Bulgaria 2024 - Ancient Places in a Modern World

Program : Locations and times for each event HERE (updated 14 October 2024)

Full program: The full conference program (dated August 31 2024) can be found HERE

Meeting point: Will be at the Intercontinental Hotel Sofia, Pl Narodno Sabranie 4; Across from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Speakers: Speaker details and bios can be found HERE and the presentations can be found HERE

Hotel: The base for the conference will be the Intercontinental Hotel, Pl Narodno Sabranie 4; Across from Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, best rates have been negotiated and booking details can be found HERE

Accessibility: Note portions of the tours in Plovdiv and Veliko Turnovo will be in old towns and ancient fortresses, these will involve cobble streets and steeper streets where accommodations for accessibility are not as widely implemented as in the US.

 
 
 

Day by day PROGRAM OVERVIEW (Please note that the program remains subject to change)

  • Location: Sofia

    Registration and Reception at the SAB - Central Headquarters of Bulgarian Union of Architects:

  • Location: Sofia

    Meeting point Hotel Intercontinental Sofia

    Guided tour of Sofia centre to view Roman Ruins of Serdica (Sofia), early Christian churches at Sheraton, mosque, synagogue, Stalinist grand plaza and buildings, Boul. Rousski and Baroque buildings leading to the great cathedral of Alexander Nevsky

    A visit to Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

    Presentations by the President of the Bulgarian Union of Architects

    Group dinner at the foot of Vitosha Mountain overlooking the city.

  • Location: Plovdiv

    Meeting point Hotel Intercontinental Sofia for bus transfer

    Plovdiv, ancient Philippopolis, named after Alexander The Great's father Phillip; second largest city in the country and the oldest city in Europe; 2019 European Capital of Culture. Plovdiv is a town situated on 5 hills like Rome.

    Guided walking tour of old Plovdiv, where the Bulgarian Baroque applied to the timber houses is most visible. The tour will also visit the Ethnographical Museum, a Roman Theatre.

    Presentations from notable Architects of Plovdiv about Plovdiv contemporary architecture

    Return to Sofia by bus transfer with some free time prior to the Gala Dinner at the Hotel Intercontinental Sofia

  • Location: RILA Monastery

    Meeting point Hotel Intercontinental Sofia for bus transfer

    A guided tour of the UNESCO site, Rila Monastery, this ancient monastery is in the mountains south of Sofia.

    Return to Sofia by bus transfer, with an option for airport drop off at 16:00 CET

    A visit to the National History Museum Boyana

  • Location: VELIKO TURNOVO

    Meeting point Hotel Intercontinental Sofia for bus transfer

    Veliko Turnovo: A picturesque hill town with ancient fortress, churches, timber housing architecture and modern architecture.

    Guiding walking tour of Tzarevetz Fortress

    Presentation by the City Mayor

    Return to Sofia by bus transfer (arriving in Sophia 20:00 CET)