PHOTOGRAPHS: MAYA KARKALICHEVA/GETTY IMAGESIronman
Plovdiv
Travellers wishing to add a bit of surprise
andintriguetotheircity-breakwish-lists
this year could do far worse than to
consider Plovdiv. Built across seven hills
andlayingclaimtothetitleof‘oldest
inhabitedcityinEurope’,theBulgarian
town has a lively arts scene that sees it
crowned European Capital of Culture
2019, along with Italy’s Matera. The Old
Town,hometoaRomantheatreand
colourful, creaky 19th-century mansions
that house museums and galleries, is the
main draw, but focus is increasingly
shifting to Kapana(visitkapana.bg).
Thereareseveraldays’worthofbars,
cafésandrestaurantstobeinvestigated
in the district, and its cobbled streets host
a regular stream of events, from outdoor
cinema and street parties to photo
exhibitons and live bands.
Ryanair flies three times a week from Stansted (from
£60); otherwise, there are daily flights to Sofia
(from£45;wizzair.com),andit’satwo-hourdrive
from there (from £12/day; rentalcars.com).The planet’s tallest statue has
been unveiled, of Sardar
Vallabhbhai Patel, India’s ‘Man
of Iron’, a vital figure in the
country’s move to independence
(statueofunity.in).Togapeatthe
£340-million, bronze-clad Statue
of Unity, you’ll need to travel to
Gujarat in western India, which,
among other records, also has the
highest number of vegans and the
largest salt desert in the world.
RECORD-BREAKER
EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTUREHOW IT COMPARES
Statue of Unity, India:182m
Spring Temple Buddha,
China:128m
Statue of Liberty,
USA:93m
The Motherland Calls,
Russia:85m
Christ the Redeemer,
Brazil:38m
Angel of the
North, UK:
20m
Little Mermaid,
Denmark:
1.25m