The renovation of the shortest pedestrian street in the centre of Sofia - ul. "Malko Tarnovo", which is implemented as a result of a public-private partnership between Sofia Municipality and the construction-investment company BLD, will be completed by 5 October. The deadline for completing the renovation of the iconic street has been extended by two weeks due to the replacement of Sofia Water's underground infrastructure, which became necessary after the renovation began and an assessment of the condition of the existing canal was carried out.
Archaeology was also uncovered during the renovation work, which was surveyed by a Ministry of Culture committee. Examination of the archaeology by the committee and representatives of the Museum of the History of Sofia revealed that the wall discovered was part of a late Ottoman wall. At a meeting with the media at the beginning of August, the Deputy Mayor for Culture, Education and Sports of the Sofia City Assoc. Todor Chobanov said that the archaeological find would be conserved, after which the repair works on the street would continue. "The find is a corner of a building from the period of the 18th - 19th century," said Dr. Alexander Stanev from the Regional History Museum - Sofia, who has been supervising the repair works since the first day of construction and is the project manager for the conservation of the find.
The urban renewal project is being implemented by BLD as a donation to Sofia Municipality, and the renovation project itself was donated by Atelier Serafimov Architects. The initiative was inspired by the multifaceted and rich history that Sofia's shortest pedestrian street holds. In addition to the renovation and replacement of dilapidated pavements along the street, new lighting and elements, facade cleaning and cabling, the initiative also includes the creation of an information system that will present narratives from different eras of Sofia along the street. The project to visualize the historical narrative is being developed by the team behind the information system for orientation to tourist sites in Sofia, and will be unveiled with the opening of the renovated street.
Work on this visual system began with historical research and an exhibit in the State Archives Gallery featuring important historical accounts and urban legends about the street. A workshop on design thinking and inclusive design techniques was then held over the summer, involving people from a range of professions and backgrounds. The task of the information system is to preserve and tell the stories and legends of the street to the residents and visitors of Sofia, and to transform ul. Malko Tarnovo into an even more beloved and iconic symbol of the city.
On its modest 60 meters, the street holds memories and artifacts that bear witness to some of the most significant eras in Bulgarian history. Beneath the yellow cobblestones lie prehistoric remains dating back to 4500 BC, urban legends of the clock tower from the Renaissance era and memories of King Boris III and his beloved Luna Bar. A secret door, sung about in rock ballads, still stands on the street to this day, behind which lurk the communist-era State Security cells.