The Plovdiv Municipal Council voted on Thursday to request the transfer of management authority for the Episcopal Basilica of Philippopolis from the Culture Ministry. Currently, the basilica operates under a co-ownership structure, with the Plovdiv Municipality holding a 55.8% stake and the State owning the remaining 44.2%. The Municipal Council stated that assuming direct management will enable the municipality to enhance its efforts to protect, maintain, and conduct activities related to preserving the site’s significant immovable cultural value.
Furthermore, the council noted that this change would facilitate the implementation of various scientific, cultural, educational, and tourist initiatives. According to the council’s decision, the municipality possesses a defined strategy for the protection, preservation, exhibition, and promotion of the site’s rich cultural and historical heritage. The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis is recognized as a monument of considerable historical, artistic, and scientific importance.
It is listed on the UNESCO Tentative List for Cultural and Natural Heritage as part of the serial property titled “Bishop’s Basilica and Late-Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace.” This proposed management shift underscores the local government’s commitment to the continued stewardship of the prominent municipal asset.
Topics: #municipal #council #basilica
