With a procession, a concert-performance and a 3D mapping show, the restored bridge of Kolyu Ficheto near the town of Byala and the newly built "Usta Kolyu Ficheto" Expo Center, BTA reported.
The beginning of the conservation and restoration of the bridge was set last year. The activities were carried out under a European project with a total value of BGN 9.5 million, financed under the "Regions in Growth" operational program. 2014-2020 year.
"The idea or the way we started doing it is from 2017. We went through vicissitudes like a world epidemic, like a war in Europe. Everything was affected in one way or another," said the mayor of Byala, Dimitar Slavov.
A two-story expo center with a modern architectural design was also built under the project. It has a restaurant, a museum telling about the life of Kolio Ficheto and the Belen region, service premises, a projection hall, an interactive experience "Time Machine", with which visitors can go back years to trace the beginning of construction on the bridge, souvenir shop. There is also an attractive 3D-mapping show.
Slavov added that the bridge was practically saved with this project. "What a miserable state he was in. 16 years ago, after the tragedy in Byala, the bridge had to take over light traffic. They broke some guardrails two meters away. This has dramatically worsened the condition of the bridge over the past seven to eight years. If this repair had not been done, in the next big flood, all the specialists who examined the bridge were adamant that it would not last", Slavov also said.
He reported that the renovation works have brought back the luster of the facility, which carries a lot of history.
"Now he has become so strong, strengthened. This helped restore power to the bridge. It was known as the first straight-span bridge outside of Constantinople on the Balkan Peninsula. In its full glory - 276 by 9.30 meters. As I walk now and imagine how Midhat Pasha's batteries went, how freedom with the Russian troops came, I also think of Volov. There is a lot of history here," the mayor of Byala also said.
The celebratory concert-performance "The Belen bridge of Kolyu Ficheto connects times and people" with director and screenwriter Boris Radev started at 20:30 with the anthems of the Republic of Bulgaria and Europe. Iconic revival songs, church chants and arias from historical opera titles were recreated by the orchestra, choirs and soloists of the Ruse Opera under the baton of Dimitar Kosev.
The dance ensemble "Vakali" also participated in the program. Nearly 300 pipers, dancers, athletes and amateurs took part in a procession along the restored bridge. They were dressed in folk costumes, formal and sports clothes.
The host of the event was Adelina Radeva.
The performance ended with a 3D mapping projection on the Colju Ficheto bridge.
Today the singer Dara will give a concert at 8:30 p.m. in the city, and during the day there will be a meeting with the legend of Bulgarian football Hristo Stoichkov at the Expocenter.