Plovdiv printing-press. The city's traditions as a literary centre are preserved by the first public library in Bulgaria, the Ivan Vazov National Library, the 19 "chitalishta" (cultural centres), and by numerous booksellers and publishers. The library was founded in 1879 and named after the famous Bulgarian writer and poet Ivan Vazov who worked in Plovdiv for five years creating some of his best works. Today the Ivan Vazov National Library is the second largest national library institution with more than 1.5 million books, owning rare Bulgarian and European publications. The city has traditions in iconography since the Middle Ages. During the
Plovdiv derby Plovdiv derby The Plovdiv derby is the derby in Bulgarian football between Botev Plovdiv and Lokomotiv Plovdiv. It is named after the city, where both clubs are located. Plovdiv derby is the name given to a football match played between two Plovdiv clubs. Although the name is mostly used to describe the match between the city's two most successful clubs, Botev and Lokomotiv, there is another derby match known as "The small Plovdiv derby", contested between Spartak and Maritsa. • Total: Botev Plovdiv with 41 higher finishes, Lokomotiv Plovdiv with 29 higher finishes (as of the end of the 2017–18