For centuries this was Plovdiv’s busy craft and trading district, and several streets still bear the names of the trades once practised there, such as Zhelezarska (blacksmiths’ street) and Zlatarska (goldsmiths’ street). After a long decline, the quarter was revived in the 2010s: streets were pedestrianised and spaces were offered to artists and craftspeople as Plovdiv prepared to become European Capital of Culture in 2019.
Today Kapana is one of the liveliest corners of the city, packed with galleries and workshops, design shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. Colourful street art brightens many walls, and festivals and events regularly spill out into the streets. The quarter is at its busiest on warm evenings, when its terraces fill up with locals and visitors.
Wander without a plan: getting lost in Kapana is half the pleasure.
