Bulgaria's Municipal Officials Settle in Mutro-Baroque Hotel

The hotel was confiscated in 2011 by the state authorities after the supreme court ruled that it has been acquired through criminal activity by rapper and pimp Vanko 1. File photo

A hotel, best known for its awkward, mutro-baroque replica of Rio de Janeiro's icon – Christ the Redeemer, overlooking Bulgaria's second-biggest city of Plovdiv, will accommodate state officials.

The statue of Christ the Redeemer with open arms, originally a symbol of peace, was erected on the seven-floor hotel in the center of the city, while owned by Bulgarian rapper and pimp Ivan Glavchev aka Vanko 1, in line with the lavish kitsch and garishness of the nouveau riche lifestyle.

The hotel however was confiscated in 2011 by the state authorities after the supreme court ruled that it has been acquired through criminal activity by Vanko 1, best known as the godfather of a scandalous provision for prostitution offenses.

The building, which was meant to be a hotel will now accommodate the local administration on the first two floors, while the caf? and swimming pool on the roof will be rented out.

It is still unclear whether the statue will be toppled.

Repair works will cost about BGN 0.5 M, estimates of the municipality show.

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