If you wish to experience Varna beyond the beach and the sound of the waves, take a walk along its streets and parks. Here, art is not behind closed doors, it awaits you outside, among the buildings, along pedestrian promenades, and by the sea.
The starting point is easy to find - the Tourist Information Centre at St. St. Cyril and Methodius square. From here the route naturally follows "Knyaz Boris I" Blvd., where the city pulses with its own rhythm. After just a few steps, you will notice the first sculptures - silent witnesses of everyday life, which tourists are happy to photograph and take home as lasting memories.
One of the first highlights is the bronze statue of the prominent Varna architect Dabko Dabkov. The sculpture is located on "Knyaz Boris I" Blvd., just a few metres away from "Nezavisimost Square.
Architect Dabkov designed some of Varna's most beautiful buildings, examples of the Baroque and Secession. His work includes over 350 buildings decorated with sculptures by Kirill Shivarov. He designed iconic buildings like the Aquarium, the Macedonian Home, the Turkish Bath.
At the little square with the dry fountains, on the way to the sea, you are welcomed by The Fisherman and the Gold Fish. This fairytale-like sculpture by Varna sculptor Venelin Bozhidarov seems to remind visitors that the sea is always close here and that dreams are within reach. It is no coincidence that this is one of the favourite photo spots for both residents and guests of the city.
Continuing along the boulevard, you will reach the lively Sevastopol Square. Among people hurrying, meeting, and walking, you will notice the figure of a young woman - the sculpture The Walk. Sculptor Veselin Kostadinov captures precisely this moment of movement and anticipation, that makes the street so vibrant and memorable.
Before turning along the pedestrian street towards the Sea Garden, you will find yourself at Svyat square - one of Varna’s newest attractions. Known to locals as "Sevastopol", over the years this space has become an iconic meeting point. Dozens of metal plaques bearing the names of world capitals adorn the modernised square. The plaques embedded in the pavement indicate the direction and distance of each capital in relation to Varna, in a square shaped like a circle. The idea of the signs is to attract pedestrians to the heart of Varna in a pleasant way, delicately educating the more curious ones. In the center the city's coat of arms is depicted, and on each plaque the name of the respective world capital is inscribed in two languages.
A few steps further, the path leads you to the Sea Garden. There, near the Cherno more Hotel, the bronze Dolphins in love seem to come to life in their dance. Ventsislav Markov's sculpture brings a sense of joy and freedom that only the sea can give.
At the entrance to the Sea Garden, north of the Sea Casino, The Fountain with the Sirens awaits you - one of the most romantic spots in Varna. Amid the noise of the water and the greenery around, the mythical figures of sirens and children tell a tale about the sea, created by the sculptor Kirill Shivarov back in the 1920s. In the evening, the fountain comes alive with colorful lights and transforms the place into a real scene for memories.
From here, the walk naturally takes you down the seaside promenade and before you stands the imposing sculpture of the Dragons in Love, which is located at the entrance to the Primorski swimming complex. It's an imposing sculpture of a pair of dragons handing each other an egg. The statue itself is located on a fountain from which any passerby can drink or fill up. The dragons attract many tourists, especially since it is also included in the American ranking of unique sculptures.
The sea is still magnificently unfolds before you, the seagulls are circling over the waves, and in the distance the breakwater appears. There, at the boundary between land and sea, stands the sculpture "Expectation". Andrei Lekarski's work brings silence and depth - that moment when one simply stares at the horizon and listens to the sea.
Nearby, on the pedestal of the St. Nicholas Lighthouse, your attention is drawn to the large mosaic of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker - the patron saint of sailors. It seems like it watche over the port and all those who go and return by sea.
This walk requires no map, no hurry. All it takes is time and desire to look around. Varna's sculptures don't just decorate the city, they tell stories. And if you follow them, you will find Varna as she is remembered and loved by those who always return.
