The Minister of Tourism awarded a plaquette and a diploma to Apollonia Foundation for its overall contribution to the development of the cultural tourism

Tourism Minister Ilin Dimitrov participated in the official opening of the 38th edition of the Apollonia Arts Festival in Sozopol, which was launched with a festive ceremony on Sunday evening, August 28. In his speech, he emphasized that every year Apollonia adds a unique charm to the passing summer and turns Sozopol into a cultural seaside capital for ten days.

“Sozopol, Apollonia Amphitheatre”, Archaeological Museum, Otets Paisii Community Cultural Centre, Art Gallery, Summer Cinema… even as we list the locations where the events will take place in the coming days, we realize that we are talking not only about contemporary art, but also about the rich layers of time, saturated with centuries of history and culture.

He further added that if we look back at the last decades, it is not by chance, but to a large extent thanks to the Apollonia art festivals, Sozopol has been a favourite place for generations of musicians, poets and writers, artists, bohemians and guests from all over Bulgaria and different parts of the world.

According to him, all this happens in the unique atmosphere of the architectural and archaeological reserve, around which the sea stretches with friendly sandy beaches and picturesque rocky shores, in “Ancient Sozopol” – one of the oldest Bulgarian towns, heir of the Greek colony of Apollonia.

Minister Dimitrov expressed his gratitude to the hosts and the organizers of the festival days for the good example in the development of the sustainable tourism. On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, the Minister presented a plaquette and a diploma to the organizers of the cultural celebrations – Apollonia Foundation, for their overall contribution to the development of cultural tourism, preservation of traditions and commitment to the initiative to position and promote Brand Bulgaria.

The 38th edition of the Apollonia cultural festivities was opened in the Amphitheatre in Sozopol with a concert of the children’s brass band at the Emilian Stanev Secondary School, Veliko Tarnovo. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture prof. Velislav Minekov, the Mayor of Sozopol Todor Yanakiev and the Executive Director of Apollonia Foundation, Margarita Dimitrova.

Apollonia Arts Festival is the largest, longest-standing art festival in Bulgaria. Its organizer is Apollonia Foundation, established in 1991. The first edition of the festival was held in 1984. Every year the stages of Apollonia in Sozopol attract hundreds of artists and thousands of art lovers from Bulgaria and the world.

Before the official opening, Minister Dimitrov held a working meeting with the Mayor of Sozopol, Tihomir Yanakiev, with whom they discussed current issues related to the development of tourism in the town and the region.