Ruse is a Bulgarian city situated on the banks of river Danube, one of the most popular crossing point to Romania. The bridge between Ruse and Giurgiu (Gyurgevo) is on the European road linking Sofia and Bucharest. This strategic position made it a preferred shopping destination for Romanians and Bulgarians alike, but beside that, Rousse has a historic legacy and a charming baroque architecture. The Liberty Monument in the center of Russe is the landmark of the city. The work of the Italian sculptor Arnoldo Zocchi, the monument is a column with a woman on top. At the bottom, two lions, Bulgarian national symbol, tear up the heavy chains of Ottoman occupation. Near the park of this monument are the city hall and the theater building.
Many buildings in the center, dating from the 19th and 20th century have historic and architectural value. Some of the streets in the historic center are closed for car traffic, the pedestrians having the chance to stroll through boutiques or rest in coffee shops. The rest of Rousse bears the footprint of communist architecture, with gray block of flats. On the outskirts of the city there’s a pantheon dedicated to former communist leaders in the 70′.