Kolyu Ficheto

Who was Kolyu Ficheto?

Nikola Fichev, commonly known as Kolyu Ficheto, was a Bulgarian National Revival architect, builder and sculptor born in Dryanovo in 1800.

Left an orphan without a father at the age of three, Kolyu Ficheto was taught craftsmanship by the masterhands in the Tryavna town 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 became a journeyman at the age of 23 and was fully recognized as a master craftsman by the whole builders' guild at 36. Aside from his native language Bulgarian, he spoke fluent Turkish and good Greek and Romanian, but was illiterate, unable to read and write. Kolyu Ficheto is known for having lain under one of his own bridges to guarantee its safety with his life.

Fichev died in Veliko Tarnovo, where he was buried, in 1881.

Some of his notable works include the Byala Bridge over the Yantra River close to Byala, the Covered Bridge in Lovech over the Osam, churches in his native town, as well as in Svishtov and Veliko Tarnovo, where he also designed a number of houses and public buildings.