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One of the most emblematic buildings of the capital, that hosts the National Art Gallery and the Ethnographic Institute with the Museum of BAS, was once Turkish Konak (police station). There are unconfirmed claims that in this building was sentenced Vasil Levski. Between 1881-1894, the building became a palace. After 1944, it temporarily housed the Council of Ministers.

The palace was built immediately after the liberation of Bulgaria from Ottoman rule (1878) and the election of the capital Sofia (1879). The previous building foundations were the only thing preserved. Viennese architect Victor Rumpelmayer designed the new palace specifically for the first Bulgarian prince Alexander Battenberg. Completely reconstructed was the central part and the palace facade. On the second floor was built throne room, and beneath it is the "Flag hall." The palace was further expanded in 1918 by King Ferdinand.

Although Sofia Palace is built in two stages, the overall appearance gives the impression of a building with a single volume. Interconnections between different wings provide fast and light hikes, which allow to combine the functions of representative government institution and private housing. It is not accidental that in this form it was used for building measure and scale of all public and residential buildings in Sofia to the 20s of the twentieth century.

Credited with creating the National Museum of Bulgarian art, as the official name of the art gallery today was the former deputy mayor Simeon Ignatov, who devoted much effort to lay the foundations of art collection with a clear intention to become a representative National Gallery.

He searched and brought for many years lots of paintings throughout the country. For several years, the collection exceeds 2 000 pieces originally arranged in a salon on the "Gurko" street. The opening of the collection was met with enthusiasm and approval by decree, and soon the collection became the National Art Gallery.

Today, the National Art Gallery is the richest in the country with its 50 000 artworks, of which are set around 3 000. Bulgarian art exhibition presents art from the early nineteenth century to the 50s of the twentieth century and continues to be enriched.

Off to list the priceless works and their authors. All the most famous Bulgarian artists from the last two hundred years are represented in the gallery: Zachary Zograf, Stanislav Dospevski, Nikolay Pavlovich, Ivan Mrkvicka, Ivan Angelov, Anton Mitov, Nikola Petrov, Elena Karamihailova, Nikola Marinov, Vladimir Dimitrov the Master, Georges Papazov, Zlatyu Boyadjiev, Dechko Uzunov, Ivan Nenov, Nenko Balkanski and many more.

Collections of new and contemporary Bulgarian art museum - from the liberation of Bulgaria to the 90s of the twentieth century, contain more than 30 000 products - easel paintings, prints and sculpture. The most comprehensive art is represented with the masterpieces of the biggest Bulgarian masters. It has very rich collection of graphics. The best achievements of the Bulgarian plastitc artists from the twentieth century are shown in the museum collection.

National Art Gallery is opened from Monday to Saturday, from 10 to 18 hours. Personal ticket costs six levs.