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Dobri Voinikov School - Sofia, Bulgaria

Project meting - Sofia, October 16 - 20

Our visit to Plovdiv in photos

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35 SOU "D. Voinikov", Sofia, Bulgaria

Project meting - Sofia, October 16 - 20


Welcome to Bulgaria! 

Bulgaria is a country with a very rich cultural heritage. There have been preserved historical monuments from the Paleolithic Age, the Antiquity, Middle Ages, Revival period and from more recent times on the territory of the country.
 One can get acquainted with the pre-historic culture of Bulgaria mainly through the exhibitions displayed at the Archeological Museum and the Museum of National History in Sofia. Some of its exhibits are shown in the local museums in Plovdiv, Stara Zagora, Nova Zagora, Varna, Veliko Turnovo, Rousse, Razgrad, Vidin, Bourgas and etc. Some sights of particular interest are to be found near Nova Zagora(the famous Karanovska Mound, called the Noah's Ark of the European civilization), in the Magura cave, as well as the remains from Palаeolithic cultures in several caves in the Balkan Mountain and the Rohdope Mountain. Traces of some seaside Neolithic and Palаeolithic cultures have been preserved in the areas starting from cape Kaliakra and reaching down to the southern seaside resort Ahtopol. The remains of pottery and other household were dating back to the Paleolithic and the early Neolithic Ages found near Nova Zagora are extremely unique.
 The culture of ancient Thracians is represented in some of the most brilliant examples of their applied arts. The most famous are the Gold Treasure Collection from Panagyutishte, the Silver Collection from Rogozhen, the Flying Pegasus from Sveshtari and the burial urns from the Thracian tombs. Some new unique findings from Thracian times over the past few years were discovered in the Kazanluk tomb and in the tomb near Sveshtari.The Tracians were second in number and cultural achievements in the world only to the Indians.
 There have been found a lot of remains from Thracian, Old Greek and Roman culture and whole city sites have been preserved, restored and opened for the public. Some of them are Augusta Trajana, Trimoncium, Nicopolis ad Istrum, Pautalia, Mesembria, Apolonia and many others. There has been preserved enough cultural evidence proving that the Old Greek and the Roman mythology borrowed some gods, heroes, mysteries, cults and holidays from the Thracians. The Bulgarian historical museums abound in exhibits of the ancient everyday, cultural and military life, masks, mosaics, statues of gods and heroes. Under the capital city Sofia have been excavated about 150 000 square meters of ruins from the ancient city Serdika The amphitheaters and the thermal baths in Plovdiv, Sofia, and Varna are of great historical value in this respect.
  The invasion of the Slavs and the ancient Bulgarians brought about some new tendencies in the cultural development of the country. The Bulgarians introduced a new symbolic system of writing. The Old Greek letters were very rarely used, mainly in bilingual chronicles and texts concerning the wars between the Byzantine Empire and Bulgaria. Most of them are petroglyphs, preserved on stone. Part of the symbols may also be found on the bottoms of pottery or on papyrus. Some interesting findings of gold and bronze collections have been dated from that time for example the treasure from Nagy St. Miklos, rings of Bulgarian rulers, the sword of Khan Kubrat.
 The adoption of the Christian Orthodox religion marks a new epoch in the Bulgarian history. Examples of historical monuments from the pre-Christian times are found in the capital Pliska and not far from it is the Madara horseman , the biggest bas-relief in Europe. Alongside with them, some churches and buildings from the First Bulgarian Empire are very interesting from historical and cultural point of view. Their remains are to be found in Veliki Preslav as well as in many early mediaeval cities along the Black Sea coast and in the country's interior.
 The 9 th century was called 'the First Golden Age of the Bulgarian culture' and is considered to mark the beginning of the Bulgarian literature. There were some early Christian monasteries that are very interesting in cultural and architectural respect. The most imposing of them is the Rila monastery built as early as the 10 th century. Many fortresses were built after the liberation from Byzantine rule - in Vidin, Cherven, Beroe, Sredetz, Assenovgrad, Belogradchik and many other Medieval cities, which have been preserved and nowadays. There are magnificent frescos in the churches and the monasteries from that period. The frescos in the Boyana church near have been compared to the best Renaissance models, though actually preceding them with a century and a half. Тhe hesichastic monasteries, among wich the Ivanovo, the Aladja and the Batchkovo are examples of the savoir faire of their builders, icon painters and wood carvers. The archaeological complex of Tsarevets of the ancient capital Veliko Turnovo is very imposing. The incredible city layout, the walls, the churches, towers used by the Bulgarians in their everyday life and especially the site in the nearby village Arbanassi reveal the erudition and the mastery of the Bulgarian rulers.
  After the invasion of the Ottoman Turks Bulgaria's culture went to decline. The construction of new monasteries started in the 17 th and 18 th centuries. Some icon painters and wood-carving schools were built in Tryavna, Debur and Bansko. The architecture during the Revival had very distinctive features. Wood, stone and limestone were the basic construction materials. Very characteristic of the period are the earthen floors, the little fireplaces, the wood carved ceilings, the low doors and the window seats. Some fine examples of it may be found in Koprivshtitsa, Veliko Turnovo, Plovdiv, Shiroka luka, Tryavna, Gabrovo, Elena, Kotel, Bojentsi, Melnik, Staro Stefanovo.

