Articles (1006)

Nika Nenciu, the most controversial lady of 19th-century Bucharest: three failed marriages, various affairs, and dazzling balls

In the second half of the 19th century, Bucharest’s high society was defined by its refinement, extravagance, and passion for appearances. Beyond its role as Romania’s political and cultural heart, the city became a stage where the wealthy elite paraded their fortune and prestige. Among the most talked-about figures of that world was Nika Nenciu, t...

How to survive your first month in Bucharest as a student

Your first month in Bucharest is a strange mix of excitement, confusion, and Google Maps. For a new student, the city can feel like a huge, noisy creature that’s impossible to tame. But once you learn a few basic rules — and keep your sense of humor intact — you’ll realize that beneath the chaos, Bucharest actually has heart.1. Learn the basics of...

The history of Nifon Palace, the most beautiful building on Calea Victoriei, from the inn of the furrier Dedu to the present day

On one of Bucharest’s oldest and most elegant boulevards, Calea Victoriei, stands a building that has withstood centuries, political regimes, and urban transformations without losing its grace: Nifon Palace. Today, it is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in the Romanian capital and is listed as a historical monument. It currently belon...

Who was Nicolae Caranfil and why a street in Bucharest bears his name

Nicolae Gheorghe Caranfil was born on November 28, 1893, in the city of Galați, into a family that instilled in him from an early age a love of work, education, and discipline. He attended the “Vasile Alecsandri” High School, one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the city, where he stood out for his brilliant intelligence and an u...

Dating in Bucharest: what expats should know about love, manners, and expectations

Bucharest is a city that’s always in a hurry — except when it comes to love.It’s a place where romance and irony coexist, where emotional caution and curiosity dance together, and where dating is less about rules and more about reading between the lines.For expats who find themselves in Romania’s capital, dating isn’t just about chemistry — it’s a...

The story of the Aviației neighborhood in Bucharest, the area built for the Băneasa Airport pilots

The Aviației neighborhood has its origins in the southern area of Băneasa Airport, a part of Bucharest that, before the 1980s, consisted almost entirely of houses and courtyards, with the quiet air of a suburban area. During that period, Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime pursued an extensive urban planning program for the capital, which included the const...

The Bucharest brand Adesgo, “the elegant lady’s stocking,” and the history of an empire in Romanian fashion

Few products in Romanian fashion history have captured the imagination and admiration of consumers like Adesgo stockings. Revered for their quality and elegance, these stockings became synonymous with style, refinement, and sophistication in Bucharest for nearly a century. Women and young ladies would repair their favorite pairs and proudly display...

The history of the circus in Bucharest: from acrobats, stunt performers, and entertainers to today’s Metropolitan Circus

Throughout its history, Bucharest has flourished and endured hardships, yet the pleasure derived from spectacle and entertainment has remained constant. Among the attractions that have consistently captured the public’s attention are circus performances: acrobats, stunt performers, and entertainers who brought joy and amazement to the people. From...

Stories from pre-war Bucharest: grand balls, luxury, Western influences and La Belle Époque

At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the next, Bucharest lived through an era of grace and elegance, inspired by the charm of Paris. Just like the French capital, which set the tone for the Belle Époque beginning in 1871, Bucharest experienced a time of prosperity, refinement, and openness to modernity. Relative peace, economic growt...

“Bilete de papagal” — the “flea-sized” newspaper of the great Tudor Arghezi, the pamphlet that satirized interwar Bucharest society

In an era when the Romanian interwar press was at its peak—dominated by large, solemn, and often pompous publications—Tudor Arghezi chose to go against the current. On February 2, 1928, in the courtyard of his house on Mărțișor Street, the poet printed the first issue of “Bilete de papagal” (“Parrot Tickets”) — a tiny four-page newspaper, with an u...