Nica chose Plovdiv to submit its candidacy for UNESCO

French experts on the conservation of cultural heritage draw experience from archaeologists and restorers who worked on the discovery of the Philippine Basilica of Philippopolis Nica or the Invention of Tourism. This is the title of the exhibition of the French Institute in our country, open in the center of Plovdiv. It is located near the excavations of the Forum of Philippopolis. From the photo and information panel, guests from Plovdiv can get acquainted with the candidacy of the French city for entering the World Heritage List. The French want to impress UNESCO with the rich cultural and architectural history of the old and new Nice. The main focus is the development of the city and tourism in the 18th century. There are many iconic buildings involved in the project.

Nica is now included in the UNESCO Indicative List of Significant Cultural and Natural Objects. The so-called “Nomination file”. At the same stage is Plovdiv. The city is applying for us with the Episcopal basilica and the Roman mosaic heritage of Philippopolis. Expectations are that the impressive mosaics will officially fall under UNESCO protection in 2020 and be declared a world cultural heritage.

French specialists participating in the Nica nomination had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the Great and Little Basilicas of Plovdiv. Leading experts in the field of preservation of immovable cultural monuments are very impressed with the work that Plovdiv restorers and archaeologists have managed to do. The Episcopal Basilica is extremely well preserved.

The most reliable data for its original four-century architecture has been extracted. The most valuable treasures are the well-preserved mosaics - over 2,000 square meters of terrain. Another 800 square meters have been dismantled and restored. They are to be exhibited in the upper layer of the Great Basilica - in a facility that will be specially constructed.

The historical jewel is located in the center of Plovdiv and is among the best preserved monuments of culture on the Bulgarian lands of 17 centuries ago. The Episcopal Basilica was one of the largest buildings in the Byzantine Empire. During road repairs in the 1980s, Plovdiv builders encountered the unique archaeological site. To date he has fully explored.

French and Bulgarian experts have already held several workshops to draw experience from each other. According to Nice’s cultural experts, it is important that from now on, Plovdiv will present the Grand Episcopal Basilica to Bulgarian and foreign tourists. Former French Senator Iv Doz is among the foreign specialists who, at the invitation of the Ministry of Culture in Bulgaria, help to develop current changes in the Bulgarian legislation. The aim is for the new measures to show real actions and solutions for the preservation of the country’s immovable cultural values.