Articles (1414)

Robin Hood, smitten by a princess from Bucharest. The tragic love story between Irene Ghica and actor Errol Flynn

In November 1949, the international society press was in an uproar. From Paris to New York, newspaper headlines spoke about a story that seemed taken straight out of a romantic film: a very young Romanian princess had managed to conquer the heart of one of the most desired men on the planet. Irene Ghica, only 19 years old, had become the partner of...

Stories of Bucharest: Henrieta Delavrancea knew she would become one of the greatest Romanian architects from the age of just 6

Henrieta Delavrancea, also affectionately known as “Riri,” was born in 1894 into a family that breathed culture through every pore. The youngest daughter of the writer Barbu Ștefănescu Delavrancea, one of the most powerful personalities of Romanian intellectual life at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, Henrieta grew...

From Bucharest to Paris, actress Alice Cocea caused a sensation among men. Three gentlemen met their end longing for Aristizza Romanescu’s student

Alice Cocea was the Romanian woman considered fatal, given that three men met their end out of jealousy. This diva was extremely controversial and, more often than not, appeared on the front pages of scandal newspapers in France. From a young age, Alice was drawn to the stage, taking lessons from Aristizza Romanescu, after which she left for France...

The story of Cornel Patrichi, the king of dance in Romanian communism. He scolded Nicu Ceaușescu when the “Little Prince” “cheated” him at card games

Cornel Patrichi is one of those figures in Romanian culture who crossed eras, regimes and mentalities, leaving behind a strong imprint both in the world of dance and in the collective memory. Choreographer, ballet dancer and social personality of communist Romania, Patrichi was considered by many the “king of dance” in a period when art was strictl...

Where the first home with an elevator in Bucharest is located. The history of the Sacha Roman Villa, known as Casa Madrigal

Bucharest is often described as a city of contrasts, an urban space where architectural styles overlap, complement each other or, at times, enter into a tense dialogue. From boyar houses and Brâncovenesc churches to modernist apartment blocks and contemporary interventions, Romania’s capital reflects its fragmented yet extremely rich history. In th...

When and how did the first license plates appear in Bucharest?

At the end of the 19th century, on the dusty streets of the capital, a few "horseless carriages" began to frighten pedestrians and shock high society. Their owners would unwittingly become the pioneers of Romanian motoring.The first "madman" to bring a car to BucharestThe story begins in the autumn of 1889, when Baron Barbu Bellu (yes, the one with...

What Snow Brings to the Surface in Bucharest. Infrastructure, Solidarity, Nerves, and Improvisation

When it really snows in Bucharest, the city doesn’t change only on the surface. Snow doesn’t just turn sidewalks white and slow down traffic; it seems to pull on an invisible thread, bringing into the light everything that, for most of the year, stays hidden beneath routine. For a few days, the capital can no longer pretend. Everything becomes clea...

I visited the free Berceni Arena ice rink in Sector 4. Here’s how to book a session and how was the experience

The Berceni Arena ice rink in Bucharest’s Sector 4 has become, this winter, one of the most popular free leisure options in the city. While information spreads quickly online, real-life experience matters most, so I decided to visit the rink myself during a weekend session to see how the access system works and what the atmosphere is like on site.I...

Constantin Mille’s granddaughter conquered the dictator Gheorghe Gheorghiu Dej. The movie-like story of actress Dina Cocea

Dina Cocea was one of the most beautiful and fascinating actresses in Romania, a presence that caught the attention of Bucharest high society from her very first public appearances. Her charm, however, was not only aesthetic: her talent, intelligence, and charisma allowed her to establish herself as a prominent figure in Romanian theater and cinema...

The history of the first lăutari of Bucharest, Roma slaves of the 14th century: They played until “even the stones were crying”

The history of old Bucharest cannot be understood without the sound of lutes, cobzas, and violins that accompanied the life of the city for centuries. Long before music became a free profession, the first lăutari of the capital were Roma slaves, people without rights, but endowed with a gift that made them indispensable: music. From the 14th centur...