THE ETNOGRAPHY AND RENAISSANCE COMPLEX ST. SOFRONII VRACHANSKI
The Sophronius of Vratsa Ethnographic and Revival Complex comprises five buildings with the latest expositions of the Museum of History. They trace the condition, diversity and development of the traditional material and spiritual culture of the people of Vratsa from mid-19th to early 20th century when that culture was in its authentic element and European influence was not strong yet.
The main exposition of the complex is housed in the Revival school Ascension. It traces popular culture in Vratsa district, its ethnic characteristics, the spirit of the epoch and the most typical livelihood in Vratsa the domestic occupations and the cultural and milieu traditions. A new approach has been taken to the arrangement and exposition of the ethnographic material.
Following history chronologically the first storey of the building traces traditional rural culture in its syncretic entirety and dependence on geographic and natural factors, mutual determination and interrelation. The ethnographic processes and phenomena are given a many-faceted treatment on the basis of the four seasons and the traditional calendar associated with them through original exhibits, archive photos, folkloric reverberations and excerpts from the travel books of Bulgarian and foreign travellers.
The second storey of the building is given to the subject Diko Iliev and Brass Music in Northwest Bulgaria. Personal belongings of the original musician, composer and music master, photos and documents and original audio reveal the great musician’s life work. Urban culture is presented schematically without a claim to tell everything, about the subject. Stress is laid on the latest tendencies in its development under the impact of European ways in culture, fashions and urban interior.
