bg Varna

Former Sofia Bank

- Preslav Street 24 -
The administrative building was built in 1922, on the site of the Grand Hotel Sofia, by a project of the Bulgarian architect . The sculptures are the work of the Bulgarian sculptor . It was commissioned by the entrepreneurial Ilchevi brothers, which were shareholders and representatives of the Sofia Bank.

The building was in use as the Sofia Bank only for a short period of time and then became the famous Sofia Palace Hotel. After 1944 the building was nationalized and used as the State Savings Bank and after the 1992 restitution, the ownership changed again.
An archived drawing of the building created in 1922
On top of the Neo-Classical building, you can see a sculptural composition of the ancient Greek god of merchants and bankers, , riding an eagle, as well as the construction year 1922. On either side of this sculptural composition, you can see a stone balustrade that's adorned with . A strip of was placed underneath the roof , as well as underneath the protruded part above the windows on the third floor. Above the circle top window on the third floor, you can see a , while above the other windows you'll see an ornament that looks like an eye. The fragments underneath the windows on the third and second floor are adorned with geometric forms. The windows are flanked by that contain an Ionic . Around the main entrance door, you can see a beautifully detailed motif, as well as a huge decorative shell.
An old photo from 1980 showing the building