Largo, Sofia

Coordinates: 42°41′52″N 23°19′23″E / 42.69778°N 23.32306°E / 42.69778; 23.32306
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Independence Square
Largo
Public square
Length200 m (660 ft)
Width50 m
LocationSofia, Bulgaria
Coordinates42°41′52″N 23°19′23″E / 42.69778°N 23.32306°E / 42.69778; 23.32306
Construction
Completion1955

The Largo (

Southeastern Europe,[1]
as well as one of the main landmarks of Sofia.

The Largo complex consists of three buildings around Independence Square: The Council of Ministers and the TSUM department store on the north side, the National Assembly (former Communist Party headquarters) with its iconic spire on the east side, the Presidential Administration (former Council of State) and the Balkan Hotel to the south side. Plans for a 16-storey City Hall on the east side, resembling the Moscow State University main building, were not carried out following de-Stalinisation.[2]

History

The yellow-cobblestoned square around which the ensemble is centred is called Independence Square. It is formed by the

Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard merging from the east to continue as Todor Aleksandrov Boulevard west of the Largo. Originally, the square was named after Lenin. A Council of Ministers of Bulgaria decree was published in 1951 regarding the construction of the Largo.[3] The lot in the centre of the city, damaged by the bombing of Sofia in World War II, was cleared in the autumn of 1952, so that the construction of the new buildings could begin in the following years.[3]

The Party House building, once crowned by a

St. Sophia
in 2000.

Refurbishment

Transparent cover over the ruins of ancient Serdica

Following the democratic changes after 1989, the symbols of communism in the decoration of the Largo were removed, with the most symbolic act being the removing of the red star on a pole atop the former Party House using a helicopter and its substitution by the flag of Bulgaria. In the 1990s there have been suggestions to reshape the former Party House, sometimes regarded as an imposing remnant of a past ideology,[4] by introducing more modern architectural elements.[5]

According to the new architectural plan of Sofia, Independence Square is as of 2006 being reorganized. The lawn and the flags in the centre are replaced by glass domes, so that the ruins of the ancient

Church of St Petka, are also connected[6] to ease the access to the nearby Serdika and Serdika II metro
stations.

  • The former Party House in 1984, before the removal of the red star on spire
    The former Party House in 1984, before the removal of the red star on spire
  • The former Party House in 2006
    The former Party House in 2006
  • Council of Ministers
    Council of Ministers
  • Presidential Administration
    Presidential Administration
  • TZUM department store
    TZUM department store
  • The 4th-century St George Rotunda behind the Balkan Hotel
    The 4th-century
    St George Rotunda
    behind the Balkan Hotel
  • Presidential Guard
    Presidential Guard

References

  1. ^ "Bulgaria Sofia Sights Around the Center of the Capital". monkeytravel.org. Archived from the original on February 27, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
  2. ^ Stara Sofia (Old Sofia)
  3. ^
    ISBN 954-617-011-9
    .
  4. ^ Todorov, Petar; Mihail Konstantinov (2001-01-10). "Glass Dome Project". Demokratsiya. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
  5. ^ Panchev, Lyubomir (2006-08-19). "Pro and con the reorganization of the Party House" (in Bulgarian). Duma. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
  6. ^ a b Aleksandrova, Nina (2006-09-04). "The Largo is to be covered by a glass lid" (in Bulgarian). Standart News. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-09-30.
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