Nikola Fichev commonly known as Kolyu Ficheto was a Bulgarian National Revival architect, builder and sculptor born in Dryanovo in 1800. He was left an orphan at the age of 3 and was taught craftsmanship by the masters in the historic town of Tryavna since he was ten. He learned stonecutting in the Albanian town of Korçë when he was 17, and then mastered the construction of churches, bell towers and bridges from the craftsmen in Bratsigovo.
Kolyu Ficheto travelled and learned from being 23 and was fully recognised as a master craftsman by the Bulgarian builders' guild at 36. Apart from his mother tongue, Bulgarian, he spoke fluent Turkish and good Greek and Romanian, but was unable to read and write. He is alledgedly famed for lying under one of his own bridges to guarantee its safety with his life!
His masterpieces include "The House With The Monkey" in Veliko Tarnovo completed in 1849 located next to Yantra Homes and the home of the priest Vasil Ikonomov in Dryanovo named "The Ikonomova House" completed in 1859, which are both excellent examples of the national revival Bulgarian town house architecture that one can witness in Bulgaria.
The inn of Hadji Nikoli Minchev built in Veliko Tarnovo, 1858 is one of the most beautiful Bulgarian properties with an exquisite façade.
Furthermore his bridges bring together aesthetics, simplicity and the need to build bridges that harmonise with their immediate surroundings. They include bridges in Dryanovo (1851), in Sevlievo (1857-1858), on the Veselina River near the village of Yovkovtsi (1865), over the Yantra River in the town of Byala (1865-1867)
and the covered bridge in Lovech (1874-1876) which is unique, because it combines the bridge and the bezisten (a covered market street) over the river, comparable to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. He truly was able to create beautiful sculptures and art within the confines of form, function and endurance.
Fichev died in Veliko Tarnovo, where he was buried, in 1881.
Kolyu Ficheto travelled and learned from being 23 and was fully recognised as a master craftsman by the Bulgarian builders' guild at 36. Apart from his mother tongue, Bulgarian, he spoke fluent Turkish and good Greek and Romanian, but was unable to read and write. He is alledgedly famed for lying under one of his own bridges to guarantee its safety with his life!
His masterpieces include "The House With The Monkey" in Veliko Tarnovo completed in 1849 located next to Yantra Homes and the home of the priest Vasil Ikonomov in Dryanovo named "The Ikonomova House" completed in 1859, which are both excellent examples of the national revival Bulgarian town house architecture that one can witness in Bulgaria.
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| The house with the monkey is a distinguished building and next door is the distinguished Real Estate Company Yantra Homes |
The inn of Hadji Nikoli Minchev built in Veliko Tarnovo, 1858 is one of the most beautiful Bulgarian properties with an exquisite façade.
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| The Byala Bridge over the River Yantra |
and the covered bridge in Lovech (1874-1876) which is unique, because it combines the bridge and the bezisten (a covered market street) over the river, comparable to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, Italy. He truly was able to create beautiful sculptures and art within the confines of form, function and endurance.
Fichev died in Veliko Tarnovo, where he was buried, in 1881.
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