National Gallery for Foreign Art Tours

The National Gallery for Foreign Art in Sofia is the only museum of its kind in the Balkans, focusing on non-Bulgarian art. Covering 3200 square meters and four floors of what was once the Royal Printing Office, the gallery’s exhibits are spread throughout 19 rooms. Much of the gallery is arranged geographically, with separate sections for art from India, Japan, Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe. The Indian collection includes Indian miniatures and religious sculptures, the highlights of which are rare 16th century figures of Christian saints from Goa. The Japanese collection focused on Japanese woodblock printing, while the African collection includes numerous religious sculptures and masks, including many from Benin, Ghana and Dogon Country.

An expansive European art collection includes masterpieces by the likes of Rembrandt, Picasso and Renoir and fine art from the 15th to 20th centuries, the oldest work of which is the Baptism of Christ, painted by del Verrocchio in the 15th century.