Plovdiv’s Old Town is a veritable museum in the open spread on three hills. One by one you will discover traditional houses and masterly decorated churches from the 18th and the 19th century. From the cobbled streets you can have a glimpse into the flower gardens of the houses, hidden behind high walls. Along some of the walls you may encounter small wooden dwellings looking at the life outside.
The traditional houses in Old Plovdiv are different. The Bayatova and Bakalova houses are smaller. Their upper storeys are so close to one another that they seem to form a gateway to Nebet Tepe hill – the location of the first settlers in Plovdiv. Gradually, with the growth of the town, the buildings became larger and more luxurious. The houses of the rich merchants like Kuyumdjioglu, Hyndlian, Georgiadi, Nedkovich are symmetrical, with wonderful gardens for relaxation.
Plovdiv’s houses are skillfully engraved in the landscape of the hills, with respect to the treasures inherited from past ages – fortification walls and churches. The houses are also impressive with their interior. Wonderful wooden forms adorn the ceilings, handrails and doors and the walls are covered with colourful scenes from all over the world.
One can also see remarkable murals and woodcarvings in the churches of Old Plovdiv – St. Marina, St. Constantine and St. Helena, St. Nedelya.