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You are here because you want to read articles about the places you can visit while you're traveling to and through Romania. Enjoy your stay and have a look through our articles about the Romanian culture, history and tourist attractions.
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- Articles
- 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
Afterwards, locations can be added by right clicking on the map.
Iasi – A City Imbued With History and Culture
In the Copou neighbourhood, situated on the hill with the same name, Iasi offers another special place to its visitors and inhabitants. This is the Copou Park, the oldest of its kind in Iasi (it dates since the first half of the XIXth century). In the center of the park there is the Lion Obelisk, a monument imagined by Gheorghe Asachi (a Romanian writer from the XIXth century), in the honour of Governor Pavel Kiseleff (who, during a brief Russian occupation at the beginning of the XIXth century, provided Moldavia with its first set of modern laws).
Beside the combination of natural beauty and refined architecture, The Copou Park is also famous because, among its extremely old trees, there is one, the oldest of them all, that keeps the Romanian romantic dream alive: Eminescu’s lime.
Mihai Eminescu is considered to be the greatest Romanian poet and, as a true romantic, he was very much in love with nature. This lime is where he used to come very often to find inspiration, to chat with his closest friend, Ion Creanga (another great Romanian writer) or to spend sweet moments together with the love of his life, Veronica Micle. The tree has become a symbol and, even now, lovers of all ages come to share their passion, swear everlasting love to one another or have their feelings renewed under the protection of its leaves.
The lime’s appearence is impressive. As the oldest tree in the park, it is also the thickest. In 1950, a hail storm severely damaged it and it had to be strenghtened with iron rings around the trunk and with iron bars to sustain the weight of the biggest branches. Yet, the lime is not a ”mummified” monument, there is still life in it. Two new roots have appeared since it was damaged and keep Eminescu’s friend alive; specialists say that it will survive for another 50 or 100 years. So, you still have time and a place where to confess that you want to spend the rest of your life together with your lover.
The oldest education institution in Romania is the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza“ University. It was founded in 1860 and it is situated not far from the Copou Park. After one steps the threshold of the main entrance, one finds himself or herself hopelessly captured in a world of blue poetry and history. The Hall of Lost Footsteps (the University’s main hall) is decorated with 19 paintings, executed by the contemporary Romanian artist Sabin Balasa (1932 – 2008).
He was born in Dobriceni (Olt County – Oltenia), but his heart belonged to Iasi, where he spent a great part of his life, of which, ten years (1968 – 1978) were dedicated to accomplishing his masterpiece, the hall of the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University. He studied with interest and fervor the history and the mythology of the Romanian people, which served as his sources of inspiration.
He was very fond of the colour blue, that dominates his works from The Hall of Lost Footsteps. According to his strong belief that the humans are beings nurtured by dreams and desires, his paintings are neither surrealistic, nor realistic. They are an artistic expression of some universal myths (Prometheus or Icarus), of Romanian personalities and legends (Mihai Eminescu, Stephen The Great, Nicolae Balcescu, Decebalus, the founding of Moldavia) or of some aspects related to the University itself.
Although each picture has a beauty of its own, the Hall of the Lost Footsteps as a whole makes the most powerful impression on every visitor. It is the feeling of descending into the depths of the Romanian soul.
Author: Iulian Fira
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