Associate Professor from Western Carolina University

visiting Technical University of Sofia, Bulgaria

as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar

Having been to the archaeological museums in several other cities except in Sofia, we had to laugh at ourselves for being perhaps too homey in Sofia. Our time in Sofia is dwindling down, and the Bulgarian Archaeological Museum is right at the corner. We should definitely pay a visit there.

Beyond the collection at this museum, the building itself is of a long history. It used to be a mosque, and then converted to such a museum. By now there is only one functioning mosque in Sofia, which is not touristy but for real believers to pray at.

The floor mosaic in the main hall was taken from the St. Sophia Church, representing paradise with immortal trees. There was a copy in the church’s underground museum as well. It we didn’t know which one was the original, it would have been really hard to tell them apart. There are still many unique collections in this museum, and some of them were a result from fusing multiple cultures. It was a worthy visit.