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- Targoviste – A Capital’s CharmDrobeta Turnu Severin – A Bridge Across The AgesSearching For Tranquility Around BucharestCalimanesti, Olanesti, Govora – Oltenia’s Health SpringsAlba Iulia and Codex AureusIasi – A City Imbued With History and CultureThe Deva Fortress – Active Witness to Transylvania’s HistoryRupea Stronghold, The Core of Brasov CountyScarisoara Cave, Glacier Chill in Summer TimeMuierilor Cave, Symbol of Fertility and HolinessOrsova – Heavy Industry Meets the Roman EmpireThe Heaven of Cherry Orchards, in CetateleCurtisoara Museum – a Cradle of SpiritualityBaile Felix – a Balneary Resort for All AgesIzei Valley – Maramures Finest Traditions and LocationsHarman – A Small Part of Brasov’s CultureMuseums and places to visit in OradeaVidraru Dam and Lake, a Wonder of Nature, Confined by ManAncient Cities in the Constanta AreaSfantul Ioan Domnesc Monument-Church – The Shadow of Stefan cel MarePutna Monastery – The Spiritual Center of MoldaviaOcnele Mari: Salt Mines, Spa and Rich HistoryBaile Govora – One of The Oldest Romanian SpasCraiova – The Heart of OlteniaRules for Visiting the Protected Nature AreasArad – One Millenia on the Banks of MuresTargu Jiu and the Endless ColumnBucura Lake – The Largest Glacier Lake in RomaniaTraveling to Sfantu GheorgheLipscani – “The Old Leipzig” of BucharestCule – Strange Strongholds of a Riotous PastVatra DorneiCluj NapocaDobrudja and the Danube DeltaBucharest – an european capitalBrasov – Part of the “Heart” of RomaniaTimisoara, Little ViennaRosia MontanaPeriam “Rock la Mures” FestSinaiaVama VecheSighisoara, medieval heavenHunedoaraSighisoaraSibiu – modernity with a German touchA visit in Piatra-NeamtVama Veche versus MamaiaThe mountain tourism in RomaniaA trip to Muntii ApuseniAn incursion in legends – BranTrips and winter sports on Valea PrahoveiTransilvania – The medieval land of StrongholdsBucovina and Northern MoldaviaMaramures – A Land From TalesTan and Fun at the Black SeaA wild land – The Danube Delta
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Craiova – The Heart of Oltenia
The origin of the name of the city
The name of the city „Craiova” has Slavon roots, „Krajl” meaning king or Lovelace. There are many controversies regarding the exact founder of the settlement which will laterly become a flourishing town. Some researchers refer to Ioni?? Asan as the founder of Craiova, while others consider Iovan – the person who found a treasure while digging a fountain as the father of the southwestern city. There is still to be heard nowadays in the neighbourhoods of Craiova the famous expression “You are just as lucky as Iovan was”. Nowadays, Craiova is an important economic and cultural centre.
Discovering Craiova through its spiritual sites
The oldest edifice from Craiova is the Monastery Co?una from the Old Bucov??. Built around 1483 as a mix between Romanian and Byzantine architectural elements, only the church is still to be found nowadays. Restored in 1844, Church Madona Dudu is another holy place where followers from all over the country gather to say graces.
A famous legend states that the church was named after the icon of Virgin Mary was found in a mulberry, on the same place being laterly built the altar. Saint Dumitru Cathedral carries the name of Craiova’s patron saint and the blazon of the city, being considered to be Matei Basarab’s masterpiece. The nowadays church sheltering valuable embellishments of the past centuries was built in 1889 on the place of the former church which was destroyed by the 1840’s earthquake.
Old buildings, „once upon a time” stories
Casa B?niei, the place where the Divan of Craiova used to meet, is probably the town’s oldest laical building which was restored by Constantin Brâncoveanu in the architectural style carrying his name. In addition, Jean Mihail Palace is the masterpiece of a French architect, Paul Gottereau, who was asked to design an elegant private residence for Constantin Mihail, one of the most wealthy people of the XIXth century. The French architect used materials of the best quality: ceiling plated with gold, Venetian mirrors, Murano chandeliers, Carrara stairs, silken walls and he endowed the residence with electricity and central heating. At the death of Constantin Mihail, the palace will be inherited by his younger son, Jean Mihail.
Nowadays Jean Mihail Palace houses The Art Museum of Craiova sheltering over 4000 masterpieces, famous sculptures belonging to Constantin Brâncu?i (“The Kiss”, “Miss Pogany” or “Vitellius”), as well as valuable paintings belonging to local talents: Theodor Aman, Constantin Lecca, Ion ?uculescu, Corneliu Baba, etc.
Other important buildings that are worth to be visited are: The Vorvorenilor Palace, the former Palace of Justice (nowadays the main building of The University of Craiova), the former Bank of Commerce (nowadays the building of The Town Hall), Oltenia’s Museum, The National Theatre, etc.
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No Comments to “Craiova – The Heart of Oltenia”
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Sean28 says:
I stay in Craiova_Romania for about 6 months.
It is absolutely beautiful.
I love to go for a walk in the center of town; every night they run the “musical fontain”
SUPERB!
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