Participants in the project meeting:

All Saints Church of England School - UK

1. Stan Martin

2. Susan Matthews

3. Jayne Smart
 
4. Tracey Grainger
 
Aintree Davenhill School - UK
 
1. Margaret Richards
 
2. Deena Kelley
 
SPOLECZNA  SZKOLA PODSTAWOWA STO, CIECHANOW, POLAND
 
1. Munindra Perera
2. Agatha Korzeniowska
 
 Szkoła Podstawowa  Nr 29  im. Jana Liszewskiego, Olsztyn, POLAND
 
1. Hanna Kowalska
2. Dorota Galica - Dabrowska
 

 

 



Do you like listening to bagpipes' music?
This is not Scotland but you can enjoy listening to bagpipes and see this picturesque street musician round Sofia. Bagpipes are typical musical instruments in Bulgaria, especially characteristic for the southern region of the Rhodope mountains.
IVAN VAZOV National Theatre
The theatre was founded in 1904, and its building was completed in 1907.
THE BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCE

The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) is a national autonomous association for scientific research, which includes academic institutes, laboratories and other independent research entities. It unites the academicians and corresponding members from the country, recognized Professors scientists from scientific institutes in Bulgaria, as well as foreign members. The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is a legal entity. BAS participates in scientific research, in accordance with human values and national interests and works for the multiplication of the spiritual and material treasures of the Bulgarian people.

 

More information at http://www.bgglobe.net/index.php?l=1&s=-536 

Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”
The University is the first school of higher education in Bulgaria. Its history is an embodiment and a continuation of centuries of the cultural and educational tradition in the country.
In 1880 the Ministry of Education introduced in the National Assembly a draft of a Law on Schools. It envisaged the opening of a Bulgarian school of higher education (university) which is to cover law, philosophy, medicine, natural and technical sciences. University education was to follow high school comprehensive and classical education. Seven years later, 1887, there was a permission for opening the first Higher Pedagogical Course at the First High School for young men in Sofia. At the end of 1888, considering the successful start of the Higher Pedagogical Course, the National Assembly took a decision to transform the Course into a School of Higher Education.
The Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is the first school of higher education in Bulgaria. Its history is an embodiment and a continuation of centuries of cultural and educational tradition in this country. The organized education activities in Bulgaria date back to the second half of the 9th century. During the period of the National Revival a new idea for opening a School of Higher Education was born. Year by year the Sofia University turns into an academic and scientific center on the Balkans which is a fully developed academic institution with European prestige. Today the Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” is the largest and most prestigious educational and scientific center in the country. The main University building - the Rectorate is one of the architectural landmarks in Sofia, built with the donations of the brothers Evlogi and Hristo Georgiev. Its main building is situated at 15 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd.
The University Library was founded with the establishment of the Higher School in 1888. It has played an important role in the history of Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” and for the development of Bulgarian science and education for more than 100 years.
The National Assembly

