Monument to Kolyu Ficheto-Dryanovo

Overview

Nikola Ivanov Fichev, known as Kolyu Ficheto and called Ustà Kolyu Ficheto (in Turkish "mouth" from the Arabic "ustaz" - master, teacher, professor), is a Bulgarian Revival builder, architect and sculptor. He was born in the town of Dryanovo in 1800. He was orphaned without a father at the age of 3, only 10 years old he started learning a trade with the Tryavna master carpenters. At the age of 17 he studied with masters from the West Bulgarian construction school in the town of Korcha how the stone was cut, and then he mastered the construction of churches, bell towers and bridges by the masters from Bratsigovo. Still young, 23 years old, he is already a journeyman, and at the age of 36 he is generally recognized as a master by the entire carpentry guild. He knew Turkish very well, he spoke Greek and Romanian well. He died in 1881 in Tarnovo. His grave is located there today. The sea cape Kolyu Ficheto in Antarctica is named after Nikola Fichev. The monument to Kolyu Ficheto is located in the town of Dryanovo.