Lost in Plovdiv

We begin the first days of the new year with a traditional breakdown of the texts most favored by our readers. While some articles consistently remain relevant and serve as an indispensable guide for every Plovdiv resident or visitor to the city of the hills (e.g., "Best Restaurants", "Parking in Plovdiv", "Taxis in Plovdiv"), today we focus on everything that excited us over the past year.

In 2024, the tenth spot takes us back to the question: Where did Plovdiv residents go for picnics in the past?

Picnics used to be an incredibly popular way to celebrate and unwind, with almost every major occasion marked in this way—surrounded by family and friends. The article reveals the most popular picnic spots of the past and lets you see for yourself how much these places have changed today.

The ninth spot is dedicated to the old Plovdiv neighborhood of Sinjirli Bunar.

It started at the middle of “Mitropolit Panaret” Street, passed through today’s “Alexander Malinov” Square, and extended to Kosta Karaachliya’s tavern. The neighborhood is said to have taken its name from a well with a thick chain ("sinjir") to which a hook for drawing water was attached. Discover in the article how it looked at the time and what significant features it held.

Next comes 10 Interesting Facts About the Trakia District You Didn’t Know.

The neighborhood emerged as a result of urbanization and industrialization during the socialist era, aimed at addressing the severe housing crisis in Bulgaria’s rapidly growing second-largest city. The article also reveals details like the first newborn baby in Trakia and when it became an independent administrative district.

Seventh place takes us back in time with More Places We Remember by Their Old Names.

Previously, the team behind the only bilingual digital guide for Plovdiv published an article about five locations that native Plovdiv folk still refer to by their old names, often confusing younger generations or newcomers. After its release, readers flooded us with suggestions, which we compiled into a new article.

It’s no surprise that The Cheapest Lunch Spot in Plovdiv’s City Center sparked so much interest, earning it a well-deserved sixth spot.

At the midpoint of the ranking, we revisit the question: Where is the "Garden City" neighborhood in Plovdiv?

Located near today’s VSU intersection — between “Iztochen”, “Hristo Botev”, and “Saint Petersburg” boulevards — it’s more precisely nestled between “Mihail Takev” and “Trudovak” Streets. At the time, this area was part of the “Lauta” neighborhood.

The scale in Plovdiv may be smaller, but the concept is the same—entirely in the spirit of German housing complexes. A series of row houses, six in total, were planned, some of them two-story, others one-story. These so-called “block houses” were built in 1943.

The fourth spot reveals which are the old neighborhoods of Plovdiv. In his book Plovdiv Chronicles, Nikola Alvadzhiev writes that according to the first city plan, crafted by engineer Josef Schnitter in 1892, there were 32 squares, 399 streets, and about 40 neighborhoods. How many of them do you recognize?

The bronze medal goes to our exploration of an abandoned Plovdiv palace. This building is a true architectural gem from the late 19th century and was already in existence by 1892. By 1919, it was owned by Bohor Peretz, who lived outside Plovdiv and authorized his brother to rent or sell the property. In an article dedicated to the Italian Edmondo Vaccaro, who lived in Plovdiv from 1879 to 1926, Vladimir Balchev recounts how Vaccaro rented the grand house in 1919 for his family of seven children, his wife, and three servants. The home was adorned with luxurious furniture, original paintings, Japanese porcelain panels, and various statues. What remains of this splendor today can be seen in the article’s photos.

The second place goes to the 2024 summer program at the Ancient Theatre of Plovdiv, a favorite among locals and visitors alike. From May to September, the city’s most impressive open-air venue hosted thrilling events that brought countless emotions to the audience.

The top spot for 2024 is deservedly claimed by the vibrant Plovdiv Slang Dictionary. The first article about Plovdiv slang, published in the bilingual digital guide, was read and shared thousands of times. In the comments and social media posts, readers provided even more words and phrases, which we compiled into a new article. These expressions, often heard in casual conversations on the streets, in cafes, stadiums, and neighborhoods, are deeply rooted in local culture. Some might be used elsewhere, but many are uniquely understood by native Plovdiv folk. And no, we’re not just talking about "maina", "ailyak" and "harabiya". Drawing from years of work by Alexander Kondodimo, the article incorporates words and phrases from his extensive dictionary of Plovdiv slang.