Participants: 25 teams – visitors of the event
Steps along the way: 10
Approximate distance: 2.5 km
Approximate duration: 1-1.5 hours
Language of the game: Bulgarian
Organized by: Inner Voice, Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute and The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis
Sometimes the most meaningful partnerships are born where tradition meets a fresh perspective. Such was the case with our collaboration with the Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute and The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis – a project that gave us the opportunity to demonstrate how urban quest games can serve as a bridge between history and the modern audience.
On April 18, 2026, to mark International Day for Monuments and Sites and the 5th anniversary of the opening of The Bishop’s Basilica, we launched the urban quest game “Mosaic Hunters” – part of a larger festive program that included workshops, a walking tour, and a celebratory concert.
Project Context and Objectives
The main idea behind the game was clear – to give visitors the opportunity not just to view the cultural sites, but to experience them. To be active explorers rather than passive observers.
The game took participants through the three key sites of the Philippopolis Serial Site:
- Small basilica
- The Bishop’s basilica
- Late antique Irene building of Philippopolis
As part of the experience, we included 10 riddles that reveal interesting facts about the history, architecture, and mosaics in these spaces. The final riddle presented participants with one final challenge: to assemble their own physical mosaic, symbolically bringing together everything they had learned along the way.
The target audience was diverse – young people, families with children, and anyone looking for a meaningful and unique way to spend their Saturday.
The Challenges Behind the Scenes
Working on the project came with its own set of responsibilities. When you’re creating an experience in partnership with institutions that are custodians of cultural heritage, striking the right balance is key.
The main challenge was to gather enough accurate information without overwhelming the participants and without losing the playful element.
In other words, the game had to be simultaneously fun, educational, and respectful of history.
Results and Impact
25 teams participated in “Mosaic Hunters,” half of which were families with children – exactly the audience we hoped to engage.
The team “ПингвиЯН” had the best score, with a time of 42:03 and 1,630 points.
But beyond the numbers, the reactions were what mattered most:
- Participants said they had learned new and unexpected facts.
- Others discovered sites they hadn’t even suspected existed.
- Many of them expressed a desire to return and explore the sites again, this time in even greater detail.
And something that always makes us happy – for some people, this was their first experience with urban quest games and they said they would participate again.
Partnership as the Key to Success
Working with the team of Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute was extremely valuable to us. Their professionalism, trust, and openness to new ideas made the process not only efficient but also inspiring.
This project clearly demonstrated that:
- Cultural institutions and contemporary interactive formats can work hand in hand.
- Knowledge can be “earned” rather than simply handed down.
- Experience is the most powerful tool for engaging the audience.
What We’ve Learned and Where We’re Headed
“Mosaic Hunters” reaffirmed one of our most important beliefs – that the line between education and entertainment can be completely blurred.
Projects like this not only enrich the participants, but also:
- create new audiences for cultural sites
- offer a different perspective on familiar places
- build a bridge between institutions and modern audiences
Our mission is to continue building such partnerships – in Plovdiv and beyond. Because we believe that when we bring together the right people, ideas, and causes, the result is always more than just a game.
The result is an experience that lasts.
Photo credits: Blue Rock Films
