About Iasi.
Places of interest.

About Iasi.

Iaºi (pronunciation in Romanian: /jaʃʲ/) is a city and municipality in north-eastern Romania. The city was the capital of Moldavia from the 16th century until 1861 and of Romania (Romanian Kingdom) between 1916–1918 during World War I.
One of the largest Romanian city, Iaºi is the economic, cultural and academic centre of the Romanian region of Moldavia. The city has the oldest Romanian university and accommodates an annual count of over 60,000 students in public and private universities. It is home to more than 50 churches and hosts 5 cultural centres: British, French, German, Latin American & Caribbean and Hellenic. Cultural life gravitates around the National Theater (the oldest in Romania), the Opera House, the Iaºi State Philarmonic, the Tãtãraºi Atheneum, a famous Botanical Garden (the oldest and largest in Romania), the Central University Library (the oldest in Romania), an array of museums and memorial houses, an independent theater and several student organizations.
Climate.
The climate in the area is temperate with warm summers, sunny springs and autumns and cold winters. Snow covers the area from the end of December till mid March. Rain falls throughout the year.
Transport.
The City has an international airport. There are three air transport companies operating international and internal lines.
Local transport include bus lines, trolleybus lines, electric tram lines, maxi-taxi and taxi.

Food & Drink.In Iasi there are many restaurants, fast foods and traditional pubs. There are also different foreign restaurants : American, Greek, Chinese, Irish, Italian, Indian.
Bars and terraces are popular in Romania and are the favorite places for social meetings from early morning to late at night. They do not close during the day and have the same function as do pubs in the United Kingdom. Alcoholic drinks are available throughout the day. There is also a large variety of juice & soft drinks to choose from. You certainly should not have any problems in getting your favorite Cola can.
"Tuica" (tsuica) is the national strong drink of Romania and is made from fruits (especially plums, peach and pears). Western drinks, such as whisky, gin or brandy, can be obtained in most bars but are expensive. All kind of bottled beer can be found, both from the West countries and Romania. But WINE is the national drink in Romania. Iasi area is one of the famous regions with vineyards & wineries in the country.
Nightlife.
In the evening you can go to the theater / opera or can enjoy a classical concert. In IASI there are a few good bars. There are also some nice discos, especially in the students' districts. There are nearly 60 000 students in IASI and, of course, they are the main actors of the nightlife of the city. Some of the more expensive restaurants put on floor shows, Some of the places specializing in Romanian cuisine sometimes put on good traditional folk groups and singers. Over the night you can spend your time and money in a casino or in a bar with cabaret program. In some old pubs the guests can taste the good old Romanian wines, listening to the beautiful Romanian folk music. Over the year there are some cultural events that atract the people, sometimes, in the evening and over the night.
Social conventions.
Inhabitants of IASI City are friendly and foreigners are usually made very welcome. Religion (mainly orthodox) plays an important role in daily life and criticism or jokes about religion are not appreciated. Music and art are important aspects of city culture. Shaking hands is the normal form of greeting. Normal courtesies are observed when visiting private homes and it is customary to bring flowers. Sport wear is the most suitable attire, but dress and suit should be formal when specified for entertaining in the evening or in a smart restaurant. Smoking is restricted in some public buildings.
Shopping.
In IASI one can find many shops with souvenirs. Many stores have specific products made in Romania. There are also stores with handicraft products, authentic folk art. In the churches and monasteries, there are brochures and many original religious things. In the bookshops, one can find books, brochures, maps and other prints related to the touristic objectives from IASI City and Romania.

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Places of interest.

Iaºi is an outstanding educational center, and preserves some beautiful pieces of architecture, such as the Trei Ierarhi Church and the neo-Gothic Palace of Culture (the site of four museums - of History, of Technology, of Ethnography, and of Art). Many buildings in the old city center were demolished during the Communist regime, with a few Soviet-style blocks of flats built instead.

Palace of Culture (Palatul Culturii).
This remarkable construction (1906-1925), located in Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Square, built in flamboyant neogothic style, stands partly on the ruins of a medieval royal court mentioned in documents dating from 1434. Today, the 365-room palace houses the Gheorghe Asachi Library and four of the city’s museums: the Moldavian History Museum, the Ethnographic Museum, the Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and Technology (see museum details). The interior décor, with the lavish furnishings and magnificent staircase of the entrance lobby, can be admired free of charge, but tickets are required for entry to the museums.

