The Levski Monument, Sofia

The Monument to Vasil Levski, situated in the heart of Sofia, stands as one of the earliest structures erected in the newly liberated Principality of Bulgaria. Its purpose is to commemorate the execution of Vasil Levski, a revered Bulgarian national hero and a prominent figure in the struggle for revolution, which took place at this very location on February 18, 1873.

This monument, standing at a height of 13 meters, is crafted from grey Balkan granite and was designed by the Czech architect Antonín Kolář. The bronze bas-relief portraying the likeness of Levski, an integral part of the monument, was fashioned by Josef Strachovský (or, as some sources suggest, the Austrian sculptor Rudolf Weyr). The stonecutting work, on the other hand, was carried out by the Italian artist Abramo Peruchelli.

Although the monument was officially unveiled on October 22, 1895, its planning and construction efforts began shortly after Bulgaria's liberation in 1878. This prolonged timeline was due to persistent issues like financial constraints and negligence, spanning a staggering 17 years. This protracted construction process sparked considerable discontent among the intellectual circles of Bulgaria during that era. In fact, the poet Konstantin Velichkov went so far as to criticize this lackadaisical approach in an 1881 poem.

The initial concept for the monument depicted a prominent Christian cross atop a crescent, but this design was ultimately rejected on the grounds of religious intolerance and its incompatibility with Levski's principles of equality and tolerance.