Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Stochna
Gara R.R.
Station
Stochna
Gara R.R.
Station
inish
inish
11
10
Mineral
Baths
Mineral
Baths
9
Tzum
Tzum
8
6
pl. St. Nedelya
pl. St. Nedelya
Presidency
Presidency
5
4
7
2
start
start
1
3
pl.
Alexander
Nevsky
pl.
Alexander
Nevsky
National
Theatre
National
Theatre
pl.
Narodno
Subranje
pl.
Narodno
Subranje
Soia
University
Soia
University
1
2
3
4
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Church of St. Soia
Russian Church of St. Nicholas
Ethnographic Museum &
National Art Gallery
Archeological Museum
Rotunda of St. George
St. Nedelya Church
Statue of Soia
Banya Bashi Mosque
Soia Synagogue
Zhenski Pazar
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
BORISOVA
GRADINA
0
1/4 mi
YUZHEN
PARK
0
1/4 km
4
Ethnographic Museum
and National Art Gallery
The National Art Gallery (Tues-Sun
10am-6pm) is a real disappointment,
with mediocre art and very unfriendly
staff—hardly worth the 3lev ($1.95/60p)
entry fee; certainly not if Plovdiv—where
most of Bulgaria's best artists seems to
have originated or congregated—is part
of your itinerary. But in the east wing
you'll find the Ethnographic Museum
(same hours and admission), which has a
wonderful display of folk arts and crafts,
and explanations on traditional rites. It's a
little haphazard, and at times displays
look a little like a high-school project, but
this is a very worthwhile half-hour, par-
ticularly if you want to do a little souvenir
shopping (see “Shopping,” below).
Opposite the palace is the City Garden,
overlooked by the beautiful baroque Ivan
Vazov National Theatre. Take a turn in
the Gardens and stop at one of the cafe-
bars, or keep heading down Tsar Osvo-
boditel to the:
5
Archaeological Museum
Housed in what used to be the 15th-cen-
tury “Bujuk” (Big) mosque, this is a
lovely light and airy space with well-dis-
played exhibits, and small enough to
tour in 20 minutes. The collection com-
prises Thracian (don't miss the 400
B
.
C
.
gold burial mask upstairs), Greek,
Roman, and medieval Bulgarian arti-
facts, and though not nearly as impres-
sive as the National History Museum,
this is a must if you don't have the time