St. Paraschiva Metropolitan Cathedral (Catedrala Mitropolitana Sfanta Paraschiva).
Built in Italian Renaissance style, the St. Paraschiva Metropolitan Cathedral, located in Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Blvd., is the largest Orthodox church in Romania. Construction began in 1833 and ended in 1839, but its cupolas fell and the church remained in ruins until 1880, when, with the help of the Foundation of King Carol I, work started again, lasting until 1888. The vast interior was painted in 1887 by Gheorghe Tattarescu and the stained glass windows were completed by a Bavarian factory in Munich.
The cathedral still uses one of the original bells in its northeast spire. Inside the bell, an inscription says it was made from four cannons captured from the Turkish army in the War of 1828-1829. Nearby stands the 18th century Old Metropolitan Church of St. George (Biserica Sfantul Gheorghe).
Every October 14, pilgrims from all corners of Romania and neighboring countries flock to Iasi to kneel before the blue and gold bier containing the relics of Saint Paraschiva, the patron saint of the cathedral.

Church of the Three Hierarchs (Biserica Sfantilor Trei Ierarhi).
The Church of the Three Hierarchs (constructed 1637 – 1639), located in Stefan cel Mare street, is highlighted as a must-see in every guidebook. Nothing can prepare you, though, for its stunning ornate decoration: the entire exterior of the church is covered in delicate and intricate patterns sculpted into the stone and spread over 30 friezes. This “stone embroidery” is a mixture of western gothic, Renaissance and Oriental motifs.
The original interior paintings were completed by Russian artists sent to Iasi by the Tsar. In 1882, the frescoes were removed when French architect Lecomte de Nouy set about redesigning the interior after several fires and six earthquakes damaged the structure. Original fragments of the frescoes are still preserved in the nearby Gothic Hall museum (Open: Tue.-Sun. 10am - 4pm. Admission charge).
The interior boasts the tombs of a number of famous Romanians, including the founder of this church, Vasile Lupu, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, and Prince Dimitrie Cantemir. In 1994, the church reopened as a monastery. The three patron saints (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Crysostom) are celebrated here on January 30.
Roznoveanu Palace/City Hall (Palatul Rozvoneanu/Primaria).
This neoclassical Viennese-style palace, located in Stefan cel Mare si Sfant Blvd., was built in 1832 to the design of Gustav Frey Wald. Its façade was decorated with marble statues of mythological characters such as Diana and Apollo and it was said to be grander than all other mansions in Iasi. The palace burned down in 1844 and was rebuilt by Nicolae Rosetti Rozvaneanu. In 1891, the building became the City Hall but two years later, was transformed into a royal residence. Today, it once again serves as the City Hall.

Alexandru Bals House/ Moldova Philharmonic House (Filarmonica Moldova).
Built in 1815 by Alexandru Bals, this house, located in Arcu Street, became the venue of choice for theatre performances in Iasi. On January 18, 1847, the famous composer, Franz Liszt, played here. In 1868, Monsignor Salandarie founded the Catholic Institute here, enlarging the building and adding a spacious extension, which today, houses the Moldavia Philharmonic. The old building is home to the George Enescu Conservatoire.

National Theatre (Teatrul National Vasile Alecsandri).
Built in the late 19th century on the site of the old City Hall, this is one of the most elegant buildings in Romania. The architects were the Viennese Feller and Helmer who later built theatres in Cernauti and Sofia. Richly decorated in French-eclectic style, the theatre has one of the most splendid auditoriums in the country. It can seat 1,000 people and the acoustics are excellent. The theatre bears the name of the company’s founder, Vasile Alecsandri (1821-1890), a renowned Romanian poet, playwright, politician and diplomat.

Ticau District (Cartierul Ticau).
Fans of quaint streets will enjoy this old residential quarter spread out over the hilly side of Iasi, with vine-choked houses and sleepy roads. Stroll along the peaceful Dimitrie Ralet, Lascar Catargiu and Vasile Conta Streets to reach Piata Mihai Eminescu. From there, take the scenic route along Strada Lapusneanu, Piata Unirii and Strada Cuza Voda.

Old University Palace (Vechea Universitate).
Commissioned by Ioan Cantacuzino between 1760 and 1765, the Old University Palace was badly damaged during a fire in 1795. Later renovated and converted into a royal residence, it remained in royal use until 1806. The stone arch in front of the palace dates from this period. On it, you can see the Moldavian coat of arms and a Cyrillic inscription spelling out the words the door of hope. In 1860, the building became home to the newly established University of Iasi and to the first public art collection in the country. Today, it houses the Medicine and Pharmacy College.
University on Copou Hill (Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza).
The main university building was built between 1893 and 1897 on the site of the Great Theatre which had burned down. The Hall of the University, known as The Hall of the Lost Footsteps, served as a parliamentary debating chamber between 1917 and 1918. In 1967, the painter Sabin Balasa created a series of strongly romanticized frescoes for the arcades.

