EU funding for cultural tourism in Bulgaria
Bulgaria can be proud of the existence of many artifacts from ancient cultures and civilizations on its territory. Those have their national recognition, but are also an important part of the world’s cultural heritage. The Thracian tombs near Kazanlak and Sveshtari, the Boyana Church near Sofia, the Rila Monastery – they are all magnificent monuments, included in UNESCO’s list. Many archaeological excavations, such as the ones at the sacred settlement of Perperikon in the Rhodope Mountain, the Black Sea port town of Sozopol and also downtown the capital city of Sofia show once again the rich inheritance from the past. Of course, the more of these monuments are included in tourist routes, the more profitable cultural tourism will be. EU member-states, such as France, Italy, Greece, etc. did that a long time ago and with EU funding under different programmes. One of those is the Regional Development Operational Programme. Its funds provide preservation of cultural monuments for the next generations, on one hand, while on the other the regions themselves develop as infrastructure and services, along with the expanded potential of tourism and its increased profitability. The good thing is that the Bulgarian government is already aware of the fact that cultural tourism is no less important for this country than its infrastructure and the providing of EU funding for it is essential too. That was Bulgarian Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Liliana Pavlova said in an interview for Radio Bulgaria.
And more:
“The overall budget for development of tourism and tourist infrastructure under this operational programme is some EUR 150 mln. This is an investment, aimed at several directions. On one hand, we support the work of our colleagues from the ministry of economy, energy and tourism in their efforts to present Bulgaria as an attractive tourist destination, mostly abroad. We have provided some EUR 37 mln. for that purpose at the moment. We invest this money in cultural monuments, such as the Hagia Sofia Church in Sofia, for instance, along with many others across the country. We also support archaeological excavations – for example, those at the Largoto – a main street in the antique town of Serdika from Roman times, along with the underground museum downtown Sofia, spread on 19,000 m2 that is under construction. Besides that we provide a funding to the tune of more than EUR 100 mln. for cultural tourism. Some of this money is for the development of tourist attractions, taken care by the municipalities. We invest a lot in the future of this country’s cultural tourism.”
The Hagia Sofia Church in Sofia with the ancient necropolis of tombs underneath is a good example for the funding of cultural tourism in Bulgaria. Some EUR 350,000 have been provided for it by the ministry of regional development and public works under the Regional Development Operational Programme. The site has to be ready in up to 6 months. A special air-conditioning system will be constructed, along with art-museum lighting for the artifacts, exposed at this monument. Many of those are currently residing outside, but they will enter the underground museum after its completion, Minister of Culture Vezhdi Rashidov stated and added:
“This necropolis and not only it, is related to the antique town of Serdika. Serdika’s amphitheatre was discovered again downtown Sofia. And Largoto is situated next to it. As you know, we lie on a really ancient town with many old cultural monuments. Surveys show that the necropolis continues underground almost to the building of the parliament.”
About a month ago Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov showed the unique site to EU ambassadors exclusively and they could see the work of the archaeologists and restorers at the antique tomb, situated at the entrance of the ancient basilica and now Hagia Sofia Church. It is supposedly dated to the end of the 4th century. The museum constructed is planned to be expanded by other 500 m2 in the future, as the tomb and the museum will be linked under the church.
Text: bnr.bg
Photo: BGNES
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