Lina Gergova and Yana Gergova
Papers of BAS, Humanities and Social Sciences
Vol. 4, No 1, 2017
ETHNOLOGY
CULTURAL HERITAGE ON FOREIGN TERRITORY: BULGARIAN MONUMENTS IN BUCHAREST AND ROME
Lina Gergova and Yana Gergova
Abstract: Many cities are connected with Bulgaria and Bulgarians in historical and political perspective – however, Rome and Bucharest certainly are among the most important. Italian and Romanian capitals host several monuments of persons who are in the heart of the national pantheon – the memory of poets, rebellions, politicians is built for generations in sculptures and plaques. These particular memorial places have a different life – usually they are not significant for the local people but are of high importance for the migrants and for the Bulgarian state and its representatives.
In the proposed article we aim to present diverse attitude towards these monuments from the point of view of local people and authorities, of Bulgarian migrants/minorities and of Bulgarian officials in the two cities. Our analysis is based on various materials collected in 2014-2016 and is trying to incorporate the perspective of cultural heritage abroad and in migration and the ideas of urban memorial spaces and connected public rituals as essential part of the nation-building.
Key words: Bulgarians in Bucharest, Bulgarians in Rome, commemorations, monuments, ceremonies, heritage, migrant communities