This fine bronze statue portrays the Russian Tsar Alexander II on horseback and is a gesture of gratitude to the Russian Tsar and his troops who finally liberated Bulgaria in 1878 from Ottoman rule.

The 14-metre high statue is by the Italian sculptor Arnaldo Zucci, who won the commission in a highly coveted competition. The monument itself was unveiled in August 1907, and the bas reliefs depict various scenes from Bulgaria’s history of liberation.