The National Gallery for Foreign Art is one of my favourite museums in Sofia. I think that it is one of the worthiest things left from the old communist regime. What I like about this gallery is the diversity of the exhibitions. You can see almost everything form ancient to contemporary art from all over the world - Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America. Most of the items in the gallery are donated. When was a child I spend there many hours making scaches. The favourite hall was the Traditional Indian Art. There is another one for Christian Indian Art but I didn’t like it that much. Here is a list of the other halls I liked: - Buddhist Art - Japanese Art – you can see many lithographies there, including the Wave. - African Art There is also a great collection of graphics and impressionist paintings. Here is an extract from the web-site quoted below: The National Gallery for Foreign Art was opened to the public on 5 November1985 as an Art Gallery to the first International Foundation in Bulgaria, called now “St. St. Cyril and Methodius”. It’s establishment marks a decade of hard work on the organisation and the collection. To the art-works of this new Gallery were also added those from the Foreign Art Collection of the National Art Gallery, the generous donations of private collectors as well as the “1300 Years Bulgarian State Fund”. The silhouette of the building was designed by the Austrian architect Shwanberger. It used to be the State Printing House. Partially destroyed during the Second World War, and restored with the project of the Bulgarian architect Nicola Nicolov. The most valuable art-works are displayed on 4000 sq. m. exhibition area spreading over three floors and eighteen halls, and submerging the visitor into the artistic atmosphere of a variety of cultures, countries and ages. Opening Hours: 11:00 - 18:00 Closed on Tuesday Duration: If you truly admire art, one day probably will not be enough.
The Archelogical Museum (Arheologicheski musei)