Bulgaria Inside

The National Art Gallery is hosted in the former royal palace in Sofia. Before it became a residence, the building acted as an Ottoman administrative center and a residence of the local Ottoman ruler.

Sofia’s deputy mayor suggested the creation of the gallery in 1944. Several hundred works of art were collected.

Today, the gallery has more than 50 000 works of art. The collection traces Bulgarian painting styles from the revival period to the 50s of the 20th century. Works of Zahari Zograph, Stanislav Dospevski and Nikolai Pavlovich can be seen there.

Contemporary authors also get their share. Symbolism, impressionism and modernism are represented through the works of Elena Karamihailova, Nikola Petrov and Nikola Marinov. The gallery has other paintings of famous artists like Vladimir Dimitrov – Maistora, Zlatiu Boiadzhiev, Zhorzh Papazov and Dechko Ouzonov.

Of all 50 000 works, only 3000 paintings have been displayed. The gallery faces problem with the preservation of paintings since the building fails meeting some vital conditions.

The gallery is situated on 1 Batenberg square. It welcomes visitors from 10 am to 5.30 pm each day apart from Monday. On Thursdays, its working time is extended to 7 pm.