Central Sofia Market Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Central Sofia Market Hall |
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Централни софийски хали
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View from the northeast
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| General information | |
| Type | Market |
| Architectural style | Byzantine Revival |
| Address | 25 Maria Luisa Blvd. |
| Town or city | Sofia |
| Country | Bulgaria |
| Coordinates | 42°42′0″N 23°19′18″E / 42.70000°N 23.32167°E |
| Opened | 1911 |
| Owner | Ashtrom AD |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 3 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Naum Torbov |
The Central Sofia Market Hall (in Bulgarian: Централни софийски хали), often called The Market Hall (Халите, Halite), is a large covered market. It is located in the very center of Sofia, the capital city of Bulgaria. You can find it on Marie Louise Boulevard. This important building first opened its doors in 1911. Today, it is still a very busy place for shopping and trade in the city.
A Look Back: The Market Hall's History
Building the Central Sofia Market Hall was a big project. Construction started in 1909. It took two years to finish this large building, which covers an area of 3,200 square meters. The design for the market was chosen in 1907. It was created by a talented architect named Naum Torbov.
For many years, until the late 1940s, the city of Sofia managed the market. They rented out about 170 shops and stalls inside. The city made sure that the rents were fair. They also checked that the products sold were of good quality.
After the 1950s, the inside of the market building changed a lot. In 1988, the market closed for a big renovation. It was modernized and reopened for Easter in the year 2000. An Israeli company called Ashtrom bought most of the market. They invested $7 million to make it new again.
Today, the Central Sofia Market Hall is a busy place. It provides jobs for over 1,000 people. The market has three floors. You can find many different things there, such as:
- Food stalls and shops
- Clothing stores
- Shops selling accessories and jewelry
- Fast food places
Exploring the Market Hall's Architecture
The design of the Central Market Hall is very special. Many people think it is the best work by architect Naum Torbov. Its style is called Neo-Renaissance. This means it looks like buildings from the Renaissance period. It also has parts that look like Neo-Byzantine architecture and Neo-Baroque styles.
One famous part of the building is above the main entrance. It is a detailed carving called a relief. This relief shows the coat of arms of Sofia, which is the city's official symbol. An artist named Haralampi Tachev created it.
At the very top of the building, there is a famous small clock tower. It has three clock faces, so you can see the time from different directions. The building originally had four entrances. However, not all of them are used today.
Gallery
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Front view
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Detail of the clock tower
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View of the Market Hall in 1912