Central University Library (Biblioteca Centrala Universitara Mihai Eminescu).
Located at the base of Copou Hill, this triangular building with Doric columns and cupola was built between 1930 and 1935 to serve as the headquarters of King Ferdinand’s Cultural Foundation. The building was decorated with Carrara marble and Venetian mosaics. By 1945, the Foundation library had become one of the biggest in the country with more than 300,000 volumes. Today, the library is the largest in Moldavia, with a great number of manuscripts and old books from the 15th to the 19th centuries.

Golia Monastery (Manastirea Golia).
The unusual name of the monastery came from Moldavian Chancellor Ioan Golai who founded it in 1564. The church was rebuilt in 1650 by Vasile Lupu who employed Italian master craftsmen. The compound’s walls and towers were added in 1667.
While the exterior walls show Renaissance influence, mainly with their Corinthian pilasters, the interior features vibrant Byzantine frescoes and intricately carved doorways. The upper part of the church seems to belong to another edifice. It was built during the rein of Stefanita Lupu, son of Vasile Lupu, who found inspiration in Russian architecture. However, this section collapsed during a 1738 earthquake and was rebuilt in baroque style by the Phanariot ruler, Constantin Mavrocordat.
The monastery was visited by Peter the Great, Tsar of Russia, in 1711. It also served for a short period of time as the burial place for the viscera of Prince Grigori Alexandrovich Potemkin, Catherine the Great’s favorite. Climbing the 102 steps to the monastery’s “Golia Tower” offers visitors a magnificent bird's-eye view of the city.

The Princely Saint Nicholas Church (Biserica Sfantul Nicolae Domnesc).
The oldest church in Iasi, Saint Nicholas Church was founded by Stefan cel Mare in 1492. Situated near the princely court, the church was for centuries the place where Moldavian rulers were anointed, therefore, gaining its “royal” status. Restored by Prince Antonie Roset in 1677, it was completely renovated by the French architect Andre Lecomte du Nouy between 1885 and 1897.



Jewish Iasi.

In the 19th century, Iasi was one of the great Eastern European centres of Jewish learning, famous for its scholarly rabbis, intellectuals and skilled craftsmen, as well as for its Jewish schools, hospitals, publications and other organizations.
In 1855, the city was the home of the first-ever Yiddish-language newspaper, Korot Haitim, and was the birthplace of the Israeli national anthem. The world’s first professional Yiddish-language theatre was opened here in 1876 by Avram Goldfaden, who later founded New York’s first Jewish theatre. From 1949 to 1964, Iasi was also home to a second company of the State Jewish Theatre.
Jewish merchants from Poland settled here in the 15th century and their numbers swelled with further waves of Russian-Jewish and Galician-Jewish immigration into Moldavia. By 1930, there were over 30,000 Jews and some 127 synagogues. Today, only two synagogues remain open.
During the early years of World War II, Iasi was the scene of a pogrom by the Iron Guard, a nationalist Fascist organization. The majority of the city’s Jewish population was killed or deported. A monument to the victims of the 1941 pogrom was erected outside the Great Synagogue.

The Great Synagogue (Sinagoga Mare).
The Great Synagogue of Iasi is the oldest surviving Jewish prayer house in Romania and the second oldest synagogue in Europe. It was founded in 1670, reportedly at the initiative of Rabbi Nathan (Nata) ben Moses Hannover, religious leader of Iasi’s Jewish community in the 1660s and author of Yeven. Mezullah. Located on Synagogues Street (so dubbed because of the many synagogues once found here) in the old Jewish neighborhood of Targu Cucului, the synagogue was built in an eclectic style with strong late baroque influences. Since its foundation in the second half of the 17th century, the Great Synagogue has undergone a number of major renovations.
Although called “the great," the size of the synagogue is actually very modest. The floor is located below street level in keeping with a widespread tradition found in many Central and Eastern European synagogues. Jewish religious tradition requires that synagogues should be the highest buildings in their neighborhoods but because Jews were not permitted to build high structures for their prayer houses, lowering the floor of synagogues represented an ingenious compromise between the two demands by creating an interior that is higher than the exterior elevation of the building. It also serves as a reminder of Psalm 130 ("de profundis"): "Out of the depths have I cried unto Thee, o Lord".
Today, the Great Synagogue continues to serve the Jewish community of Iasi. It has been recognized as a historical monument.

