Приятелство на колело
What could be better than sharing the feeling of lightness and freedom of riding a bike with a close friend? This is the main motif in the large-scale mural "Friendship on a Bike", which is located in the center of Sofia. Its goal is to inspire the use of a bicycle as a natural alternative for transportation and as a choice for an active lifestyle and attention to the environment in which we live.
The initiative is by the Visionary and "Sofia - European Capital of Sport" foundations. It is the continuation of the shared emotion from the start of the legendary Giro d'Italia cycling race, held for the first time in Bulgaria in May 2026. Its aim is to preserve and build on the memory of the experience for Sofia residents. The author of the work is the graffiti artist and muralist Yoan Tsenkov - JahOne.
Implementation period: July 20-30, 2026
Location: 35 Slavyanska Street, Sofia
Total area: 100 sq.m.
“Large-scale murals and bright colors are my way of expressing myself, and the bicycle is one of the main ways I get around Sofia. With this painting, I want to take people beyond the everyday and familiar to a freer and dreamier perception of the city. That is why the central figure is on a scale that changes the feeling of reality, which turns it into a symbol of inner freedom, aspiration and lightness. This is how I feel when I ride a bike, and I want to convey this feeling through my work. And if I inspire people to get on a bike and experience it for themselves, then it really has had an effect,” the author comments.
The facade of the ground floor of the building is also painted, thus transforming the narrow gray street into a place that brings mood and inspiration for a more complete feeling of the urban environment.
“The idea for this mural was born from the desire to leave a lasting mark on the historic passage of the Giro d’Italia through Bulgaria and the emotion that the event brought to Sofia. “Friendship on a Bike” is not just a work of art, but a message for a more active, more connected and more humane city, in which the bicycle has its natural place,” said Dimitar Petrov – member of the Board of Directors of “Sofia – European Capital of Sport” and municipal councilor.
The opening took place on the evening of July 30. Residents of the neighborhood, the mural artist JahOne and the Visionary team were present. On behalf of “Sofia – European Capital of Sport” were Damyan Dikov – Executive Director and Dimitar Petrov – member of the Board of Directors. The event was also attended by Irina Dakova – Deputy Mayor of the Sofia Municipality for Culture and Tourism, Viktor Chaushev – Deputy Mayor for Transport and Urban Mobility, Eng. Dilyan Georgiev – Cycling Coordinator of the Sofia Municipality, Maria Yanakieva – Senior Expert from the Municipal Enterprise “Tourism”, and Maria Mazza – Director of the Italian Cultural Institute.
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Cover photo: Ivan Shishiev
Photos in the album: Ivan Shishiev, Nikola Bagarov, Eliot Etienne, Dimitar Kyosemarliev (courtesy of BGonAir)