What to see in Bucharest

Antim Monastery (Manastirea Antim)
Address: Str. Mitropolit Antim Ivireanul, nr. 29 
It is a foundation of the Georgian metropolitan bishop Antim Ivireanu, one of the outstanding cultural personalities that lived during the reign of Constantin Brancoveanu. The monastery was erected during the period of 1713-1715, on the spot of an old wood church and it is dedicated to “All Saints”. Originally, the monastery had the form of a citadel, with the church in the center of a yard surrounded by the monks’ cells. Windows are large, framed by stone sculptures. The church is the only one erected during the 18th century, having its plan in the shape of clover. After the earthquake of May 1738, the two brick steeples of the monastery fall collapse, being replaced by wood steeples. Between 1746 and 1747, the Monastery was rehabilitated thanks to donations. It is decorated with a new, gilded painting. Then followed a period when the monastery’s estate was robbed, and the building was neglected. The Monastery witnessed another two rehabilitation periods, in 1812 and 1860.

 During the rehabilitation of 1860, the chapel was completely refurbished and the painting on the walls and on the iconostasis was remade by the painter Gheorghe Tattarescu. Also, the monks’ cells were refurbished, the steeple was completely repaired on the outside, new icons and votive lights were purchased, as well as other cult objects and books. Starting with 1910, the Monastery entered a period of oblivion. Between years 1964 and 1966, a new restructuring of the monastic complex was achieved (church, steeple, chapel, cells, abbey), also building a central heating plant. In 1950, the Antim Monastery became an Episcopal dwelling, a happy solution to avoid its demolition. Also, a museum was founded on the east and south sides of the cells, which, in time, became mere repositories. After the terrible earthquake of 1977, a new rehabilitation of the church, particularly of the paintings, took place. During the interval 1984-1986, which was the harshest period for the existence of the churches of Bucharest, a part of the monastery, which sheltered the cells, was demolished to make place to a street surrounded by blocks of flats. The building of the Holy Synod was relocated almost 20 meters to the west. This is one of the most beautiful architectural monuments of Bucharest, which belongs to the Brancoveanu style in terms of decoration and conception, with a slight influence from the Italian baroque.

Carol Park (Parcul Carol)
Designed in 1900 by the architect E. Redont, the Carol Park was inaugurated in year 1906, at the feet of the Filaret Hill. The park, arranged on approximately 40 ha, on an old vineyard plantation, also has a small lake of 2 ha, crossed by a bridge plated with marble slabs. Even if the Carol Park is smaller, it has many attractions: the Tower of Vlad the Impaler that shelters a water reservoir, and the “Monument of the unknown soldier”, brought in 1991 from Marasesti.Then the “Giants” statues, made by the sculptor Dumitru Paciurea, and the “Cantacuzino Fountain”, an art monument in the neoclassical style, built in 1870, decorated with bas-reliefs and ceramic plates representing medieval knights and blazons on the façade and sides. Inside the Carol Park are the “Roman Arenas”, with a capacity of 5500 places in the open air, a place for shows attracting many visitors. Also, here is the Technical Museum “Prof. Eng. Dimitrie Leonida” that was inaugurated in 1909 and reorganized in 1954. 

Central University Library (Biblioteca Centrala Universitara)
The Central University Library is a beautifully ornated building located opposite the Royal Palace in the Revolution Square. The library was founded by king Carol I and the building was designed by the French architect Paul Gottereau, who also designed the The Palace of the Savings Bank) building. The building was heavily damaged during the December 1989 movement but was later restored and now it looks really pretty.

Cismigiu Gardens (Gradina Cismigiu)
Its official opening ceremony took place on 22nd of March 1860. During the period 1878 - 1884, there was taken the decision to give up a part of its total surface, in the benefit of the Regina Elisabeta Avenue opening. Its actual surface is about 14 ha. Carl Meyer was preoccupied to draw rigorously the alleys and lengthways of the park, so, he planted trees species for the reason to protect the visitors from hot days of summer and from dust of the city, as well. The pedestrian areas are represented by large alleys, which are right or sinuous line and which aim to very interesting objectives. There were created isolated corners just for rest, with comfortable benches. Its actual aspect is due to the great work of F. Rebhun architect. The central ground floor is designed as a great and continuous carpet of alleys. Lengthways of these alleys were planted by a double string of linden trees which were cut in geometrical shape, creating a giant, parallelepiped bar, stayed by his long side upon the alley. As special decorative elements on the central ground floor, we can mention the ceramics pots planted by flowers. The points of attraction are the followings: Garden of Roses - consisted of little stone walls, wood pergolas, iron chains, in order to present many kinds of hanged roses. Roman Round - it is a circular platform with a diameter of 20 m with a round shape. From its four gates we can take down floor steps to a circular alley which is flagstones based, and which separates the central round from the vegetal plantation from the edge. The round flower area is planted with mow species of taxus baccata (yew), in conical shapes. The Garden arouses a highest interest for visitors, by building of a restaurant on the island, and also for the presence of the musical kiosk for the orchestra sings; The Lake - was arranged in 1910 by Rebhun architect. In the Summer Season, we can have boat trips on the lake, and in the Winter Season we have the possibility to skate on this. The corner with tree and shrubs - with evergreen leafs all year long, it is situated near Gheorghe Lazar High school. The corner of chess players. The corner of children - arranged around the Cretzulescu Lake, embroidered by little architectural elements, footbridges, railings. A water spring called “Eminescu Source” - placed on the slope base which comes from Stirbei -Voda Boulevard.

