The Museum Petko and Pencho Slaveykovi, Sofia

Petko (1827-1895) and Pencho (1867-1912) Slaveykovi were a father and son duo who made significant contributions to Bulgarian literature, poetry, journalism, folkloric studies, and politics during the 19th and early 20th centuries.

In Sofia, there exists a museum dedicated to their legacy. This museum occupies an apartment that was generously donated to the state in 1949 by Svetoslava Slaveykova, the granddaughter of Petko Slaveikov and the niece of Pencho Slaveykov. The museum has recreated the ambiance of two rooms from the original Slaveykov house, which unfortunately was demolished in 1932. Inside, visitors can explore a diverse collection of objects, artifacts, paintings, books, and furniture from the Slaveykovi family home.

The core of the museum's collection includes an impressive 80,000 handwritten sheets authored by both Petko and Pencho Slaveykov. Additionally, it houses Petko Slaveykov's personal library, consisting of 162 volumes, as well as Pencho Slaveykov's extensive collection of approximately 2,000 volumes. The museum boasts a treasure trove of 600 original photographs, alongside beautiful paintings created by renowned Bulgarian artists. You'll also find an assortment of furniture, objects, and an ethnographic collection of vintage Bulgarian embroidery, all once belonging to the Slaveykov family.

Moreover, the museum houses an invaluable literary and historical archive associated with Petko Rachov Slaveykov. This archive comprises precious books and rare editions from his personal library, as well as materials related to the newspaper publications he edited and published. Visitors can catch a glimpse of his personal belongings, while the exposition hall showcases items that belonged to his wife, Irina, whom he married in 1853 in Tryavna.