Hey, you over there! Do you speak Bulgarian? – the black silhouette of a hefty man with hands in his pockets emerges from the dark as we exit the shadow of the clock tower. The darkness and silence thicken, and start thrashing in our ears densely... Full Story

Istanbul’s Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) Museum is one of the most visited in the world. Its construction was commissioned to two architects from Anatolia by the Emperor Justinian in 537 during the period of the Eastern Roman Empire. More than any... Full Story

The Turkish bath – the historical institution, in which people wash, relax and chat – is, at first sight, a harmless phenomenon. Paradoxically, however, it has created an entire rift of cultural differences between Western Europe and the... Full Story

The invisibility of homosexuals and lesbians in public and social spheres is further slowing efforts to overcome homophobia in this conservative society. Full Story

From the hills on dry land, houses and streets seem to be flowing down to the shimmering waters of the Bosphorus.

The thick smoke from the grills along the ports, where fish, corn and chestnuts are being grilled, rises and, for a little while,... Full Story

The battle over renaming streets in Eastern Europe since the fall of communism reflects their importance as symbols of identity, history and power. Full Story

The drive to forge a new identity, as heir to the world of Classical Antiquity, creates identity crisis at home and worsens tensions with neighbours. Full Story

Before becoming a Bulgarian beer brand, the name Ledenika only referred to a cave of unearthly beauty in north-western Bulgaria, surrounded by educational hiking routes Full Story

It may come as a surprise that a place like Macedonia, where jazz is seemingly removed from local culture and tradition, has housed an annual jazz festival for almost three decades. Having established itself as a prestigious and important music... Full Story