Domnita Balasa Church (Biserica Domnita Balasa)
The first church on this site was a wooden one built in 1774 but it burned down and was replaced by a stone structure in 1751. The second church was damaged during an earthquake and had to be replaced by a third structure build between 1838-1842. At its turn, this building was damaged by floods and replaced by a fourth church between 1881-1885. This is the ocre striped church that we see today. The current church had to be repaired again after each of the two major 20C earthquakes (1940 and 1977). Domnita Balasa Church is one of the most popular places for weddings in Bucharest and if you come here on Saturdays and Sundays, you are almost certain to see a wedding taking place.
The church is located off Piata Unirii and Splaiul Independentei behind the blocks of apartments bordering Unirii Square, and faces the side of the Justice Palace. Princess Balasa Church is named after Wallachia's ruler Brancoveanu's sixth daughter. Her statue stands in the small garden that surrounds the church.

Herastrau Park (Parcul Harastrau)
Herastrau Park is the biggest park of Bucharest. It is situated in the Northern side of the city, on the area borders by Constantin Prezan Blvd., Aviatorilor Blvd., Nordului Avenue, Elena Vacarescu Street, Bucuresti - Ploiesti Avenue, Kiseleff Avenue, having a surface of 110 ha.
The park was endowed with all necessary public utilities: drinking and irrigation water network partially - pluvial and waste water network, and lighting system, too. Like fittings out in the first area - the ancient zone of Herastrau Park - there were two theatres - the one for the adults and the other for the children
- two pavilions for exhibitions, libraries, places for chess players and reading fans, ships landing places, benches, and in the new Herastrau Park area have been built huts, sport grounds, restaurants etc. Its major points of attraction consists of the followings: Flowers Exhibition Area called “Expoflora zone” - is developped on a surface of 15 ha and every year, in this zone are organized flowers arrangements with a great artistic value;Roses Island - its structural composition is based on two axis: the one - which opens a perspective of one eyes landscapes to the Village Museum - and the other, by which is established the link with the rest of the park. Beginning of the 1st of June and until Autumnal Season, the island is fully painted in brilliant colors by sinuous garlands of roses, in perfect contrast with the imposant vertical line of supporting pillars;Japanese Garden - founded in 1998, by appreciable support of Japanese Embassy in Romania and by Memorial Foundation of World Japanese Exhibition, too. Here is also Hard Rock Cafe Bucharest.

University of Architecture and Urbanism "Ion Mincu" Bucharest
(Universitatea de Arhitectura si Urbanism "Ion Mincu")
It is the oldest and most important academic institution in this field in Romania. Its foundation is closely linked with the raise of modern Romania, and the setting of its new institutional structure and culture. The first school of architecture was legally established in 1864, based on an Act issued by the first monarch of the newly founded state; but, due to lack of students, it never really functioned. The first Romanian architects studied mostly in Paris, at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and their enthusiastic undertaking was the true foundation of the school.

 Thus, on October 15, 1892 the Romanian Society of Architects set up a private school of architecture under its authority.  The Education Reform in 1897 transformed the private school into the National School of Architecture within the School of Fine Arts (financed by the government), and in 1904 the School of Architecture became independent. In 1931 the School was renamed the Academy of Architecture and was granted whole academic rights, in relation to the regulations concerning the title of architect and practice of the profession which followed immediately. Since then, though the political, ideological and social changes that tormented the whole Romanian society (wars, communism, post-communist transition) exerted pressures (sometimes damaging) upon the academic process and structure, the School managed to keep the status of a leading professional forum. Moreover, until the end of the Second World War, the School was one of the main educational nuclei in its field in the Balkan area. From 1952 to 1997 it functioned under the name of "Ion Mincu" Institute of Architecture (IAIM). The recent change of name into IMUAU, corresponds to the new direction clearly taken by the School.

Old Princely Court & Church (Palatul si Biserica Curtea Veche)
Address: Strada Franceza 25-31. The Old Princely Court (Curtea Veche), built in the 15th century by Vlad Tepes, also known as Vlad Dracula. According to local lore, Vlad kept his prisoners in dungeons which commenced beneath the Princely Court and extended under the city. All that remains today are a few walls, arches, tombstones and a Corinthian column. The Old Court Museum was established in 1972 when an archaeological dig revealed the remains of the fortress, along with Dacian pottery and Roman coins, evidence of Bucharest’s earliest inhabitants. 

The oldest document attesting to the city’s origin under the name of Bucuresti (Bucharest) was discovered here. It was issued on September 20, 1459 and signed by Prince Vlad Tepes. Next to the palace stands the the Old Court Church (Biserica Curtea Veche), dating from 1559 and considered the oldest in Bucharest. For two centuries, the church served as coronation ground for Romanian princes. Some of the original 16th century frescoes have been preserved. 

Bucharest Old city center
Old city center, on the site range between National Bank, National History Museum and Manuc's Inn consists of old buildings from the early nineteenth century merchant and shop located on narrow streets with names from that era crafts Lipscani Blanari Selari. Reconstruction and renovation, begun several years, even if takes longer than we want, begin to be felt so that some streets are now already looking real busy tourist terrace and cafes where both tourists and locals as well linger long in the atmosphere of early twentieth century cousins.

In this area there are many buildings of banks built between the two world wars, and building architectural symbol of the ancient city such as CEC (The Palace of the Saving Bank), National History Museum (former building of Central Post), Caru cu Bere (Restaurant), Stavropoleos Church, Victoria Magazine (formerly Galleries Lafayette) Pasajul Macca-Vilacrosse (a fork-shaped yellow glass covered) 

Recommended hoels Bucharest city center are Howard Johnson Radisson Golden Tulip Victoaria Opera Venezia Tempo.