In April 2025, Sofia’s bookstore Umberto & Co. in the city centre unveiled the world’s first statue of the esteemed Italian writer and philosopher Umberto Eco. The sculpture, created by Bulgarian artist Boris Borisov at the initiative of Daniel Valchev, portrays Eco holding a book and a platypus—a reference to his philosophical work Kant and the Platypus. Valchev explained that Eco’s writings taught him that a smart story can be both beautifully told and deeply meaningful. He also highlighted Eco’s reflections on memory: with literature, “we can live more than one life,” a reminder of the vital role reading plays in shaping our identity