1. Bulgaria, Sofia: Battenberg Square 19th c

Nineteenth century presents a radical change in the development of Sofia as the capital of Bulgaria. Up until 1878, Bulgaria had been under the rule of the Ottoman empire for five centuries, which suppressed any concept of traditional self. Naturally, the Liberation brought with it a cultural revolution expressed through strive for national identity. As borders opened to the West, Bulgarians expanded their horizons both physically by travelling abroad and intellectually by getting involved in global discussions 1. Events and approaches in the rest of Europe such as the Haussmannization of Paris, the subject of the flaneur and the discussions on progress by Viollet le Duc greatly influenced local thought about physical and social space. Sofia’s design became a metaphor for the break with the oppressive regime and the establishment of a progressive environment for the nourishment of Bulgarian spirit. The Tsar’s square, formed at the heart of the city, embodied the processes of reimagination and westernization of the urban scene. Tracing its functions as a space of symbolic meaning, elite style, leisure, circulation and merchandise, one can construct an understanding of Bulgarian national identity during that time.