Georgi Martinov’s House

The house was built in 1900 by one of the most prominent architects in Ruse at the time Nigohos Bedrosyan. It is at 2 Konstantin Irichek Street, on the corner with Alexandrovska Street.

The building is an example of a typical house of the well-off citizens of Ruse at the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century. It was built in two floors for the prominent trader of steel and metal products, Georgi Martinov.

At that time the first floor of the building housed The Vine shop, explaining the rich grapes decoration of the building. The second floor was residential, where Georgi Martinov lived with his wife and three daughters. The interior of the house was painted by the Italian artist Carlo Farancesconi, while the furniture, carpets and curtains were imported from Italy, France and Austria. Georgi Martinov’s house, as well as other houses in Ruse designed by Nigohos Bedrosyan, have the traditional Roman greeting SALVE, which translates from Latin as Welcome.

Georgi Martiniv arrived in Ruse in 1880, having graduated in Tsarigrad. He was better known for his political activities and service as a mayor in 1902-1903. During his rule he collected money for building tombs of the people who died in the struggle for national liberation. He supported the increase of financial resources for the primary schools and pre-schools. 

At present the house is a mixed property. Part of it is still owned by the successors of the Martinovi, while the rest is a property of Ruse municipality and it houses The Cultural Figures Club.