The building where the 39th National Assembly sits is of historic significance and it is a monument of culture. It was built in 1884-1886 at the design of architect Constantin Yovanovic, who studied in Vienna and Switzerland and authored the design of the Serbian Assembly (1891-1892) as well. The style of the building is neo-Renaissance. The interior has been refurbished many times but its appearance has been basically preserved in its original shape. Since 1991, the National Assembly has been using another building as well, that in 1 Alexander Batenberg Square.

 

More information at http://www.bgglobe.net/index.php?l=1&s=-657

 

The National Palace of Culture
The Alexander Nevski Cathedral
“St. Alexander Nevski” cathedral is one of the most significant monuments of culture in Sofia. It was built between 1882 and 1912, in honour of the Russian king Alexander II, called “Tsar Osvoboditel” (“The King Liberator”), because his army helped liberate Bulgaria from Ottoman rule in 1878. The cathedral bears his name.
The magnificent St. Alexander Nevsky Memorial Church is built to the designs of the Russian architect Pomerantsev in Neo Byzantine style, typical for Russia in the middle of the XIX th century.
With five aisles and three altar iconostasis (the central altar, dedicated to St Alexander Nevski, the southern altar to St. Boris, who brought Christianity to Bulgaria, and the northern altar to Saints Cyril and Methodius, who created the Cyrillic alphabet), the cavernous interior of the church is full of interesting details made by both Russian and Bulgarian artists. Some of them are Anton Mitov, professor Boris Mihailov, professor Stefan Ivanov, Vladimir Bolotnov, professor Ivan Markvichka and others. Unfortunately, dim lighting makes some of these difficult to see -such as the expressive paintings of Biblical scenes and saints that cover the walls and ceilings. Other highlights include: Italian mosaics, multi-coloured marble, stained glass windows, huge chandeliers and a throne enhanced by Brazilian onyx and alabaster, once used by Tsars Boris and Ferdinand.
Very precious are the icons that illustrate the scenes of “Pentecost”, of “The Annunciation”, and the icon of “St. St. Konstantin and Elena”. The Pearl icon of “The Virgin Mary and the infant” is miraculous. Of high value is the stone from Golgota, put in a nacreous box with the crest of Bulgarian kingdom. It is a gift by patriarch Kiryl.
In the crypt of the cathedral, to the left of the main entrance is located the Icon Museum. Here, over 300 exhibits trace the development of Bulgarian icon-painting from the late ninth century up to the end of the nineteenth century. . All eras of Bulgarian icon painting are represented, and many of them are from the famous Tryavna, Samokov and Nessebar schools of iconography - including unusual double-sided icons from the 14th century.
The cathedral of “St. Alexander Nevski” is one of the symbols of Sofia. It is the largest church-monument on the Balkan peninsula.
Rotunda of “St. George”
The rotunda is under the protection of UNESCO. It is located behind the Presidency. It was built when Sofia was under the name of Serdica. It was then destroyed by the Huns, rebuilt and turned into a mosque by the Ottomans. Restoration work has revealed three layers of medieval frescoes, which had been hidden by plaster since the sixteenth century. Its frescoes were made by amateurs. According to the historians and archeologists those frescoes date to the middle of 10 th century and portray 22 prophets. Over the coupon there is a wreath – a symbol of the entireness. The impressive cupola bears a fourteenth-century portrait of Christ, surrounded by four angels. To the east lie excavated foundations of the Roman settlement of Serdica. Nowadays the church is a museum.

With the Polish teachers on the Bridge of the beloved near tha National Palace of Culture

Radostina and Dorota

The Polish party sitting on the terrace at the Natinal Palace of culture with Vitosha Mountain as background.

The Welcome evening at school.

 Discussing project work at the computer room at school.

 

Want to see more photos from the project meeting in Sofia?

Go to http://www.dropshots.com/creativity