Central Sofia Market Hall
Encyclopedia
The Central Sofia Market Hall , known popularly simply as The Market Hall (Халите, Halite) is a covered market in the centre of Sofia
, the capital of Bulgaria
, located on Marie Louise Boulevard
. It was opened in 1911 and is today an important trade centre in the city.
was selected in 1907, and took two years to complete.
Until the late 1940s the Sofia municipality let out about 170 shops and stalls in the Central Sofia Market Hall. The rents and the product quality were strictly regulated. The market hall building's interior was significantly altered after the 1950s and the market was closed in 1988 in order to be reconstructed, modernized and once again opened for Easter in 2000, after 75% of it was acquired by the Israel
i company Ashtrom, who invested $
7 million in it.
Today the Central Sofia Market Hall employs over 1,000 people, has three storeys, and offers foodstuff stalls and shops, clothing, accessories and jewellery shops, fast food stalls, etc.
, featuring also elements of Neo-Byzantine architecture
and Neo-Baroque. The façade
is known for its relief of the coat of arms of Sofia
above the main entrance created by the artist Haralampi Tachev. The famous little clock tower with three dials tops the edifice. The building was originally constructed with four entrances, though not all are used today.
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, the capital of Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
, located on Marie Louise Boulevard
Marie Louise Boulevard
Marie Louise Boulevard , shortly called Marie Louise is a central boulevard in Sofia. It lies between Central Railway Station and the Vitosha Boulevard which is its continuation in direction to the National Palace of Culture. The boulevard passes through one the city's most emblematic bridges,...
. It was opened in 1911 and is today an important trade centre in the city.
History
The construction of the building, which spreads over 3,200 m², began in 1909 after the design of architect Naum TorbovNaum Torbov
-Biography:Torbov was born on 18 November 1880 in Gopesh village near Bitola in the Ottoman region of Macedonia. His family emigrated to the Principality of Bulgaria and settled in the town of Oryahovo. Naum enrolled in architecture at the National University of Arts in Bucharest, Romania, and he...
was selected in 1907, and took two years to complete.
Until the late 1940s the Sofia municipality let out about 170 shops and stalls in the Central Sofia Market Hall. The rents and the product quality were strictly regulated. The market hall building's interior was significantly altered after the 1950s and the market was closed in 1988 in order to be reconstructed, modernized and once again opened for Easter in 2000, after 75% of it was acquired by the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i company Ashtrom, who invested $
Dollar
The dollar is the name of the official currency of many countries, including Australia, Belize, Canada, Ecuador, El Salvador, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and the United States.-Etymology:...
7 million in it.
Today the Central Sofia Market Hall employs over 1,000 people, has three storeys, and offers foodstuff stalls and shops, clothing, accessories and jewellery shops, fast food stalls, etc.
Architecture
The style of the building, which is regarded as Torbov's best work, is Neo-RenaissanceNeo-Renaissance
Renaissance Revival is an all-encompassing designation that covers many 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
, featuring also elements of Neo-Byzantine architecture
Neo-Byzantine architecture
The Byzantine Revival was an architectural revival movement, most frequently seen in religious, institutional and public buildings. It emerged in 1840s in Western Europe and peaked in the last quarter of 19th century in the Russian Empire; an isolated Neo-Byzantine school was active in Yugoslavia...
and Neo-Baroque. The façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
is known for its relief of the coat of arms of Sofia
Coat of arms of Sofia
The coat of arms of Sofia consists of a shield divided into four. The image of the Church of St Sophia which gave the name to the city takes up the upper left field and a humanized picture of the ancient town of Serdica taken from an antique coin is located to the right The coat of arms of Sofia...
above the main entrance created by the artist Haralampi Tachev. The famous little clock tower with three dials tops the edifice. The building was originally constructed with four entrances, though not all are used today.