The house of Stefan Klianti

You are now standing before one of the oldest and most remarkable houses in Plovdiv’s Old Town — the Klianti House. Modest in size but rich in soul, this building is a true time capsule of the early Bulgarian National Revival, dating back to around 1816. The house belonged to Stefan Klianti, a wealthy merchant of Albanian descent who settled in Plovdiv and became part of the local urban elite. His family was involved in trade, like many of the Revival-era bourgeoisie, and the home reflects both status and refined taste, but without the grandeur of later mansions. The artistry here mixes local craftsmanship with European influence — a perfect metaphor for the changing identity of the 19th-century Ottoman empire. Klianti House is one of the few Revival homes that still preserves original wooden floors, doors, and furniture, giving visitors a truly authentic glimpse into the life of a wealthy Plovdiv family two centuries ago.

Though humbler than its neighbors like the Nedkovich or Kuyumdjoglu houses, this home speaks softly — with elegance, intimacy, and quiet dignity.

I hope you have noticed so far that there are houses owned by successful people from different ethnicities from different parts of the vast Empire. This is one of the reasons why Plovdiv is so special for so many centuries, and also in the present. It has a singular character created by the fusion of all these cultures and the traditions of tolerance and cosmopolitan mindset of the people who lived, and are now living in the city of the three hills.