site.btaRestoration of Sofia's Largo Excavations Temporarily Suspended

Restoration of Sofia's Largo Excavations Temporarily Suspended

Sofia, October 13 (BTA) - Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov
ordered on Tuesday the temporary suspension of conservation and
restoration works on the archaeological excavations in central
Sofia's Largo, said Rashidov's Ministry on Tuesday.

The so called open museum consists of Roman-era remains
uncovered during excavations for Sofia's underground in the
Largo, which is the area between the presidency and the
government headquarters.

Rashidov is gathering a working group of experts, who will
conduct an analysis on the restoration works, which are part of
the Serdica Ancient Cultural and Communication Complex Project,
the press release said.

Rashidov has resorted to such action following alerts from
citizens, who believe that the restoration works do not
correspond with the archaeological finds' original looks.

The project for the Largo is implemented in three stages for a
total of 16 million euro under OP Regional Development. The
first stage started back in 2012, during Rashidov's first term
as culture minister. Work was suspended in 2013-2014, when Peter
 Stoyanovich served as culture minister under Plamen
Oresharski's cabinet, after a series of complaints were
submitted which blocked the project's application for EU
funding. The excavations were flooded during that time and Sofia
 Municipality had to wrap the ruins in plastic in order to
preserve them.

The project entered its next stage in April of this year, which
includes setting up two archaeological levels with an area of
8,000 square metres, which are to serve as a complex for
conducting cultural, educational and amusement events in a
restored and authentic archaeological environment.