Casa Melik (Theodor Pallady Museum) is a living fragment of the 18th century, hidden among apartment blocks and busy streets, yet entirely detached from the pace of modern-day Bucharest. Built in traditional Romanian style with Oriental influences—with a wooden veranda, steep roof, and open porch—it is considered the oldest surviving residence in the capital. Once the property of Armenian merchant Iacob Melik, the house now hosts the Theodor Pallady Museum, dedicated to one of Romania’s most important 20th-century painters.

The interior is modest and intimate, yet filled with warmth: antique furniture, heavy chandeliers, and a collection of paintings and drawings by Theodor Pallady, alongside works by his contemporary, Theodor Dona. The exhibition includes both finished pieces and sketches, along with personal objects that offer a quiet glimpse into the artist’s process and the interwar cultural world he inhabited.

The shaded inner garden feels as if it's been lifted from a rural dream, entirely untouched by the city's chaos. It’s the kind of house that doesn’t demand attention, but deeply rewards it when you give it. More than just an old residence, it’s a space of stillness and quiet memory, where art and history exist in delicate harmony.

How to get there: Casa Melik is located in Sector 2, at 22 Spătarului Street, in the Armenian Quarter. It’s easily reachable on foot from Piața Rosetti or about a 10-minute walk from the Universitate metro station.

Photo: Neoclassicism Enthusiast - Wikipedia