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The Bulgarian culture and the Bulgarian cultural heritage
do not need references to enter the European or world union
of spirituality and thought. Their roots are in the cradle
of the European civilization.There
are more than 200 archeological sites of culture, 30 of which
are of national importance.
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. As for
the remaining mobile monuments of culture, kept in the five
Plovdiv museums - Archeological, Ethnographic, Historical,
Nature and City Art Gallery - they are more than 30 000
pieces. Speaking of Plovdiv we must mention such world famous
sites such as the Ancient Theatre (2nd Century BC), the
Roman Stadium (2nd Century BC also), the magnificent color
mosaics of the villas, the ones of the Episcopal temple,
the "Nebettepe", Archeological complex, the beautiful
samples of the National Revival architecture, such as the
Balabanov's House, the Kuyumdjiev's House, the houses Georgiadi,
Nedkovich, Hindian etc. The Panagyurishte Golden Treasure
from the end of 6th sentury BC consists of six uniquely
decorated golden utensils weighing 6,164 kg made Plovdiv
known far away from Bulgaria.
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The Old
Plovdiv was made a reservation because of the characteristic
features of the National Revival architecture houses, concentrated
of the Three Hills - Nebet Tepe, Jambaz Tope and Texim Tepe.
With their impressive appearance, magnificent internal decoration,
coziness and family spirit they are embodiment of the spirit
of their time. ecoration,
coziness and family spirit they are embodiment of the spirit
of their time. The old churches are an integral part of
the Three Hills architectural ensemble.
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Most
of them have the same appearance as they had it at the
middle of the last century. Those are "St.St. Konstantin
& Elena", "St.
Marina", "St. Nedelya", "St. Petka"
and the "Holly Mother of God" Cathedral. There
is a Roman Catholic Church in Plovdiv - "St. Ludvig".
There are Protestant and Armenian-Gregorian church as
well. There are two mosques in Plovdiv that remained from
the time of the Ottoman invasion.
The spirit
of Plovdiv bears the creative power of its artists, writers
and musicians. The Chambre Music International Festival,
which takes place in the
Old Town more than 30 years now; the "Golden
Chest" International TV Film Festival, organized
jointly with the Bulgarian National Television more than
two decades; the "Golden Rithon" International
Festival of Documentary Films - joint initiative with
the National Film Center, which dates back to 1980's;
the Verdi Festival, whose venue is one of the most attractive
places in the city - the Ancient Theatre; Easter and Christmas
musical festivals; the International Folklore Festival
that is one of the
most exotic events at the end of the summer - all those
are well known events in Bulgaria and abroad. Very interesting
are some new initiatives - the "Stage on a Crossroad"
International Theatre Festival, the Week of Modern Art,
that takes place in the Ancient Public Bath, the "Impessia"
Art Fair.
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In 1999 Plovdiv was
host of the "European Month of Culture Program".
On the traditional stages in the city and on alternative
culture spaces, the program realized the biggest culture
forum in Bulgaria at the turn of the century. Raina Kabaivanska,
Gena Dimitrova, Lyudmil Anguelov, Bamberg Symphonic's, Michael
Nyman, Hanna Schygulla, Goran Bregovich and his "Weddings
and Funerals Orchestra", Metallica, Appocalyptica,
Grand Funk, Richie Blackmore and many others took part in
it.
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The existing infrastructure of the Plovdiv city adds to the
development of the culture activities. The Plovdiv's Drama Theatre
is an inheritor of the first professional theatre group in Bulgaria
founded in 1881. Even it was founded in 1948 the Plovdiv Puppet
Theatre remains one of the leading institutions in this genre.
Founded in 1953, Plovdiv Opera achieves serious professional
acknowledgements not only in Bulgaria, but in Germany, Denmark,
Spain, Italy. Another post of the Plovdiv culture is the Philarmonic, founded in 1945. Works of the classic and of the modern symphony
are included in its repertory. Soloists such as Dmitry Shostakovich,
Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yuri Boukov, Mincho
Minchev worked with the Plovdiv Philharmonic. The orchestra
toured in almost all of the European countries. Brillant with
its originality and professionalism is the "Trakia"
Folklore Ensemble. Founded in 1974, it has performed thousands
of concerts in Bulgaria and more than 40 countries of the world.
The "Trakia" Traditional Choir enters the world musical
elite after its nomination for the Grammy Awards. |
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As a city
of rich traditional musical culture Plovdiv has a wide range
of genres - from the religious chants of the "Philipopolis"
Chamber Ensemble, to the classic choirs - Plovdiv Boys Choir,
"Detska kitka" Choir, Women Chamber Choir, to
the jazz - legend "White, Green, Red".
Plovdiv is the city of artists. Indicative is the fact that
the first art exhibition was held here.
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From
the middle of the 19th century though to this day Plovdiv host
hosts such names as Dimiter Zograf, Zahari Zograf, Stanislav
Dospevski, Gueorgui Danchov. After the Liberation in 1878 -
Ivan Mrkvichka, Anton Mitov. The basic figures of the modern
art also worked here -
Hristo Stanchev, Sirak Skitnik, David Peres, Tzanko Lavrenov,
Zlatyo Boyadjiev. So were the founders of the Plovdiv School
of the 60's - Yoan Leviev, Kolio Vitkovski, Dimiter Kirov, Georgui
Bojilov, Encho Pironkov, Hristo Stefanov. There are more than
300 artists in Plovdiv. The narrow streets of the Old Town are
not only source of inspiration, but a natural place of exhibitions
as well. More than 20 private galleries take care of the art
market. |
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The city's traditions
as a literature center are kept by the first in Bulgaria public
library - the "Ivan Vazov" People's Library, by
the 19 "chitalistes" (supplementary of the library),
by the numerous bookkeepers and publishers. Now the "Ivan
Vazov" People's Library is second biggest national bookkeeping
institution, owning rare Bulgarian and European publications.
The modern Plovdiv publishing houses add their significant
contribution to the image of the book market in the country
and representing the Bulgarian literature abroad.
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Plovdiv
is a leading national center of the Bulgarian Internet Society
- one of the most visited websites is the Plovdiv's
www.gyuvetch.bg /www.gbg.bg/ 
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