Former Communist party headquarters in the center of Sofia. It was built in the 1940s after American bombing had cleared the center of the city. It is built in what is called the "socialist realist" style.
A red star, which (we were told) Bulgarians believed was made of ruby, once occupied the place atop the building now held by the Bulgarian flag. (That's a picture of the red star on the upper left of this page.)
In 1989, when Bulgarian communists were removed from power, a helicopter removed the red star. The star was found to be made merely of glass or plastic. This was a great disappointment, and the star was discarded -- left leaning against the wall of the what had been the city's bathhouse. In the last few years, the star was moved to the Museum of Socialist Art.
