Spot statues of cultural heroes, browsethe stalls of a book market and enjoy excellent people-watching opportunities atthis lively city square.
Sofia’sSlaveykov Square is a bustling public place and a pleasantspot for people-watching, seeing street performers, or enjoying a good book.The square takes its name from the revered Bulgarian father-and-son poets,Petko and Pencho Salveykov. At the northern end of the square is a benchadorned with life-sized statues of the poets. Sit next to the statues for agreat photographic souvenir of your time in Sofia.
Runningthrough the heart of the square is an open-air book market that offers antique,secondhand and new books. Browse the daily market for anything from fiction andnon-fiction to travel guides, textbooks and dictionaries. Most of the items forsale are in Bulgarian, although it is possible to find books in other languagessuch as English, French and German.
Besidesthe market, Slaveykov Square is a pleasant place to sit at and watch locals andtourists go about their business. Check out the elegant buildings that overlookthe square and observe the street performers who entertain the passersby andmarket-goers. Go to the small Municipal Theatre Vazrazhdane, situated in theSofia Library, to watch an independent theater production.
Situateda few blocks south of Sofia’s Gradska Gradina (City Garden), Slaveykov Squareis easily accessible via public buses and trolleybus. It’s also less than15-minute walk from major city attractions such as the magnificent AlexanderNevsky Cathedral and Borisova Gradina (Boris Garden), one of the city’sbest-loved parks.
Aftervisiting Slaveykov Square you might want to learn more about the famous father-and-sonpoet duo at the House Museum of Petko and Pencho Slaveykov, on nearby Georgi S.Rakovski Street. Find artifacts that relate to the life and work of the poets,including books, furniture and paintings. Alternatively, visit the Peyu YavorovMuseum, situated in the former residence of poet Peyu Yavorov and his wife.Both museums are less than a 5-minute walk from the square.