The Iasi Jewish Cemetery.
Many of the victims of the 1941 pogroms were buried in the Jewish Cemetery, located outside the city on Dealul Munteni (Mountain Hill). Over 100,000 graves, some dating from the late 1800s, stretch across the hillside; burial records date from 1915 to the present day and are kept in the community centre. The second, smaller synagogue is also located here.



Museums.

Museum of Moldova (Complexul Muzeal National Moldova).

1. Moldavian Ethnographic Museum (Muzeul Etnografic al Moldovei).
The Moldavian Ethnographic Museum is one of the oldest and largest in the country. Encompassing 16 rooms, the displays cover every aspect of traditional Moldavian life, featuring agricultural and hunting tools, woodwork, traditional pottery, painted eggs and a good collection of textiles and dyed carpets embroidered with bird and plant motifs. One room exhibits winter customs items, including masks representing the bear, the goat and other characters of traditional New Year’s festivities. The collection of wooden machinery is impressive with 19th century tree-size oil and wine presses.

2. Art Museum (Muzeul de Arta).
The art collection began with a set of oil paintings purchased at a Parisian auction in 1845. The official opening took place in 1860 at the Old University Palace and in 1955, the museum moved to its current location in the Palace of Culture. An excellent collection of Romanian paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries vividly illustrates Moldavian rural life and its landscape. Nicolae Grigorescu’s Car cu Boi (Ox Cart), Theodor Amann’s Hora de peste Olt (The Village Dance) and O. Bancila’s Batran Croitor (Old Jewish Tailor) are some of the collection’s highlights.
In the four rooms devoted to European art, there are paintings by Murillo, Philippe de Champaigne, Paolo Veronese and a Rubens, Cezar Receiving Pompey’s Head. Additionally, you’ll find works by foreign artists who lived and worked in Iasi such as Schiavonim Livaditii and Stavscki.
The sculpture collection includes pieces by national artists such as Oscar Han, Cornel Medrea, Ion Jalea and Ion Irimescu.

3. Moldavian History Museum (Muzeul de Istorie al Moldovei).
Opened in 1955, this museum features some 35,000 objects spanning the centuries from 70,000 B.C. until 1946. These exhibits cover 19 rooms on the ground floor of the Palace of Culture. Some of the famous Cucuteni ceramics are on display here.
The museum also houses the vaulted King’s Room (Sala Voievozilor), a gallery of medallion-shaped portraits depicting Moldavian sovereigns from 81 A.D. to the Hohenzollern kings.

4. Science and Technology Museum (Muzeul Stiintei si Tehnicii).
Radio, television, recording and broadcasting buffs will enjoy the exhibits displayed in this museum. The last section features a superb collection of musical instruments: unique Romanian music boxes, mechanical accordions and an automated orchestra with three violins and a piano.
Natural History Museum (Muzeul de Stiinte al Naturii).
The Moldavian Society of Physicians and Naturalists opened their collection to the public in 1834. Today, the museum features 50,000 exhibits, illustrating fauna from around the world, and is one of the largest of its kind in Europe. A special section is dedicated to Moldavian geology. Apart from its minerals, the museum also has a collection of prehistoric fossils containing fragments of mammoth, cave bear and rhinoceros.

Theatre Museum (Muzeul Teatrului).
The museum is housed in a late 18th century house, once the property of poet and diplomat Vasile Alecsandri (1821-1890), who played an important role in the founding of Moldavian theatre. The museum celebrates the history of theatre in Iasi and displays costumes worn by well-known actors in memorable roles, original documents, playbills and posters, as well as personal artifacts and memorabilia donated by various actors.



Parks and Gardens.

Copou Park (Parcul Copou).
Copou has been a favorite place in Iasi for late afternoon strolls or morning walks since the second half of the 17th century. In 1834, Copou became the city’s first public garden and in 1860, street lamps were installed for the first time.
Allegedly, it was here, under his favorite linden tree, that the Romanian National Poet, Mihai Eminescu (1850-1889), wrote some of his best work. The tree stands to this day and a bronze bust of Eminscu marks its location.

Botanical Garden (Gradina Botanica Anastasie Fatu).
Dating from 1856 and covering some 250 acres, Iasi’s Botanical Garden is the oldest and largest in Romania An educational and scientific laboratory, the garden houses a precious and rich collection of trees and plants. It also offers numerous shady lanes to explore, rose and orchid gardens, a collection of tropical plants, cacti, carnivorous plants, natural springs and a lake.

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