The Statue of Milyo: Plovdiv's Bronze Eavesdropper

On a boulevard famous for Roman ruins and grand architecture, one of Plovdiv's most beloved monuments is dedicated to a man who simply sat on the stairs and watched the city go by. The Statue of Milyo provides a humanizing contrast to the historical sights of Knyaz Alexander I Street, also known as Glavnata. Located beside cascading water stairs, the monument sits along the central pedestrian route connecting the Ancient Roman Stadium and Dzhumaya Square to the Sahat Tepe stairs.

The Story of Mihail Dimitrov Todorov

The bronze sculpture immortalizes Mihail Dimitrov Todorov, a mid-20th-century local eccentric affectionately known as Milyo. Following a bout of childhood meningitis that affected his hearing and development, Milyo became a permanent fixture of Plovdiv's street life. He spent his days sitting on the main street's stone steps, playfully bantering and shouting greetings at passersby until his death around 1976 or 1977.

A Monument to Street Folklore

Erected in the early 2000s, the statue was sculpted by artist Danko Danev and financed by Dr. Georgi Lazarov, an emigrant physician seeking to honor Plovdiv's local street characters. The installation initially sparked local debate over whether an impoverished, mentally impaired street figure warranted a prominent monument on the city's primary shopping boulevard—a space typically reserved for military generals or kings. However, the sculpture gradually gained acceptance and is now a celebrated symbol of the city's human character.

Interestingly, Milyo was the subject of art even before this monument was cast. Bulgarian painter Zlatyo Boyadzhiev depicted him as a swineherd in a piece now exhibited in Plovdiv's Old Town gallery.

Bronze Features and Local Superstitions

The artwork depicts Milyo seated on a low stone wall directly on the steps he frequented in life. The figure is dressed in an oversized coat and a tilted cap. His right hand rests inside his pocket, while his left hand is cupped around an exaggeratedly large ear, earning the artwork the nickname of the "bronze eavesdropper."

The sculpture has become a popular public artwork, meeting point, and photo spot where locals and tourists interact with the figure. A local custom involves whispering personal secrets or wishes into Milyo's cupped ear, fueled by the traditional belief that he will grant them. Additionally, passersby frequently touch or rub the statue's bronze knee in hopes of attracting good luck or romance.