Plovdiv advances UNESCO bid for Episcopal Basilica and ancient mosaics

Plovdiv Mayor Kostadin Dimitrov has officially submitted documentation to the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture to initiate the next stage of the UNESCO World Heritage nomination process. The request seeks a ‘Preliminary Assessment’ for the serial site ‘Episcopal Basilica and Late Antique Mosaics of Philippopolis, Roman Province of Thrace’.

Under new UNESCO regulations implemented in 2023, the Preliminary Assessment is a mandatory step. The Ministry of Culture must review the documentation and officially present the request to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre by September 15. The site, which includes the Episcopal Basilica, the Small Basilica of Philippopolis, and the Late Antique building ‘Irini’, has been on the UNESCO Indicative List since 2018.

The documentation was prepared by the ‘Old Plovdiv’ complex in coordination with the Regional Archaeological Museum – Plovdiv. The municipality previously funded the preparation of academic documentation to ensure compliance with updated international requirements.