Petko Slaveykov Square

At present, the inhabitants of Sofia relate the square mostly to its many years of operation as book square, even though it existed since the beginning of the XVI century, when the city was under Ottoman Rule, and the neighbourhood was inhabited mainly by Turks. The big Coffee-shop “Bashi” was located there; it used to gather at one place all the important people in town. Until the end of the XIX century, in addition to it, a mosque, police headquarters and the house of the Turkish gentleman Sabri bey were located there. There was a fountain and a spring in the middle. After the Liberation in 1878, the coffee-shop was destroyed, the square was modernized, its Turkish appearance was eliminated. Instead of the mosque, the city printing house was located there, new two-storey houses with gardens were built. One of them, abundant on windows, a balcony and a yard, was bought by Petko Slaveykov – an educator, politician, public figure, poet, writer, journalist. Until the end of his life he used to live there with his bog family. In his honour, in the beginning of the ХХ century, the square was named after him.
At konak’s place, where “Solunska” Street and “Graf Ignatiev” Street cross today, Teachers’ mutual assistance fund was constructed (something like banking institution for loans). The building is still present, and its middle part used to host the Ministry of public buildings, roads and public works, which is today the Capital library. At the corner with the small street “Dyakon Ignatiy”, the first postal station was placed, the first public telephone became operational there.  
Gradually, the detached houses grew into multi-storey buildings with shops at the ground floor. The old dyukyans, Penchev’s pharmacy, bay Angeliko’s butchery, and all the rest were replaced by new shops, sweetshops and catering places. At around 1925 at 3, “Slaveykov” Square the building of foundation “Alliance François” was constructed – turned into a cultural gathering point. 
During the Second World War, Sofia was subjected to bombarding. Many of its buildings were fully destroyed. After the war came to an end, the neighbourhood was renovated, many new buildings were constructed, others changed their designation. Even from the 30-ies until the 70-ies there was a taxi stand parallel to “Graf Ignatiev” Str., and the shoe-polishers used to sit and service their clients. Two cinema theatres were built too. In 1998 in close proximity to their old home, while naturally seated at a bench, the bronze sculptures of both Slaveykovs – father and son Petko and Pencho – were placed (a poet, director of the National library and the National theatre). They are dressed in their typical clothes and seem to be talking with each other. The statue turned into one of the most favoured sights at the square. The citizens of the capital and its guests do not miss sitting next to them and having a photo taken with them. In recent years, the old fountain was restored, new modern pergolas were constructed, where soon the stands for new and antique books would be placed, since they are decommissioned at present, and the square would echo with the voices and chants of book traders, buyers and connoisseurs.