Although most people in Plovdiv simply call it "Alyosha" because of the famous monument at its peak, the hill houses several other monuments that tell important stories from Bulgaria's past. Walking among them is like a journey through time—from ancient Roman aqueducts to the heroic spirit of Vasil Levski.
Monument to the Soviet Army (Alyosha)
The Monument to the Soviet Army is a granite statue 10.5 meters tall, standing at the top of the second-highest hill in Plovdiv. It is the most famous Soviet monument in Bulgaria, although similar ones were erected in many other places between the years 1944 and 1989.
It depicts a standing Soviet soldier holding a gun with the barrel pointed down. A five-pointed star is placed on the pedestal, and beneath it is inscribed: “Glory to the Invincible Soviet Army of Liberation”. Interestingly, in other cities, especially where the monument depicts a lone soldier, people have also started calling the monument “Alyosha” in the manner of the Plovdiv one.
It was built between 1954 and 1957 and officially unveiled on November 5 1957. The creators include architects Boris Markov, Petar Tsvetkov, Nikolay Marangozov; sculptors Vasil Radoslavov, Georgi Kotsev, Ivan Topalov, Aleksandar Zankov; and stonemasons Sasho Spasov, Valcho Kadiyski, Grigor Mihov. The monument has become so iconic for the hill that people often refer to Bunardzhika Hill simply as “Alyosha”.
The model for the statue was Alexey Ivanovich Skurlatov (1922–2013), a resident of the Altai Republic and a signalman during World War II.
Vasil Levski Monument
This is the only statue of the Apostle of Freedom in the city of Plovdiv.
As early as 1895, Hadzhi Gyoka Pavlov wanted to build a monument to Vasil Levski in Plovdiv with his own funds, but the city council rejected the idea. In 1934, the association of people from Karlovo in Plovdiv revived the idea and began fundraising through charity events with the aim of completing the monument by Levski’s centennial anniversary in July 1937. One of Bulgaria’s most renowned sculptors and a professor at the Academy of Arts at the time, Ivan Lazarov—a fellow townsman—was chosen to design the monument. By then, the hill had been turned into a beautiful European-style park, and this was the chosen location for the statue.
Professor Lazarov collected all known photographs of Levski, along with 30 photos of his relatives, and began working on an artistic interpretation that would embody Levski’s spiritual image. To highlight his youthful energy, the sculptor depicted Levski in a simple shirt with rolled-up sleeves.
However, the local sculptor Kiril Todorov expressed his desire—through the media—for the monument to be created using his own pre-made design, which delayed the project. Eventually, in 1942, the bust of the Apostle was mounted.
Monument to the Russian Liberators
Erected in 1881 on Bunardzhika Hill (Hill of the Liberators), this monument honors the Russian soldiers who died liberating Plovdiv from Ottoman rule. At that time, the first afforestation of the hill was also carried out. The design was by architect Vokar.
After 1888, it became tradition for March 3rd (Bulgaria's Liberation Day) celebrations to be held at the Monument of the Liberators. In the mid-1930s, at the proposal of Mayor Bozhidar Zdravkov, Bunardzhika Hill was officially renamed “Hill of the Liberators”.
In the 1960s, a pine gallery was created around the monument, planted by visiting astronauts, including Yuri Gagarin, Valentina Tereshkova, and others.
The “Godfather” Fountain of Bunardzhika Hill
The fountain, restored in 1934 by Mayor Bozhidar Zdravkov, is believed by many historians to date back to the Ottoman period in Plovdiv. Unfortunately, it is currently in a very poor state. It’s also assumed that in the same spot there may once have been a sanctuary to the Greek goddess Demeter, though no traces of it remain today.
The Roman Aqueducts
Dating from the 2nd–3rd century, these are the only preserved Roman aqueducts in the region. Water was collected from springs in the Rhodope Mountains and transported underground through clay pipes into the city. The two main water sources were located near today’s villages of Kuklen and Markovo.
From Komatevo toward Youth Hill, two parallel aqueducts ran along the slopes of Youth Hill, Bunardzhika Hill, and Sahat Tepe, sloping toward Taksim Tepe. There, the mountain water was collected and distributed to various parts of the city.
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