Tsar Alexander II Monument in Sofia Flies Off for Repair

The monument prepared to be hauled off Wednesday. Photo by the Bulgarian National Radio

The Monument of Russian Tsar Alexander II in front of Parliament in downtown Sofia was dismantled Wednesday to undergo restoration.

Known as the Monument to the Tsar Liberator, it was designed by Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi, and unveiled in 1907, since when it has been a landmark in Sofia.

It celebrates Alexander II, the Russian Tsar who led the 1877-78 war against the Ottoman Empire, which resulted in the liberation of Bulgaria.

The repair of the sculpture of the Tsar mounted on a horse is expected to be fininshed, and the whole monumnent to be in top shape for the 135th anniversary of the Liberation on March 3, 2013.

The restoration of the monument is estimated to cost some BGN 1.1 M, with funds granted by a Russian NGO.

The statue of the horseman had never been removed from its site. The legs of the horse will be replaced with new ones, as they have suffered cracks.

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