"Bulgaria in Miniature" - A Window to Bulgarian Cultural and Historical

By: Svetlana Dicheva, Bulgarian National Radio

Sometimes it is not necessary to travel thousands of kilometers to become well acquainted with a country and its landmarks. On the contrary - historical buildings can travel if they are ...scale models. "Bulgaria in Miniature" is a traveling exhibition of 15 scale models of the most revered and famous places in the country which offers an enjoyable journey through the centuries - from the Thracian Tomb in Kazanlak to the Rila Monastery via the glorious Turnovgrad; from the Antique Roman Amphitheatre in Plovdiv to the St Alexander Nevsky Memorial Cathedral in Sofia. The founders of the idea call it "A Window to Bulgarian Cultural and Historical Heritage". The models are 3-D (three-dimensional) miniatures displayed by a special designer plan. They are equipped with hidden loudspeakers and artistic lighting. Each model has its own miniature "people" to enhance the lifelike effect. A computer system decides when and for how long it takes a model to "come to life" through light and sound. The miniature exhibition has visited many towns and will continue its tour about the country. Recently it has been displayed at the Ministry of Culture in Sofia. Why it should continue to move from place to place - an interview of Svetlana Dicheva from the Bulgarian National Radio with the theatre director Sani Saninski: