Delayed by Annulled Tender
The restoration and further excavation of the only known Ancient Roman ceramics factory in Southeast Europe, which is located near the northern Bulgarian town of Pavlikeni, will be delayed after Bulgaria’s competition watchdog has annulled a tender for the project.
Bulgaria’s Plovdiv Granted Permission for Restoration of Antiquity Odeon after Year-Long Delay
The city of Plovdiv in Southern Bulgaria has finally received a long-delayed permit for the restoration of the Antiquity Odeon, an Ancient Greek and Roman public space for musical and theatrical performances and competitions.
Bulgaria to Open for Tourists Restored Euxinograd Palace, Kastritsi Fortress on Black Sea Coast in April 2016
The Euxinograd Palace in the Black Sea residence of the Bulgarian government, and the partly restored ruins of the ancient and medieval fortress of Kastritsi located within the residence estate will be opened for tourists in April 2016 after two…
Unknown Richly Decorated Statue of Roman Emperor Trajan Kept in Storage of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History for Decades
An unknown statue of Roman Emperor Trajan (r. 98-117 AD) with a rich decoration of motifs from the ancient mythology has been kept for decades at the Laboratory of Bulgaria’s National Museum of History.
9th Century Great Basilica in Capital of First Bulgarian Empire Pliska to Be Restored by May 2016
Bulgaria’s National Museum of History in Sofia plans to complete the archaeological restoration of the 9th century Great Basilica in the capital of the First Bulgarian Empire (632/680-1018 AD) Pliska by May 2015.
Over 200 Archaeological Research Projects Vying for Meager Funding from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture in 2016
Over 200 archaeological projects are expected to compete for the meager excavation and conservation budget slated by Bulgaria’s Ministry of Culture for 2016.
Bulgaria’s Varna Municipality Ridiculed over Reburial of Late Antiquity Fortress Wall of Ancient Odessos
Newly placed information signs about the Late Antiquity fortress wall of the Ancient Thracian, Greek, and Roman city of Odessos (Odessus) has led to media reactions ridiculing the way the municipal administration in the Bulgarian Black Sea city of Varna…
Tsarevets Hill Fortress in Bulgaria’s Veliko Tarnovo in Need of Major Funding for Urgent Repairs
The Tsarevets Hill Fortress, one of the two citadels (the other being the Trapesitsa Hill Fortress) of the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire (1185-1396) Tarnovgrad, today’s city of Veliko Tarnovo in Central North Bulgaria, needs urgent repairs that will…