The National Gallery for Foreign Art is Sofia’s premier showcase of non-Bulgarian artworks, with a magnificent permanent exhibition of European, Asian and African art. Housed within the stately neoclassical building that once served as the Royal Printing Office, the National Gallery for Foreign Art has displayed exhibitions of its 10,000-strong collection since 1985.
Check out the gallery’s elegant neoclassical home, which features a grand central portico. Walk up the stairway and enter the airy building. You’ll find 19 different rooms exhibiting art from around the world, dating from antiquity to the present day. See the rooms dedicated to Indian art, which feature ancient Hindu sculptures and 16th-century sculptures of Christian saints that were crafted in Goa. The Japanese gallery has a collection of precious woodblock prints. See intriguing items from the African cultures of Benin and Ghana, including Dogon masks and statues.
Explore a gallery dedicated to Southeast Asian Buddhist art, which contains a rich collection of artworks dating back as far as the 11th century. Spare some time to see the European art collection, which spans the 15th to the 20th century. You’ll see Renaissance artworks, as well as paintings from the Dutch Golden Age. The gallery also features French and Flemish works. Check out paintings and sculptures by 19th and 20th century masters, including Pablo Picasso, Auguste Rodin, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró. You can see a collection of Paris-themed artworks and a collection of modern Spanish art.
Find out what’s showing at the gallery’s Nova Hall, which is a dedicated space for temporary exhibitions.
The National Gallery for Foreign Art is located in the heart of historic Sofia, overlooking Alexander Nevsky Square. It is easily accessible via trolleybus and subway to the Sofia University station. Half-price admission is available for students and seniors, and offers free admission on the last Monday of each month. The gallery is open every day except Tuesdays. Nearby, you’ll find the Cathedral of St. Alexander Nevsky and Sveta Sofia Church.
