Participants: 25 teams – visitors of the event
Steps along the way: 10
Approximate distance: 1 km
Approximate duration: ~ 1 hour
Language of the game: Bulgarian
Organized by: Inner Voice, Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute, The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis and America for Bulgaria Foundation
There are events that simply bring people together. But there are also events that make people stay, explore, ask questions and experience the place in a new way.
Such was the case with Mosaics Day – a large-scale event held on May 16, 2026, in and around The Bishop’s Basilica of Philippopolis, organized by The Bishop’s Basilica, America for Bulgaria Foundation, Ancient Plovdiv Municipal Institute and partner organizations, including Inner Voice.
Throughout the day, the area around the basilica transformed into a lively urban stage featuring music, workshops, great coffee, delicious food, 3D mapping, activities for children and many others.
Our task was simple – to turn the area around the basilica into an interactive experience.
The Game as a Natural Addition to the Event
For Mosaics Day we created a special urban quest game with a route of about 1 kilometer and 10 riddles that led participants around the basilica.
The main idea wasn’t simply to add another activity to the program.
The goal was:
- to extend the event beyond the building itself
- to highlight the connections between the cultural site and the urban environment
- to encourage people to actively engage with the space
- to give visitors another reason to stay longer and experience the place in a different way
What We Wanted to Achieve
While such events often feature a rich cultural program, the urban quest game offered something different – movement, curiosity and participation.
That was precisely our main goal – to demonstrate that urban quest games can successfully attract new audiences to cultural heritage sites and fit naturally into major urban events.
Another aspect was particularly important to us – to reinforce the model of successful partnership between Inner Voice and institutions and foundations actively working to develop the cultural environment in Plovdiv.
The Results
25 teams took part in the game throughout the day.
Some of the participants were already familiar with the format and had even played our previous game at The Bishop’s Basilica Mosaic Hunters. The fact that our players keep coming back for new riddles is one of the most valuable confirmations for us that we are doing something meaningful for the city.
We were even more delighted that:
- Newcomers discovered urban quest games as a form of entertainment.
- Participants actively moved between the various checkpoints of the event.
- The area around the basilica came alive in a whole new way.
- The feedback was entirely positive.
Why Such Partnerships are Important
This project demonstrated something very important – cultural heritage should not be experienced solely as a static exhibition.
It can be interactive, active, social and even turned into a game.
Games give people a reason to move around, an opportunity to be curious and a sense that they are discovering the information themselves, rather than simply receiving it.
And for organizers, this format adds value, expands the scope of the event and engages the audience in a more natural and memorable way.
What Remains after the Game Ends
One of the most interesting effects of such projects is that people begin to view familiar places in a different way.
After the game ended, the basilica was no longer just “a building they had visited.” It was a place where they had searched for clues, solved riddles, discussed answers and experienced the city together.
This is exactly what we aim for with such partnerships – to create reasons for people to return to cultural places with a desire to discover more.
Because when culture, play and the urban environment start working together, something much bigger than just an event happens. A true experience takes place.
