"European Projects for Beautiful Bulgaria" is the motto of a photo competition organized by the regional information centre in Sofia. Residents and visitors will be able to show the beautiful and good things they see around them in a easy and accessible way. The competition started on April 3, which is the day when Sofia was declared capital of modern Bulgaria. In a month the authors of the three best photographs will receive prizes, while 30 other photos will become part of an exhibition that would open on Europe Day – May 9. The competition is open to pupils, students, amateur photographers and all who love the beautiful Bulgarian capital city.

We have focused on places that have been renovated thanks to European funds. We are talking about buildings, renovated parks and gardens, restored cultural monuments, says Director of the Regional Information Centre Sofia, Elza Grigorova. The center is one out of a total of 28 across the country.

“We want to show how much Sofia has changed thanks to the funds received under the seven operational programs. Projects include the construction of the metro lines, the renovation of the Central Mineral Baths, new buses, parks, infrastructure. I'd have photographed subway stations, in which a number of archaeological finds had been put on display. I'd have photographed the new metro line to the airport and the renovated green areas of Sofia. My favorite place to relax is the Southern Park of the city. A number of renovations have been completed there but citizens should have the mentality of owners and participate in public discussions when such projects are concerned. Sofia looks a lot like a modern European capital city but when living in it we somehow miss the positive changes around us.”

The modern development of the capital city against the backdrop of its iconic buildings is seen in another exhibition of photos that capture the urban environment of the late XIX and early XX century. The exhibition was on display in the lobby of the Bulgarian National Radio. The black and white photos are part of the archives of the Saints Cyril and Methodius National Library. "The idea for the exhibition came from Radio Sofia and old post cards are also part of it, says head of the library Professor Boryana Hristova and adds:

"I really like the city of that time, because it had a nice romantic atmosphere. I like it now too. The good news is that most of the buildings that are seen in the photos exist to this day. These are the Eagle's Bridge, Lion's Bridge, the Parliament, the National Theatre ... You can see how different the environment surrounding these buildings was. This way we see how the city has been developing over the years. What I miss these days is the former fountain with figures of swans in it. It used to be located in front of the National Theatre, but was destroyed during the wars. I hope that the municipality will someday be able to reconstruct such elements that add charm to the city. In recent years, Sofia has changed a lot and despite criticism it is the most attractive Bulgarian city and that is why everyone wants to live and work in it. In my opinion Sofia has been changing dynamically and in recent years the central parts of the city have become very beautiful.”

English: Alexander Markov