Tzar Osvoboditel (Liberator) Monument

Overview

The monument to the Tsar Liberator also called the Monument to the Liberators, is among the most impressive in Sofia. It was erected in 1907 to commemorate the Liberation of Bulgaria (1878), as an expression of the gratitude of the Bulgarian people to the Russian people and the Russian Emperor Alexander II and as a symbol of Bulgarian freedom. It is located on the capital's Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard on the National Assembly Square, facing the National Assembly building. 

The monument is one of the great achievements of the famous Florentine sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi. The Italian won the competition for a project announced in the late 19th century among nearly 90 sculptors from 15 countries. The monument was completely renovated in 2013.

The monument is a 4.5-meter figure of Alexander II on horseback, made of bronze, placed on a pedestal of black polished granite. It stands 12 metres in height. A ring high relief of bronze, encircling the middle part of the pedestal, depicts the goddess of victory Nike, leading the people into battle. The relief depicts the faces of over 30 military leaders, statesmen, and public figures.

Three smaller bronze reliefs depict key events such as the Battle of Stara Zagora, the signing of the San Stefano Peace Treaty, and the convening of the Constituent Assembly. The front of the monument is crowned with a bronze laurel wreath, a gift from the Romanian King Carol I to honour the memory of the fallen Romanian soldiers.

An inscription reads: "To the Tsar Liberator // Grateful Bulgaria".