Central Sofia Market Hall

While strolling down Maria Louisa Boulevard a person might notice an impressive Neo-Classical building with a small clock tower just above the central entrance. This is the building of the Central Sofia Market Hall, which was built and opened for business in 1911. Sofia’s mosque Banyabaşı (BanyaBashi), the museum of Sofia, which is housed in the old mineral bath, the mineral spring and the archeological excavation site near Serdika metro station are in close proximity to the Market Hall, as the local citizens have nicknamed the building.

From its grand opening in 1911 the Central Market Hall has always been a significant trade center. Today it has roughly 1000 employees working on its three stories. One can say that this was Sofia’s first mall, as the Central Market Hall offers goods such as jewelry, clothing, trinkets, household items, fast food stalls and many other items.

The building design is regarded as architect Naum Tarbov’s greatest work. The style, in which he worked, is Neo-Renaissance, featuring also elements of Neo-Byzantine and Neo-Baroque architecture. 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.