All colours and scents in sightseeing tour Sofia
Sofia Market Hall became one of the hot points of Sofia walking tour. It dates back to 1911 and is one of the biggest and oldest commercial centres of Sofia. It was built in Renaissance style but also Greek and Byzantium influence can be seen. Architect was Naum Torbov, who selected the blood red lacquered tiles for his building to have elements from the Byzantine architecture.
Although the construction started in 1909 by the decision of the metropolitan municipality, the area had always been a commercial centre since Medieval times. Since then such weekly markets were around each monastery. It was one of the main income of the monasteries.
People knew these market places as “charshiya”. The land on which Sofia Market Hall is located today was the charshiya of the monastery of St. John of Rila. For this reason, the terrain where today the Central Market Hall, or Tsentarlni Sofiyski Hali, is had been a trading venue for centuries to the monastery of St. John of Rila.
Visiting unique architecture, a symbol of old Sofia
To put it more in order, in the beginning of the 20th century, the construction of the Sofia Market Hall was ready. Its purpose was to sell dairy products, fish etc.
Still, it is one of the main tourist places that we will visit in our customized guided tour. You can enjoy an old shopping complex which originally had four entrances. But now the public uses only three.
While entering the mall from the main entrance one can see the relief of the coat of arms of Sofia above. The artist Haralampi Tachev designed it and you can see it over that famous small clock tower with three dials.
The Market Hall closed doors for restoration in 1988. Due to the political changes and also changes in the country’s system, it carried on and off for some time. Eventually, an Israeli company invested $ 7 million. Being next to the Central Synagogue the Market got their attention. Now the company have 75 % of the Market Hall. Also on the ground floor of the Market Hall we can see a fountain shaped like the Star of David. Since the Easter in the year 2000, it was open again.
Sofia market hall in our days
Today Sofia Market Hall has 169 stores and 1,000 employees. On the ground floor, there are stalls selling foodstuff like bread and pastries. Also olives, nuts, sweets and rose oil products, souvenirs, etc.
On the upper level the shops are selling clothing, accessories and jewellery. On the basement floor one can see archaeological remains from the Roman times of the old city of Serdica preserved and exposed.
Sofia walking tour likes to take you there. It will take you to Tsentralni Sofiyski Hali, to experience the different colours and scents. And may be make a good bargain. On your side, you only need to contact us and get more information on the tour and the other tours we offer.
Turkey and the Balkan countries are on our list of tours. We make tailor-made tours. You design them and leave the rest to us. Here, mentioning Turkey, we would like to offer our guided Ephesus tours.
