In one of the most popular Facebook groups, archival photos of the city are often shared, and we are convinced that many of our younger readers have never seen them.
Today, it’s hard to imagine that in the past, people used to row boats on the lake in Tsar Simeon’s Garden…
Or that just a few meters away, the first balloon flight in Bulgaria took place in 1892, and by the end of that same year, Plovdiv had become the country's first aviation capital.
Does anyone still remember Hotel Berlin, which has long since become history but was located directly opposite the Kamenitza stairs, in the very center of the city? In the past, it was a popular spot for all confectionery enthusiasts, thanks to the culinary delights offered on the ground floor. Over the years, other pastry shops operated there as well, such as "Milka", run by the Pavlov brothers, "Savoy" by Bay Boris, and after 1949, the popular "Alen Mak".
Plovdiv Central Railway Station is a cultural and historical emblem of the city. From 2015 to 2018, the building was skillfully and carefully restored, with respect for its original design by architect Mariano Pernigoni, earning a special award in the "Building of the Year" competition. But do we know what the original building looked like?
We continue our journey through the history of the City under the Hills with one of Plovdiv’s busiest and most central boulevards, and how it looked not so long ago. Today, it’s much wider and handles a heavy flow of cars, but as you can see, it’s still immediately recognizable.
Here’s another shot from its northern side:
We’ve previously told you about Balakpazar (the Fish Market), and our readers already know that the area used to be among the liveliest in town. It would open at sunrise, with one side lined with baskets filled with ice and fresh fish—carp, eels, mullets, and more. When the season for dried fish arrived, the whole place would be filled with their aroma, making them the most tempting snack to go with beer and mastika.
We marvel at the beauty of the building that once housed the Excelsior Cinema, and here’s a memory of how it looked in its glory days.
We also leave here the ruined Maritza pharmacy building, demolished probably to reveal the impersonal facade of a new apartment block:
We finish our "walk" through Plovdiv's past with Novotel Plovdiv, the latter shown during a time when its swimming pool was one of the most visited places in the city during the summer season.
Photo: Бай Иван Карачомака
